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round valley
- Thread starter emoussa
- Start date
Super
What's with all the drama?
The cool nights are bringing the surface temps down, but the browns and rainbows are still around 25’-50’ down right now. In about a month the rainbows will start to come in shallow looking for moving water to spawn. That’s when shoreline fishing will pick-up and fly-fishermen will have their best shot.
liamhunter
New member
I personaly hate round valley. I have fished there about 4 times an havent even caught one little sunfish. I have tried spinning and fly.
mbwmn
“Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?”
hhmmm, is it appropriate to discuss live bait techniques on a fly-fishing forum?
Fish between the towers on a night (early morning or late aftrnoon?) that's windless. You'll need battery-operated bow and stern lights (Walmart). This time of year live herring (large ones, like 5-7 inches) would be the hot setup on a med-lt 7ft spinning rod, use a sz2-6 hook thru the upper lip). I liked to use 8-10lb flourocarbon with (2) 2-4ft 4lb flouro leaders off a really tiny 3way swivel. One of the 2 leaders has enough weight to get your bait down.... Expect that most of the large lake trout would be down below 85ft until feeding time. They (and the large browns) are more likely to come up into the shallows (<35ft) at night. Pick up some fatheads or shiners to fish the shallows when you get bored (you will).
always always always WEAR (don't just sit on) a flotation device. be prepared to head for the nearest shore when the lights on the towers start flashing. it means you've pushed your luck.
I have a portable fish finder, and even when you see where the fish are holding it doesn't mean you have a shot at them!
this club used to meet locally, and had lots of info on their website:
The Round Valley Trout Association
hth
good luck-
Yup.... not a good idea to talk about BAIT FISHING on a FLY FISHING board you dope.
Hey Dopey, check out GIRL SCOUT TROUT... Snow White and your other brother's are over there...
You friggin mental midget.
mbwmn
“Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?”
thanks for the attention!
can i get the AKSKIM full treatment now, please? i was wondering when you'd finally get around to me...
:finger:
Shore fishing from Round Valley can be tough most of the time due to the clear water. On a bright day they are deeper than can generally be reached from shore. I have had my best days in miserable weather or right at dusk (right at dawn works too, but I hate to get up early). Being a stream fisherman, I don't start fishing at RV before Thanksgiving and fish until ice up or about March when the lake doesn't freeze. That is a cold time of year and in bad weather or at dusk it can be a cold sport catching trout from shore. If the weather is nice I do much better stream fishing in the winter. Same thing in the Finger Lakes - the best shore fishing is in some mighty cold weather.
Like anywhere, there is a learning curve. When I fish there regularly I get a feel for the fish movements and generally do well. When I fish only occassionally I getted skunked more often than I like to admit.
Like anywhere, there is a learning curve. When I fish there regularly I get a feel for the fish movements and generally do well. When I fish only occassionally I getted skunked more often than I like to admit.
coolkyle
De nalgas!
I haven't fished Round Valley, though I'd like to throw my tube in there this fall (tubes are allowed, right?). If it's like most lakes, I'd stick with Woolly Buggers, Clousers, and the Carey Special. Midge pupa on a long leader/indicator would probably work also. If the fish are rising or boiling, try a small Adams or my favorite, an unweighted Prince nymph retrieved slowly.
why not talk about bait fishing at RV in the winter when that's the only thing that works? even though it's a fly board here, it's also NJ trout fishing board.
In answer to the original question. Trout are moving up in the coves as we speak. walk over the dam and fish the far side of the launch cove since the side with the ramp on it is way too shallow. i find that 20+ feet drops are the best to catch these trout. The secret is powerbait since you can float it off the bottom with a 2 foot leader. then just wait and hope. shiners also work good there at times. marshmallow, small crawler combo or marshmallow mealworm.
the bait has to be floating off the bottom to increase your chances. Also use a slip sinker rig because the trout there do not like feeling any weight when they pick up the bait.
In answer to the original question. Trout are moving up in the coves as we speak. walk over the dam and fish the far side of the launch cove since the side with the ramp on it is way too shallow. i find that 20+ feet drops are the best to catch these trout. The secret is powerbait since you can float it off the bottom with a 2 foot leader. then just wait and hope. shiners also work good there at times. marshmallow, small crawler combo or marshmallow mealworm.
the bait has to be floating off the bottom to increase your chances. Also use a slip sinker rig because the trout there do not like feeling any weight when they pick up the bait.
I'll be anal man - this is basically a fly board and I'm not sure bait stuff is appropriate, but a little bait talk now and again doesn't hurt.
While I agree bait is a higher percentage tactic, I will strenuously disagree that fly tactics wouldn't work. When the fish are in close buggers/streamers/lake patterns etc work. I haven't had much with the midge thing, but I was there one day when a bugger flinger by the boat ramp was actually outfishing the bait crowd. I always thought fly fishing at Round Valley was like fly fishing in the surf - you have to be there at the right time when they are close to shore or you get skunked while the boat guys can always find the fish. In addition, fly casting in a big blow can be real tough and it may be more comfortatble
In an odd irony, NJ is the only place I have caught lake trout from shore with flies. Maybe it is mainly because this is where I live, but the cold , miserable winter weather that brings them close to shore means ice fishing season over most of laker's range. NJ and the Finger Lakes are two places where the lake trout lakes don't freeze in winter.
While I agree bait is a higher percentage tactic, I will strenuously disagree that fly tactics wouldn't work. When the fish are in close buggers/streamers/lake patterns etc work. I haven't had much with the midge thing, but I was there one day when a bugger flinger by the boat ramp was actually outfishing the bait crowd. I always thought fly fishing at Round Valley was like fly fishing in the surf - you have to be there at the right time when they are close to shore or you get skunked while the boat guys can always find the fish. In addition, fly casting in a big blow can be real tough and it may be more comfortatble
In an odd irony, NJ is the only place I have caught lake trout from shore with flies. Maybe it is mainly because this is where I live, but the cold , miserable winter weather that brings them close to shore means ice fishing season over most of laker's range. NJ and the Finger Lakes are two places where the lake trout lakes don't freeze in winter.
Jeff is right if they're swarming but i haven't seen it like that in a couple of years. in the spring they used to hang by the dock in schools like he said but i haven't seen that the past 2 years. maybe i'm busy stream fishing in april?
To be honest I haven't fished RV much the last two winters. My most common winter spots are the upper SBR, Round Valley, Merrill Ck Reservior, the Little Lehigh, Saucon Ck, small NJ limestoners to remain un-named, and the Pequest. Last year I also fished more on the Musky because of all the activity there. I concentrate on what fishes best, which is self reinforcing because you learn the patterns on those waters better. RV has been on the bottom of the list the last couple of years, but was first on the list around 2000. Things change.
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