110 Rainbow trout in one night:

[AndyS]

http://roundvalleyfishing.com/2012/06/24/record-110-rainbow-trout-caught-aboard-double-anchor/

[flatcreek]

Wow, I may have to give that a try. I've got two anchors maybe three if that will help. I just don't know if I can stayupall night.

[Fishon1982]

That's nuts I am in let's go

[mcfish82]

sounds great...but im sure these guys are putting a real hurting on the rainbow population..i've heard plenty of stories of guys seeing a lot of belly up rainbows the morning after

[bigfishy]

Lets just say the eagles are fatter than ever...Been a problem fer the last couple years...Too many ppl doin it every nite....I stop doin it ALL together
when they die even after just cuttin the line asap...:mad:


Its almost upsetting that its getting even MORE advertising:confused:

[lebanonsport]

Yes, it is sad. Trout in general, rainbows for sure are a cold water species. They thrive in water around 59 degrees. They have a pretty high mortality rate at temps above 75 degrees- this time of year, the surface temp at Round Valley is over 80 degrees. So while catching a ton of rainbows is fun- it really is putting a hurt on the overall population. At night, it seems as tho they swim off nice and healthy but you can't see them going belly up 20 yards from your boat. Plus most peopel don't know how to handle them properly to even attempt to put them back alive. While some nice keepers are caught when fishing and catching a ton at night, most are the stockies that the state puts in to get bigger and those, well, they are Eagle food.

[Almaink]

This made me sick to my stomach to read. This is the one thing about trout fishing I've never liked. I was always taught you fish until you catch your limit, then you are done, regardless of if you keep them or let them go. Shame on the Hunterdon Anglers club for encouraging this type of fishing.

[ken jan]

I don't know about this? Even though, I bet it's super fun, I think they should close down trout fishing in the summer due to the high temps.(at least in the lakes) But that's just me.

[Polelock]

We all like to catch fish but,,, We also know how fragile trout can be... Now I'm sure the fish were handled with care but do we know for sure that they all survived??

Here is an article from CT..

http://articles.courant.com/2006-09-16/news/0609160491_1_trout-fishing-fisheries-division-fishermen

Here is one mortality report
Now that we've covered the basics of preserving your catch for the dinner table, lets look at the proper etiquette for releasing fish. A recent study done at Queens University in Ontario, Canada which looked at physiological effects of brief air exposure in exhaustively exercised (played out) rainbow trout (oncorhynchus mykiss), is very revealing and educational toward showing just how precarious and detrimental, improper catch and releasing fishing can be. I will be the first to say that even as a professional fishing guide and well accomplished recreational sportfisherman, I did not know all the facts when it comes to releasing the quarry of my angling efforts.

I will attempt to share with you the most scientifically substantiated information I have seen on catch and release methods. The study looked at survival rates of played out rainbow trout that were also exposed to air for 60 seconds, 30 seconds, and 0 seconds. Additionally, the survival rates on non-exercised rainbow trout were used as a control for the study. Get ready, the results are surprising.

As you'd expect, the control group had a 100% survival rate. The rainbow trout that were exhaustively exercised and not exposed to air survived at an 88% rate. However, the rate of survival for fish exposed to air for 30 seconds was only 62%, and those that were held out of the water for 60 seconds had a mere 28% chance of living to fight another day. The researchers attributed the higher mortality among fish exposed to air to a significant reduction of oxygen content in the fish's blood.

If these statistics leave you wondering or unconvinced, consider the following analogy: Holding a fish out of the water for 60 seconds or even 30 seconds would be like a human running full speed for a half an hour and then immediately being submerged in water for up to one full minute. Many of us would not fare very well under those conditions and if we did survive, we'd surely carry some ill effects, some possibly permanent.

This study will change the pace of my Kodak moment and expedite the time it takes me to put my catch back into the water. Ideally, keeping the fish submerged in the water while you take pictures will help tremendously toward making sure the fish doesn't eventually go belly up.

Some other important methods for handling fish you intend to release include touching the fish as little as possible, not squeezing the fish, and never putting your fingers inside the fish's gills. The more you handle a fish and run your hand(s) along its sides, the more that fish is likely to be depleted of its protective slime layer, thus increasing its risk of fungal infection and decreasing its ability to gracefully cut through the water. See also the article on how to release fish.

I like to run my hand along the leader to the fish's mouth and grasp the hook firmly until I can pinch it with a pair of pliers, using the weight of the fish to pull it loose. A lot of times (unless the hook is in an awkward position) I don't even touch the fish at all. When you hold a fish by squeezing it in the palm of your hand, you are not only removing its protective slime, but also possibly injuring its internal organs.

Equally important and potentially life-threatening to the fish is putting your finger(s) in their gills. A fish's gills are among their most fragile and crucial organs. Evolution has provided them protective gill plates to prevent anything from entering or piercing this fragile area. But unknowing anglers will routinely use this gill plate to hold their catch and although this is fine when you intend to keep the fish, it's a bad deal if a release is planned.

[Leif]

Reminds me of the striper reports this Spring...... It's "funny" how some things/reports you see can turn you off to fishing, even when you love to fish.

When sport is removed from the equation and fishing just becomes a numbers game, it is not enjoyable to me or fair to the fish as far as I am concerned.

I agree with Almaink


Leif

[Lard Almighty]

Maybe the reason why lakers are taking over RV is because of the guys putting a hurting on the rainbows and browns like that? :confused:

[Michael82929]

No one wants to see fish go belly up / and keep the conservation of the species, but if presented with the same circumstance, unless I had to leave them biting (which I have on numerous occasions) - it would be hard for me to leave something like that.

I respect the opinions of members on this board but I have to equally respect someone who wouldnt mind having a nite like that.

I would hope (and will give benefit of the doubt they are) - diehards like that, respect the fishery and do everything they can to release fish unharmed so they can have continued success for future trips to come.

If they dont, it would be a shame and hope they get educated quick. These fish shouldnt be leaving the water, using small (hopefully barbless) hooks, and if keeping, only keeping the fish that you think wont make it.

[Polelock]

I'm sure Ed and Dennis do everything possible to release them as quickly and respectfully as possible. I am just concerned at what happens after they swim away...

[Wilson]

I've done the night fishing at RVR 2 or 3 times.
All the fish caught died after release, only caught about three or four.
With three guys fishing the total limit is 6 fish over 15", and they claim 110:eek: and they must of caught lots of shorts.
I woulda thought RVF.com would be more conservation minded:confused:

Fat Eagles is right:rolleyes:

[Michael82929]

agreed polelock..

[NorthJerzyG]

When sport is removed from the equation and fishing just becomes a numbers game, it is not enjoyable to me or fair to the fish as far as I am concerned.

+1.

I think I would have gotten bored after 50 or so and switched to a different target species. I'd want to set a record for size of fish caught, not number of fish caught.

[Lard Almighty]

I think I would have gotten bored after 50 or so and switched to a different target species. I'd want to set a record for size of fish caught, not number of fish caught.
Plus, how can you be that proud of catching trout that eat corn, or cheese, or in this case cooked shrimp? Seems like these guys abandoned their fishing trip in favor of an ego trip.

[Moz]

This made me sick to my stomach to read. This is the one thing about trout fishing I've never liked. I was always taught you fish until you catch your limit, then you are done, regardless of if you keep them or let them go. Shame on the Hunterdon Anglers club for encouraging this type of fishing.

Have to agree on everything you said. I think the camaraderie on a night out with some guys is cool but I don't really see any sport in this kind of fishing let alone putting that big a bruising on them.

I'll keep tight-lipped on the last sentence though, I still harbor some "WTF??" towards a certain party.

[lebanonsport]

I've done the night fishing at RVR 2 or 3 times.
All the fish caught died after release, only caught about three or four.
With three guys fishing the total limit is 6 fish over 15", and they claim 110:eek: and they must of caught lots of shorts.
I woulda thought RVF.com would be more conservation minded:confused:

Fat Eagles is right:rolleyes:


These were not members of RVF.com- they were member of Hunterdon Anglers. I don't think this is meant to bash anyone from any clubs. This is meant to educate those that don't understand that catching that many fish in one night during summer months is actually hurting the fishery. This is a trophy trout lake; if the small fish are continuously killed off they are not being given a chance to grow. Fish for lakers this time of year, it is a challenge - they are at 100'.

[Wilson]

These were not members of RVF.com- they were member of Hunterdon Anglers. I don't think this is meant to bash anyone from any clubs. This is meant to educate those that don't understand that catching that many fish in one night during summer months is actually hurting the fishery. This is a trophy trout lake; if the small fish are continuously killed off they are not being given a chance to grow. Fish for lakers this time of year, it is a challenge - they are at 100'. The report was posted on http://roundvalleyfishing.com/2012/0...double-anchor/ (http://roundvalleyfishing.com/2012/06/24/record-110-rainbow-trout-caught-aboard-double-anchor/) That's not bashing, it's reality.
They should take the post down. And from what I have read on this thread, the Hunterdon Anglers Club are the ones that need to be educated;)

[Polelock]

Please also note that the double anchor, capt ed, hunterdon anglers, or roundvalleyfishing.com,,, are NOT affiliated with the Round Valley Trout Association (RVTA) or its website www.fishrvta.com

[baetis]

When I was a kid we were on a family vacation up in N.H. We stopped at a hatchery that had a spring fed pond that you could fish. Since we were staying in hotels we didn't really want to keep the fish as there was no place to cook them, etc.

We told the guy at the hatchery that we were happy to pay for the fish, but would like to release them. He said they would die if caught. I expressed some disbelief so he said, when you catch a fish immediately put it in a bucket and release the fish into a hatchery pen that was holding 100's of healthy trout.

I ended up catching three small rainbows. Nothing over 12". All lip hooked and nothing played to exhaustion. After each catch I quickly placed them in a bucket with water and released it into the pen. Each fish seemed robust and swam off quickly.

Within a half hour of release each rainbow went belly up even though it was in a well oxygenated, cold spring water area. The fish were netted up, we paid for them and gave them to another guy fishing.

Long story short - if you are fishing for trout in the summer in anything except the coldest water possible plan on keeping the fish because they will die.

[Lard Almighty]

There is lots of interesting information about hooking mortality in this thread, both scientific and anecdotal. It all has certainly made me consider the way I fish for trout. I am about 95 percent C&R on all trout no matter where I catch them, but now I have to wonder if I'm doing more harm than good by letting these fish go. Maybe keeping a limit and calling it a day is a better policy after all? There are lots of factors I have to consider in this situation, mainly:

1) Can the stream/lake support trout year-round?
2) Am I using lures that enable quick releases with minimal handling?
3) Am I using tackle that allows me to land trout quickly and with minimal physical stress?
4) Are current water temperatures within the trout's "comfort zone" throughout the water column?

It seems to me that if the answer to any of the above is "No," then it would probably be better to keep any caught trout than letting them go (however, I certainly would get sick of eating the dozens of trout I typically land in the spring). It appears that the best way to keep trout alive is to limit fishing for them to times of year or water conditions that would allow for low mortality after hooking. Getting back to the subject of this thread, playing rainbows to exhaustion on light tackle through 75-degree surface temperatures is certainly not conducive to C&R.

[AndyS]

Fishermen ought to stop and think before they believe that rainbows caught and released at night are dying in droves. that's total b.s. by jealous guys who either don't like who's catching them, don't know how to carefully release trout or simply lack knowledge.
Very few guys are good enough to catch big numbers of rainbows at night, but even all the rainbows caught and released at night in a couple of summer months is only a small fraction of round valley reservoir trout caught when you consider all the lakers brought up from deeper, colder water than the night 'bows, dragged behind a boat by trollers up into 80-degree surface water and released almost every day in june July and August.
How could lakers survive their rough treatment on the way up from very cold water when the daytime air temps get into the 80s and 90s and surface water gets to be 75-80 degrees while only rainbows caught at night from warmer water not as deep die at night?
More people catch more numbers of lakers more often almost every day than ever even hook rainbows at night. if you think warm surface water or whatever kills only rainbows and not lakers, get real. there are far more daytime trollers catching trout than anglers fishing for rainbows at night.

[bigfishy]

The report was posted on http://roundvalleyfishing.com/2012/0...double-anchor/ (http://roundvalleyfishing.com/2012/06/24/record-110-rainbow-trout-caught-aboard-double-anchor/) That's not bashing, it's reality.
They should take the post down. And from what I have read on this thread, the Hunterdon Anglers Club are the ones that need to be educated;)

Everyone needs education at many times in their fishing and internet posting careers....If the subject was never posted HERE , millions of ppl would be un-aware that you can get that many in one night...In turn there would be less attraction to this night time rainbow phenomenon that has gotten TOO much attention for TOO long...Its only a matter of time for the fisherie to be DOOMED...Bottom line is , be mindful of the the fact that we live in NJ, THE most densly populated state in the country...and this site while great has hundreds and hundreds of non member eyes reading things on a daily basis.....just my 2 sense:D

[AndyS]

FASTEDDIE once told me, I'll give you ever spot I know.

You still have to go there and catch them yourself.

If you don't know about rainbow trout night fishing at Round Valley I think you must be living under a rock. Some nights I fished 35 ft of water and got Rock Bass all night long, the next time out I fished in 45 ft. of water and caught Rainbow Trout all night long, just 10 ft difference, so if you think you can just go up there drop anchor and catch 50 or 60 trout in a night think again.

Conditions, timing, wind, location, water temp, bait are all factors, it's still fishing.

[bigfishy]

Understood.....Spot sharing amongst friends is one thing....Spot and report sharing with the world wide web is another....Free country, so do ur thang:D

[Michael82929]

FASTEDDIE once told me, I'll give you ever spot I know.

You still have to go there and catch them yourself.

If you don't know about rainbow trout night fishing at Round Valley I think you must be living under a rock. Some nights I fished 35 ft of water and got Rock Bass all night long, the next time out I fished in 45 ft. of water and caught Rainbow Trout all night long, just 10 ft difference, so if you think you can just go up there drop anchor and catch 50 or 60 trout in a night think again.

Conditions, timing, wind, location, water temp, bait are all factors, it's still fishing.


Can someone get a nice pillow to go with my rock please... :D I have never fished the waters in them parts.. learn something new every day...:D

[thefishermanmechanic]

After catching hundred's of trout in my lifetime and releasing most undersized fish I found that they are indeed fragile and die easly! But the part that i read that disturbs me the most is the chumming with corn? These Guys are A HOLES! trout especially small trout dont digest corn and usually die from it!

[AndyS]

There was a problem with people chumming cow corn and we hope they have stopped. I don't chum at all and I do just fine.

And as far as Spot Burning.......C'mon, it's Round Valley.

[shucker]

Is this place turning into "SOL" or "girl scout trout" I hope not cause those sites suck due to cry babys and know-it-alls.

[mcfish82]

Andy,


Your always up on your soap box preaching your crap to everyone about the "downfall of merrill creek" and how you have to write to the state about the raritan river...well, it is a known fact that this night time trout "slaughter" is putting a hurting on round valleys rainbows all summer long...yet you stand up and support this 100 percent...can you tell me why your so dead set on Merrill creek being destroyed in the coming years however you seem to care less about the fate of the rainbows in round valley?

[flatcreek]

From what I read I should assume close to 100% of trout caught don't make it. Well I just can't believe that, with all the C&R practiced there would be trout floating everywhere, the eagles would be to fat fly and we would have all known this a long time ago and stoped C&R. With that said 110 may be a little exssesive, I know I would have been bored by 10 and asleep by 12, time or fish. Also keep in mind the state electro shocks the fish, I'll bet that raises there body temp, but it dosn't seem to kill them. I don't know any of the people involved and this is just my own opinion. I do think there are some axes being ground and that we don't need on this site. So lighten up people they didn't break any laws.

Yea Shucker; we don't need no girl scout troop site, there are enough of them with those know-it-alls and cry babies.

[Polelock]

I have no problem with anyone catching fish, I just worry about what happens afterwards.. I'm sure the guys take every precaution on the release but do all of them make it? Some of the studies I read say no, so it should concern us all. Do the state fishery biologist know the effects that this may have on the rainbows? Are there any effects at all?

[Michael82929]

If members just took personalities out of the equation and tried to get points across without offending a specific individual, no issue with debating a topic.

Just keep it friendly and on topic.

A thread like this an exception not a rule - 95% of the statements made on here are in good taste but sometimes need to boil up to the top..

Summer conservation on fish mortality is an excellent topic to discuss and get overshadowed in my opinion. I tend not to think so much of the stress these fish have in the summer as opposed to spring and I got a lesson out of this thread to be more gingerly with fish in the summer months..

[AndyS]

Dear Mcfish: I really don't remember saying .."I stand up and support this 100 percent", I just passed along the article.
My other post was given to me and the person asked if I would post it on NJF because he was having a hard time logging on.
I myself have pulled anchor and headed for the barn after quickly getting my limit at night and you can ask the others I fish with and they will concur.
What other people do is their own buisness, I don't see this as a lake trout debate.
I took Hatter up there one night and he used circle hooks and all the fish were lip hooked, was this guy using circle hooks ?? I do know the angler in the article and he did state to me that you have to hold the rod so when the fish bites you can set the hook and keep mortality rates low. I know the angler in the article and I don't think he is the type that would enjoy seeing lots af dead trout floating around so I really think there is more here than meets the eye.

[Moz]

If members just took personalities out of the equation and tried to get points across without offending a specific individual, no issue with debating a topic.


I can't disagree with that which is why on my post I didn't want to comment on it.

On an earlier post I don't get the analogy to Lakers though, those are self-sustaining and reproducing like mad so it would seem harder to damage that fishery (if anything it seems that there are too many of them in there which is why the cull limits have gone up this year).

I still feel them staying out there that long and not chaning to a different species was way overkill on the numbers hit. Just my opinion and not a pontification.

[AndyS]

.......

[bigfishy]

Andy,

I am always interesed and impressed by your passion for our sport:o
You always amaze me by the amount of leg work you do when it comes to meetings,issues, and debates....That being said, I am sometimes bewildered by your reasons for posting gr8 reports about some of your favorite spots....The posting of the reports does not suprise me, but the fact that you say everything short of the latitude and longitude...

Pls keep in mind that it only takes a few A-holes to ruin a specific fisherie...
Obviously bigger fisheries can handle alot more pressure than smaller or more delicate ones....Your passionate attitude towards the future of our sport should almost definately incorporate restraint, even if its only a side effect of your conservationist qualities....Pls understand that im not bashing you...I'm only trying to share my opinoin...Have a gr8 weekend!!! Fish On!!!:D

[FASTEDDIE29]

Anybody remember a long long time ago when you used to be able to go FISHING???? AND NOT GET CRITCIZED!!! JUST SAYIN...........................

[acabtp]

not my video, and not the cleanest release, but for anyone wondering... yes, the eagles do enjoy the rainbows that are C&R'd at RV in the summer
http://youtu.be/IsyfxkqafYQ?hd=1&t=2m38s

[Moz]

Anybody remember a long long time ago when you used to be able to go FISHING???? AND NOT GET CRITCIZED!!! JUST SAYIN...........................

Very true. But I don't think anyone didn't get criticized back in the day, just that there was no interwebs to give everyone a megaphone. :p