Northwest Fishing Reports

Can some of you guys recommend a couple of lakes that can be descent for Fall rainbow fishing? It would need to be within 2-3 hours of Seattle, for a day trip.
This isn't my usual time of year for trout fishing, and the people want to make it fly fishing, ( but don't base your suggestions off of fly lakes)

BTW I did check in on the fly forum, but this board is hit a lot harder.

Also, I often try and use the "Search" function under this forum so that I don't ask a question that has already been spoken too, but I don't know if I am using that piece correctly?? Do you just put a subject into the search engine and then if it ever came up on the site in some manner of a thread do you find it?

Thanks guys

Fish Lake by Leavenworth has always been good to me in October. This may be stretching your two to three hour limit from Seattle however. I usually make it there in two hours from North Bend.

Bruce Nelson

Lake Stevens is a great trout fishery; rainbows, Kokanee, and HUGE triploids. It's a nice sized lake and can produce when you find them.

Thanks guys... and please keep the fall lake tips coming, Unfortunately Fish lake as mentioned above, has a car-topper carry in launch only.
This is according to the statement that preceeds the description of the lake as per this site.
If anyone can tell me from their experience that a trailered boat can be launched, please let me know.
As far as lk. stevens, that is a go.

Check what I said about this thread in the fly fishing section...

dont know if u have been to ballinger lake the rainbows are picin up pretty quick there, the other nite a 19inch was caught out of there i wasnt there but some regulars told me about it and some cutt throt should be comin up soon it also has a boat launch i have yet to go out in a boat at that lake i fish from the dock if you have room and plan on going let me know

Beaver seems to have some good Rainbows biting right now... for some reason or another they have taken a liking to my bass rig (4" twin tail grub). The average size I've "accidently" caught has been between 12"-17" on the North end of the lake.

quadradomus - the Fish lake that Bruce is referring to is in Chelan county - There is a trailered boat launch at The Cove resort - I think they charge like $5 or $10 to launch there - Great lake to fish.
Ballinger is a non combustable motor lake. But you might be able to fly fish from the shore in the park there - heck it is close enough to you, you would be able to get there in 10 minutes to find out.

Any chance you can get a fall trout in Lake Washington? Would they be the usual places like mouth of the cedar river and along the floating bridges?

Yea fall trout would be a great option on Lake Wa. this time of year. Either floating bridge, South end of MI, Juanita area or Sand Point, mouth of Cedar, they'd all be good bets now that the water temp has fallen a few degrees...

Gringo Pescador wrote:quadradomus - the Fish lake that Bruce is referring to is in Chelan county - There is a trailered boat launch at The Cove resort - I think they charge like $5 or $10 to launch there - Great lake to fish.
Ballinger is a non combustable motor lake. But you might be able to fly fish from the shore in the park there - heck it is close enough to you, you would be able to get there in 10 minutes to find out.

I grew up sandwhiched between Ballinger and echo... I know those two lakes well. Caught my first crawfish from ballinger. There used to be a public dock called "The U dock" due to the shape of the letter U. Don't know if anyone remembers this stuff. Now of course, it's is a house. and the public dock which is at the park is 1/10th the size.

If you haven't checked out your topic in the fly fishing section yet I suggested Rattlesnake lake...Wouldn't be more then an hour from your house and it's a selective gear lake that can put out some great fishing and great size from what I've heard...Although I think it doesn't allow gas motors so you'd have to pull off your gas motor....