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Ballinger Lake Report
Snohomish County, WA

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12/15/2015
36° - 40°
Bottom Fishing From Shore
Cutthroat Trout
Worms
Brown
Windy
Hook & Bait
Morning
41° - 45°
12/16/2015
3
3955

It had been a long time since my last visit to Lake Ballinger, but thought I'd like to try for some late Fall Cutthroat. My wife, Boni, and I arrived at the lake about 8:00 AM and headed for the pier. Lines in the water by 8:15... a chilly 37 degrees at the start, fog covering the surface of the lake. Water temp off the pier, at 10' was 44 degrees. Rigged up two rods with mashmallows and nightcrawlers, one with fl. orange Power Eggs. About a half hour in, had a solid hit and reeled in a fat, healthy 12" Rainbow (on nightcrawler). By 10:00, Boni, who hadn't felt real good before we left the house, was chilled and headed for the truck to get warm. By now it was spitting rain and no warmer... persistent breeze from the south was now a strong wind. Lots of geese and ducks flying on and off the lake. Resident eagles were flying back and forth across the lake, no doubt looking for an easy "duck dinner". About 10:30 my rod tip doubled over and was into a good fish. Strong pulls on the line and twisting fight indicated a Cutthroat and finally netted a beautiful long, sleek hen Cutthroat of 14"... nearly developed egg skeins when I cleaned her. (Again, on the nightcrawler). BTW the Rainbow's stomach was full of 1/2" snails. After landing the Cutthroat, checked with Boni who now had a sore throat and a fever, so we left the lake before 11:00... not a bad late Fall morning's fishing... got my poor wife home and in a nice warm bed to recover... a real trooper!
No other fishermen showed while we were at the lake. Many out walking their dogs. Irritating to watch those who allow their dogs to run loose and harass the waterfowl... especially in light of the HUGE SIGN in the parking lot that states that dogs must be on leash... "at all times" (city ordinance). Just my pet (pardon the pun!) peeve for the day! Any way, have a Very Merry Christmas, one and all!!! God Bless! PTL!


Comments

goodtimesfishing
12/16/2015 1:14:00 PM
Thanks for the report! I hope your wife gets better.
zimde
12/16/2015 4:09:00 PM
Thanks 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 AM
Zimde, 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 AM
zimde & 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 AM
It 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.
lumpdog005
12/21/2015 10:14:00 AM
I 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 PM
lumpdog005... 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!
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Available Guide

Available Fishing Guide:
Website: Darrell & Dads Family Guide Service

Phone: (509) 687-0709