A very interesting day at Lake Ballinger. Arrived at pier at 7:30AM, already one fisherman on pier (Dustin). Was showery the first hour, then extremely windy the rest of the day. Estimate 30 to 35 mph gusts into early afternoon. Air temp at start was 54 degrees, water temp at 10' was 62 degrees. Dustin said that he had had a huge and violent hit at about daylight, almost pulled his rod up and over the pier railing before he was able to grab it, then the line went slack.
I started out with Power Eggs, trying several colors and combinations in the first hour and half... nada! Began to spin cast a silver and blue Kastmaster and had a fish on at 8:00, threw the hook at the pier... about 12" Rainbow. Put a worm on my other rod, and landed a 12" Rainbow, very chunky and feisty at noon, then an 11 1/2" Cutthroat at 12:30. Had a good number of bites on worms, but was extremely difficult to tell when fish were biting, because my rod tip was in perpetual motion from the wind!... and the wind was blowing my line in a wide arc that was impossible to tighten up. About noon I put on a silver and orange Kastmaster and began having hits. At least a dozen hits, with four hook-ups, all four fish tossing the hooks when I almost had them to the pier... the wind was definitely a factor in these long range releases. One of those I had on nearly to the pier was a large Cutthroat, guessetimated at 15". Will never be able to figure out how they throw those treble hooks!!! I have immediate and impossible to remove hook-ups whenever a treble hook comes within 6" of my shirt sleeve!
Watched a Bald Eagle and a pair of Ospreys trying to fish as well. They were having a terrible time in the wind, and finally gave up and left the lake. Watched two Western Grebes on the lake all day. Used to see many of them on our lowland lakes, but not so much anymore. Nice to see these large, graceful birds on the water.
Had five other fishermen on the pier with me during the day... all left after short stays, no other fish caught. Nice to be back at Ballinger, fishing should pick up as the Fall progresses... some really nice Cutthroat in this lake! Shout out to my friend Pete who wanted to be there but is in a lot of pain with a bad back. Get well soon my friend... the fish are waiting! PTL!

---