Round Valley trout fishing from shore

[anthrax2244]

Hey guys. A buddy of mine and I have been taking our kids (4 and 5 year olds) to shore fish for rainbows each weekend since early October at dawn. This has been the least productive fall shore trout fishing at RVR I’ve had in the past 25 years that I’ve been going there. My son and I haven’t even gotten a hit from a trout while my buddy has only caught 2 in the 4 outings that we’ve done. However, we’ve had decent success with some bass, pickerel and crappies.

We’ve been running a standard powerbait rig, egg sinker, 3’ leader that has always produced in the past. We’re tried the shore past the dam between the recreation lake and the main lake and also rangers cove without much success.

Haven’t seen many fish caught either, maybe 3 total in our 4 trips.

Has anyone else had any luck there this fall?

We had a warm October and with the water level being so low, I’m thinking it must be having a significant effect on the shore fishing. Any thoughts? I’ve kinda been waiting for it to “turn on” and it just doesn’t seem like it’s happening this year.

We’re planning to go this weekend again. This kids have been having a great time regardless but we’d love to get a few trout on the lines for them. Any tips/suggestions would be appreciated.

[nate01]

I tried in the same areas a week and a half ago with shiners and got a decent smallmouth and a couple missed hits. No trout for me and stayed away from other people so didn’t see how they were doing.

[Bruce Litton]

Can't guess why the fishing is slow, unless fewer got stocked, which I have no idea about, except that the virus did upset things in the spring....In 2016 when the water was at record low level, the fall shoreline trout fishing was fantastic.

[AndyS]

Fish at night if you can. Always had good luck with Velveeta cheese for Rainbows, what about the cooked shrimp too ?

[Mark B.]

Over the years, I start having luck casting a Yo Zuri, at the very end of November through the remainder of the winter. And, I catch more when the reservoir is at full pool.

[Mako5]

RV shore fishing went to hell as soon as the internet took hold and spot burned that place .. i used to get rides there pre-driving days and id always kill it / limit out QUICK .. my SPOT was the far rangers cove with that one 15/20 yard wide sandbank with the steep dropoff , the center of that crossing towards te resticted area hell of a honey hole with 35/40+ ft depths , always held huge monster trout .. WAS good

[Bruce Litton]

Hey guys. A buddy of mine and I have been taking our kids (4 and 5 year olds) to shore fish for rainbows each weekend since early October at dawn. This has been the least productive fall shore trout fishing at RVR I’ve had in the past 25 years that I’ve been going there. My son and I haven’t even gotten a hit from a trout while my buddy has only caught 2 in the 4 outings that we’ve done. However, we’ve had decent success with some bass, pickerel and crappies.

We’ve been running a standard powerbait rig, egg sinker, 3’ leader that has always produced in the past. We’re tried the shore past the dam between the recreation lake and the main lake and also rangers cove without much success.

Haven’t seen many fish caught either, maybe 3 total in our 4 trips.

Has anyone else had any luck there this fall?

We had a warm October and with the water level being so low, I’m thinking it must be having a significant effect on the shore fishing. Any thoughts? I’ve kinda been waiting for it to “turn on” and it just doesn’t seem like it’s happening this year.

We’re planning to go this weekend again. This kids have been having a great time regardless but we’d love to get a few trout on the lines for them. Any tips/suggestions would be appreciated.


Are the COVID crowds still there? Or has it settled down to just an angler or two on weekdays? (Maybe you fished on the weekend?)

[anthrax2244]

I tried in the same areas a week and a half ago with shiners and got a decent smallmouth and a couple missed hits. No trout for me and stayed away from other people so didn’t see how they were doing.

Thanks for sharing.

A friend of a friend caught a small, but handsome little hook-jawed Tiger Trout out of the boat launch cove Yesterday.. Took a shiner. Also caught a few lmb, nothing big. He soaked power bait as well but no takers

[anthrax2244]

Fish at night if you can. Always had good luck with Velveeta cheese for Rainbows, what about the cooked shrimp too ?

Thanks Andy. I’ve done the night-time rainbows from my boat with shrimp and had success but with the kids now I can’t get out on the night bite. Once they get a bit older it’ll be game on. Have you ever tried those baits from shore during the day time? Seems like it might work. I’ll give it a shot And let you know

[anthrax2244]

Are the COVID crowds still there? Or has it settled down to just an angler or two on weekdays? (Maybe you fished on the weekend?)

I’ve only been able to get there on the weekends. We get there at dawn and stay until somewhere between 10am -12pm. There are some fishermen but there aren’t that many and everyone is spread out for the most part. There seems to Not anywhere close to the hoardes that were there over the summer. Years ago in the fall, the shoreline around the boat launch was always packed with guys in between the two ramps, on the rocks and on the shore across from the ramp. It’s nowhere near that and hasn’t been for years.

The RVTA message board had steady reports back in the day and for awhile Round Valley Fishing had a lot of reports but no more. Seems like the interest in the Fall shoreline Trout fishing has waned.

I don’t remember 2016 off-hand as a great season, but I also don’t remember it being as bad as this one. I had good luck every year until 2020.

Mako, With regard to Rangers Cove, that area is now maybe 10’ deep in the middle.

Mark, Thanks for sharing. I’ve seen your posts in the past and you always seem to hook something!
Let us know how you do!

[Mikey topaz]

Right now is a great time and only gonna get better those trout are cruising the shoreline no doubt!!! There’s just too much going on right now probably why for the lack of anglers. Guys are hunting being the rut is in progress, stripers in the salt,steelhead, a lot is going on now. As far as the Rvta we usually post more updated posts on our Facebook page more then the website.

[Mikey topaz]

Thanks for sharing.

A friend of a friend caught a small, but handsome little hook-jawed Tiger Trout out of the boat launch cove Yesterday.. Took a shiner. Also caught a few lmb, nothing big. He soaked power bait as well but no takers

How big was the tiger? Probably a fish we stocked with the club back a few months ago.... they seem to be doing good

[Bruce Litton]

I’ve only been able to get there on the weekends. We get there at dawn and stay until somewhere between 10am -12pm. There are some fishermen but there aren’t that many and everyone is spread out for the most part. There seems to Not anywhere close to the hoardes that were there over the summer. Years ago in the fall, the shoreline around the boat launch was always packed with guys in between the two ramps, on the rocks and on the shore across from the ramp. It’s nowhere near that and hasn’t been for years.

The RVTA message board had steady reports back in the day and for awhile Round Valley Fishing had a lot of reports but no more. Seems like the interest in the Fall shoreline Trout fishing has waned.

I don’t remember 2016 off-hand as a great season, but I also don’t remember it being as bad as this one. I had good luck every year until 2020.

Mako, With regard to Rangers Cove, that area is now maybe 10’ deep in the middle.

Mark, Thanks for sharing. I’ve seen your posts in the past and you always seem to hook something!
Let us know how you do!

Ranger Cove is filling fast from weed die-off. Summer of 2016, I went all the way into the back of it and it was absolutely filled by many dozens of big carp.

The state record brown trout got caught from shore. Over 20 pounds, I believe, so that was just part of the motive to get out and do that. The Fisherman magazine used to cover freshwater more extensively, always reported on RVR. I was in RVTA for a few years and relished the stories about the reservoir's heyday. They had so many more members back then. It's all about the herring, really. Or smaller than that. The microorganisms they would feed on.

Largemouth bass used to be bigger, too. I fished it in 1978, aged 17, from my 12-foot Starcraft with a brother. The many largemouths we caught averaged two pounds.

[anthrax2244]

How big was the tiger? Probably a fish we stocked with the club back a few months ago.... they seem to be doing good

You made a good point about people being busy pursuing other outdoor opportunities. Fall is prime time!

I don’t have an exact measurement but it looked like somewhere between 12-14”. Bright fall colors and good proportions. Those Tigers are pretty fish. My son is itching to catch one. Hopefully we get one this fall.

Thank you to the RVTA for adding some variety to the reservoir and working to preserve the fishery. It’s awesome that you guys are trying to get the browns re-established. There used to be monsters In there as Bruce pointed out.

Bruce, I remember seeing those LARGE carp there years ago. They seemed to show themselves between mid May and June, suspended near the surface over weed beds. They’re probably still around, but I haven’t tried looking for them in recent years.

In a slightly related matter, I stopped by Echo Lake in Mountainside yesterday afternoon and wet a line for half an hour soaking powerbait with no action. It’s fall trout stocked. I talked with a young angler who frequents the lake. He said that the trout fishing has been “off” and he has only managed 4 fish over 5 trips which is much less productive than prior years. He said the few fish he has caught favored live bait worms/mealworms over powerbait.

[anthrax2244]

We finally got one this morning on power bait. Made my son’s day. 17” rainbow. Persistence pays off. Hopefully the pic shows up

[nate01]

Nice, man. Awesome pic. The smile says it all, love to see that

[Bruce Litton]

You made a good point about people being busy pursuing other outdoor opportunities. Fall is prime time!

I don’t have an exact measurement but it looked like somewhere between 12-14”. Bright fall colors and good proportions. Those Tigers are pretty fish. My son is itching to catch one. Hopefully we get one this fall.

Thank you to the RVTA for adding some variety to the reservoir and working to preserve the fishery. It’s awesome that you guys are trying to get the browns re-established. There used to be monsters In there as Bruce pointed out.

Bruce, I remember seeing those LARGE carp there years ago. They seemed to show themselves between mid May and June, suspended near the surface over weed beds. They’re probably still around, but I haven’t tried looking for them in recent years.

In a slightly related matter, I stopped by Echo Lake in Mountainside yesterday afternoon and wet a line for half an hour soaking powerbait with no action. It’s fall trout stocked. I talked with a young angler who frequents the lake. He said that the trout fishing has been “off” and he has only managed 4 fish over 5 trips which is much less productive than prior years. He said the few fish he has caught favored live bait worms/mealworms over powerbait.

Nice 17-inch rainbow.

Yeah, when I saw the carp, they did the exact same. It really surprised me. I had no idea such carp are in the reservoir. You hear about big eels caught, some channel cats, but I've near heard of anyone catching carp.