zimde
12/16/2015 4:09:00 PMThanks for the report. Always wondered how the fishing was there. how about the bass fishing, any good
The Quadfather
12/17/2015 7:41:00 AMZimde, a few people do catch a few LMB. I have covered the whole lake, concentrated on very bassy areas such as SE corner. My personal opinion is that this is the most dissapointing bass lake I have ever fished, but yes, there are a few reports of lmb.
Stansjoy
12/17/2015 10:27:00 AMzimde & Quadfather... Thanks for your comments... Three summers ago I was fishing off the pier... a fellow at the other end had reeled in a normal sized stocker Rainbow... as we all watched the fish approach the pier, an enormous LMB erupted from under the pier and ripped the trout off the hook. We were all left stunned by what we had seen. Yeah, there are some LMB in Ballinger! And goodtimesfishing, thanks, she's doing better! PTL!
lumpdog005
12/21/2015 10:10:00 AMIt has been a few years since I fished for fall cut throat there. I remember fishing in the middle of snow storm 10+ year’s back and being surprised by a monster cutthroat. I was trying a old school setup for fun with worm and marsh mellow on a old 60’s light action fiberglass rod with Johnson Century 100 spin cast reel with new cheap 8 lb line. The fish was more than the drag on full could handle and took me almost 10 minutes to let the fish wear himself out before I finally was able to drag him on shore.
Since then I have noticed the numbers of fall cutthroat severely diminish since then. I can only imagine how hard it is on the fish to get to the lake from lake Washington. I just hope they can still find suitable habitat to spawn in Ballinger.
Good catch and hope your wife feels better.
Since then I have noticed the numbers of fall cutthroat severely diminish since then. I can only imagine how hard it is on the fish to get to the lake from lake Washington. I just hope they can still find suitable habitat to spawn in Ballinger.
Good catch and hope your wife feels better.
lumpdog005
12/21/2015 10:14:00 AMI do remember when I was 12 I was trolling with my dad near the island. I was watching a group of 6" baby ducks. Just like Stan saw, an enormous LMB erupted flying out of the water and there was one less duckling. Reminded me of Jaws!
Stansjoy
12/21/2015 12:08:00 PMlumpdog005... Thanks for sharing your great memories. Fall Cutthroat fishing at Ballinger is a lot of waiting and perhaps a big thrill! The lake has changed a lot over the years. It seems to me that all the neighborhood runoff from the north brings a lot of silt and probably chemical contaminants into the lake. Still think that the Cutthroat manage here anyway. Locals I have spoken to over the past six or seven years tell of a run of Coho that used to come into the lake from Lake Washington. Suppose that is gone forever. Still a fun lake to explore! PTL!