Lake Trout Limit Increased at Round Valley

Posted on January 5, 2012 by Robert Ivan

For 2012 the lake trout size and creel limit has been raised as a measure to increase the viability of trophy lake trout.

The creel limit for lake trout in Round Valley Reservoir is increased (from the former three
fish at 15 inches to less than or equal to 20 inches plus one additional fish of 24 inches or
greater—for a total of four lake trout) now to a six fish limit—which may range from 15 inches
to less than 24 inches, plus one additional fish of 24 inches or greater — for a daily creel total of seven lake trout. Visit http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/digfsh12.htm to learn more.

Looks like we’re going to be eating a lot of lake trout this year!

2011 Round Valley Lake Trout Gillnet Survey Results

Posted on November 13, 2011 by Robert Ivan

Every year the NJ DEP Division of Fish and Wildlife conducts a gill netting survey of Lake Trout at Round Valley Reservoir to monitor their health, population, reproduction rate and more. The 2011 survey was conducted last week and the gill nets “caught some [lake trout] in the 20-inch range, killed one of about 10 pounds” according to this article in the Daily Record.

This is a pretty poor showing compared to last year’s catch. Watch this video of the 2010 Round Valley Lake Trout gillnet survey to learn about the survey and see a 32lb laker caught and released in that year’s survey.

October 22 Fishing Report

Posted on October 23, 2011 by Robert Ivan

Chris, Bill and I got a super late start and wound up at the dock at 3:30am. Air temperature was 38 degrees and water temp was 63 degrees. We double anchored in 35, 45 and 55 feet of water. Our greatest success came at 35 feet where we caught Rockbass after Rockbass. At one point we were joking it was the same fish, but who knows.

rockbass

We toughed it out till daybreak and it got down to 31 degrees at one point, brrrrr! Night fishing is DONE, we were the only boat out there.

Sun Up - Time get coffee

After the sun came up we tried jigging for lakers, but the wind was so strong we couldn’t keep our lines vertical enough to contact the bottom. We were using a Krokodile, Hopkins, white bucktail, Kastmaster and Binsky. After a couple hours of fighting the wind we called it a night/day.

Leaves are changing color - Fall is here.

Back at shore, there were a decent number of anglers in the cove between the two boat launches. Almost all of them were fishing the bottom for Rainbows using a variety of baits, shiners, worms, powerbait. I know of one fella that caught a 16inch rainbow using powerbait.

Photos courtesy of WoodallPhotography. Stay warm out there!

Round Valley Reservoir Labor Day 2011 Fishing Report

Posted on September 5, 2011 by Robert Ivan

Fished labor day with Chris and Erin from Hillsborough. We hit the water at 5:30am with a plan to drift for lake trout. The wind was pretty steady coming out of the southeast so I set up some long drifts to take us from about the middle of the lake across from the North Point taking us toward the North Dam.

The water surface temperature was a balmy 75 degrees. We fished right on the bottom using 3/4 egg sinkers, #6 hooks and live “large” Shiners. I bought the Shiners the day before at Efingers in Bound Brook out of desperation (Everyone was closed like it was some kind of holiday… oh wait). The large Shiners at Efingers are most other places small, so keep that in mind when buying from them.

Lake Trout Labor Day 2011 Round Valley Reservoir

Our depth ranged from 59 feet to 83 feet as we covered a lot of ground and we caught lakers at all depths. The size ranged from 19 inches to 22 inches and all but the 19 incher had big bellies full of eggs. Remember too that Lake Trout spawn on the rocks of both dams (though predominantly the North Dam) and it’s catch and release only from September 16th to November 30th to coincide with their spawn.

June 26, 2011 Fishing Report

Posted on June 27, 2011 by Robert Ivan

Fishing at Round Valley slowed this weekend. My buddy and I got out on Sunday at the crack of dawn and by 8:30am the bite was finished. We caught bluegill on phoebes and Rapala (even a double header!). We stuck around til 11:30am drifting herring but only managed to drift from one side of the lake to the other.

One fella in caught several Lake Trout from his kayak, but that was before 8:30 as well.

I recommend getting out early or fishing before and into dusk, but who knows it may have just been this weekend.

If you were looking to get out and just enjoy the lake then it was an awesome day. Saw lots of folks on kayaks, pontoon boats, and shore fishing all enjoying the day.