Seems like I've been hitting Ballinger quite a bit lately. Now that I've finished grad school and have avoided winter it seems that I'm putting out about 3 times per week (mostly Ballinger). It's hard to turn it down, especially since I can be in the water in about 7 minutes. That's loading, driving, and then unloading. Pretty nice!

Anyhow, I pushed off around 5:00 pm. Decided to try the same set up as last time. It was a fly with a power egg attached to it. I was actually going to test a theory that when the wind blows it's better to have some weight rather than dragging on the surface. This was because the wind was blowing a little. That was shot because I hooked into a fish in about 5 minutes on the water. Landed a fat little trout, guessing he was about 3/4 lb. About 15 minutes I landed another one.

Didn't hit the route I wanted due to some girls goofing off on a paddleboard. Waited until they cleared out and then hit the south part of the lake and headed north. Had two strong hits. Neither of them took and so I decided to add some weight and drop the fly (straight power bait). Hooked two fish, but lost them due to me screwing around. I let the line get loose and they jumped off. Anyhow they were biting!

Debating on whether or not I should hit Ballinger again this weekend or head to another lake. Hard to switch when I'm pulling some trout out of there every time. I just wish I was hitting something bigger.

Oh! Nearly forgot that the eagles were out today. I never knew they worked in pairs, but am completely sold that they are partners. Saw one dive and snatch a trout. The other kept the crows at bay. They flew around a while trying to lose the crows and then did a dive towards the surface. They flew right over me, about fifteen feet, and right over to the lily pads. They sat there eating the trout together. Very cool!

Stansjoy

5/24/2014 9:33:00 PM

timmlovitt... Have fished Ballinger for years, one of my favorites. The eagles you see are a pair, mate for life.... yes, they do work together! Have a nest in one of the tall firs near the lake, on the golf course. Are raising their young there now, and need to keep a constant supply of trout to the eaglets. B also holds some large cutthroat, usually catch those in the Fall and Winter. The problem with the fish at B, is that as the water continues to warm, the Rainbows will host a parasite that will cause nasty, open wounds. That will clear up rather quickly when the water cools off in the Fall. Glad you are having success at Lake B. Continue to enjoy that fishery. PTL!

timmlovitt

5/26/2014 7:36:00 AM

Stansjoy... Thanks for the info.! I've seen the eagles there for a while and thought that it might be the pair that lives over in Edmonds. Glad that we have another pair here, as they are a treat to watch. I've noticed that the fish start to look pretty ugly as the year drags on. They're pretty clean now, but know that it won't be that way for long. Thanks again and straight lines!

lumpdog005

5/27/2014 9:57:00 AM

I took my boys, 8 and 10, to the old boat launch on the Edmonds side yesterday from 8-9 PM. Got one small trout and they lost 3due to the weight hanging up in the weeds and the fish spitting the hook. fun was had by all.

lumpdog005

5/27/2014 9:57:00 AM

We used Chatruse power bait on bottom with 4' leader.

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