ROUND VALLEY RESERVOIR

[Luna Sea 5]

ROUND VALLEY RESERVOIR
One of the top spots for bass fishermen in New Jersey is Round Valley Reservoir. Round Valley is better noted for its trout fishing. Producing the state record for lake trout and brown trout, Round Valley is considered to be the best trophy trout-fishing hole in the state; hence, bass fishermen who look to more traditional bass producers, such as Lake Hopatcong and Lake Musconetcong, largely overlook it.



Round Valley is a unique body of water in that it has its water pumped into it rather than being filled by a feeder stream. This means that the reservoir's water color and clarity are very stable; however, it also means that the structure changes during dry periods, such as the summer of 2002. The lower water changed the shorelines and brought a lot of structure closer to the surface, making bass easier to get at and giving anglers easier fishing. Even with the lower water levels, Round Valley still possesses plenty of deep-water structure and bass are often found suspended around it during the spring.



Topwater anglers enjoyed good fishing last year; however, how good the surface fishing will be this season will have a lot to do with the water levels in the reservoir. Under normal conditions, jigs, deep-diving crankbaits and plastic worms, worked in and around the submerged treetops and vegetation, are your main tools to catch bass. As with all the other top bass spots detailed here, Round Valley has good largemouth and smallmouth populations. In fact, Carol Marciniak caught the state-record smallmouth from Round Valley in 1990. Her big smallie weighed in at a whopping 7 pounds, 2 ounces!



With 2,350 acres of surface water, Round Valley is one of the state's biggest bass-fishing holes. There is an excellent paved boat launch, along with plenty of shoreline access and ample parking, as well as a 10-horsepower rule on the reservoir. The horsepower limit keeps fishing pressure down a bit, too, as anglers with high-powered bass boats can't use them on Round Valley.

[IrishAyes]

I fished Round Valley many years ago only once or twice. Large lake that you have to put your time in to learn.

A little further north is the Spruce Run. I have fished that more than Round Valley and did decent. That was wayyyyyyy back when I did the fresh water thing. 

Both were 9/9 HP lakes at the time.

[mgm]

Fished it years ago....it sure has a variety of fish, but personally it's like fishing in a large soup bowl....nothing like a lake with varied structure and shoreline to cast to weeds and flats.

[IrishAyes]

Spruce Run is like what you are describing. 

[ped579]

Round Valley, we use to get some nice size lake trout out of there.  used a Red Devil spoon down deep.  Sweet.

[mgm]

I have a friend who spends hours on that lake looking for trophy lakers, and browns.......real key is to find and fish the thermoclines, troll or fish live bait at the proper depth.....watch the float on the bait for signs that the bait is being stalked, etc.

Takes lots of experience and time on the water to know what you are doing there to nail big ones on a consistent basis.

[bassnblues]

I live about 10 mins from RV and used to fish it a lot when I had a 14'er. Tough lake sometimes but some nice fish are caught.

Like all big water trout fishing, the right depth is key. Downriggers or bait on a slip bobber both work.

For bass fishing, try drifting the 20' - 40' range with a minnow on a slip bobber. Again, set the depth of the bobber where you're reading the fish. If I'm not mistaken, the state record Smallmouth was caught there.

They just put in docks this year, so launching will be easier.

[IrishAyes]

When I fished Round Valley (and a lot of other freshwater spots) I was relatively new to fishing and didn't know about thermoclines and a lot of other things that mattered. It was a definate learning time for me.

Most of the stuff I did learn bled over into the saltwater scene, with fishing structure, etc. Took many, many years of fishing to learn what I know now and I am still learning every day. 

[ped579]

  We had some good times up there camping and all.  There were four of us that would make it a long weekend and bring our boats up and have a blast.

[wb]

Yep there's some steep mtn biking trails there around the res as well. Campsites out on the far side-- tough to pack your gear in without a boat....

[kezsr]

back in the 70's use to car top 11 foot jon boat with a 3 1/2 horse kicker,when the winds kicked up out there it was like being on the North Atlantic.

[IrishAyes]

I had a 12 foot car topper with a 6 1/2 HP. Was fun to drive up to the water, pull over to the side of the launch area, untie the boat, slide it off the roof rack and put it in the water while everyone else was waiting to get to the launch spot with their boats on the trailers. 

[Jersey Ray]

Not only is Round Valley a Great Trout Lake,but it is also has some Great Bass Fishing if you know what use and where to go...Heres some Pics of a 8 Pounder I banged on a Rubber Worm at about 2:30 A.M....  

[Hotrod]

Wow Ray.. that is Cool.   You caught it Mounted and all    Saved you a few buck I bet 

NICE FISH

[Jersey Ray]

Wow Ray.. that is Cool.   You caught it Mounted and all    Saved you a few buck I bet 

NICE FISH

                                          LMAO!    Yeah,it`s not to often that I catch them Mounted like that,usually they are swimming;but Sometimes you just get Lucky I guess...

[Pfishingruven]

Nice fish!

 

[ped579]

 

[gymrat987654321]

Nice fish 

[TRSteve71]

When I lived in Clifton NJ and just bought my boat, Round Valley was my place to go. I could drift for hours catching lakers and bass. Water was so damn clear back then you could see 20 feet or more down.

Gone camping there too. made many a meal of deep fried sunnies and perch. YUM!!!