Catching a trout in Lake Ballinger has eluded me all summer. But after my hike to Grieder on Saturday, which was successful due to who I was going to hike with but couldn't make it, forum member jonb, giving me advice, I took that same advice out to Ballinger on Sunday evening.

In 20+ hours this summer, I had 1 bite and caught zero trout.

On Sunday, I did some trolling of my own design for about 90 minutes and got no bites. Then with the sun going down and fish starting to rise, I employed jonb's methods, plus a little modification since there was no wind to drift, and in 30 minutes I had 1 unsuccessful bite on the nightcrawler (too much worm, couldn't get it all in it's mouth, my bad), and fish on with salmon eggs! Landed my first Ballinger rainbow, which I would have thrown back but I must have penetrated an artery as that guy was bleeding like a stuck pig. And good that I did keep it. My presumption was that any trout from a warm lake like Ballinger would be soft and mushy and taste like mud. Well, this was firm ... super firm, almost like chicken! Nice pale orange color on the flesh. Very tasty.

Back to back to back days ... first salmon of the year, hike to Grieder for first trout caught in 20 years, then first trout out of Ballinger. Successful weekend I must say! Now all I have to do is find a way to get my rubber raft into salmon fishing water in Lake Washington. Maybe I can sneak in at Waverly Park .... hmmm ....

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