“Mark Boriek of Hunterdon, who fishes ice-free waters all winter, hit the jackpot Tuesday when he caught a 27-inch 7-pound 1-ounce rainbow trout while wading the Round Valley Reservoir shoreline.” read entire article on mycentraljersey.com
A Yo-Zuri® Pins Minnow Magnet™ Size: 2-3/4 inch, 3/16 oz. Color: Rainbow Trout is said to have taken down the trout.
If I’m reading this correctly, the fish was caught on the eastern shore which is all the way on the other side of the reservoir from the boat launch. There is a hiking trail to get back there here’s a trail map of Round Valley pdf. Follow the Cushetunk trail to the Campground trail. It’s about a 4mile hike one way so be prepared.
On any given day, you will find people parked in their cars to overlook the breathtaking views of Round Valley Reservoir. Without question, it is home to New Jersey’s premiere trout fishery, but its beauty draws sailors, hikers, campers and mountain bike enthusiasts alike. Hunterdon county residents might be surprised to learn that there are actually nesting Bald Eagles enjoying the waters of Round Valley. Here is a recent photo of a Round Valley Bald Eagle.
On more than one occasion I have had the great pleasure of witnessing these Eagles swoop down and grab trout from the Valley’s surface. It is an awesome display of nature I wish all could experience. Winter is the best time to enjoy the Eagles because their white heads and tails stick out like a sore thumb among the brown barren trees.
During most winter trips, we will stop and scan the typical areas they nest in along the northern shorelines. With the fish cooperating or not, getting the opportunity to observe these magnificent, majestic birds of prey always makes our day. Below is a video taken on a recent outing.
See if you can spot another eagle perched in a tree during the video.
The camera we use is nothing special. It is a Sony Cybershot Digital with 8.1 mega-pixels and a 10x zoom. Take your time, spot them from far away and ease up to them within a few hundred yards. Then use a trolling motor to get close enough to take your pics. A camera with 8 mega-pixels or better will let you crop your shots when you get home and maintain clarity. Get too close and they will soar away. Enjoy.
It might not be for everyone. Many will call it hard core. Spouses will think you’ve lost your marbles when the alarm is ringing at 5:00am and the mercury is still in the 20s. But, for those hardy anglers who wish to extend their season and target trout in Round Valley, winter is the time to really “clean up”. And there’s no better way than to “sweep” of course.
Mike Perone – Golden Trout | Bob Olsen- Lake Trout | Mark LaPrete – Brown Trout
When I first arrived on the Round Valley scene in the early 80s I noticed many boats trolling along the shorelines starting in autumn. I recall seeing one vessel even had a machine connected to a rod holder. The rod was moving forward and back automatically. Later I learned the owner cleverly converted a car’s windshield wiper mechanism to automate the jerking. Sweeping and Jerking are interchangeable terms to describe the technique of slow trolling baits along the shallow banks of a lake. Minnow type lures and or flies are long-lined back 100 feet or more with little or no weight in 8 to 18 feet of water. The angler will then impart erratic action to the bait with forward movements or “jerks” of the rod and then let back – continuously repeating the process. The rod is swept forward to make the lure dart and dip. Each outing we must experiment with the sweeping speed and distance until we find what the trout want that day. Some days they want it violently jerked, and some days subtly twitched. If you get tired of sweeping, or need a coffee break, place your gear in a level set rod holder pointing out one side. This dead sticking will also produce a fair share of hits. However, it is the hand held jerked rod that seems to always generate more strikes. Continue reading →
