rvr trolling lakers
 

trolled rvr with my buddy last friday hoping for some bows or browns but could only manage lakers. 7 in total ranging from 16"-23" we kept some of the smaller keepers for meals and to hopefully help grow some bigger fish in there. The pic is of the biggest one of the day 23", my personal best by 1", not much but i'm still hunting for that lunker laker.

I try to tell the hardcore 100% c&r every time guys...you will help the lake have more bigger fish if you keep some of the small keepers sometimes. The studies are out there! and that goes for bass too. you will help grow more big ones if you keep some 12-14" now and then and release the bigger ones every time. I never keep bass either but i will defend the guys that keep the smaller legal fish as long as they release the bigger ones.

Re: rvr trolling lakers
 

Great to catch trout this time of year, congrats on tackling RV in winter..I haven't fished RV in years, I know lots of Lakers caught there every year, curious thou if many over 31 inches are taken out of there each season..That would probably be the place for you to take that 31" C&R fish Tite lines..

Re: rvr trolling lakers
 

Nice catch ya put together there. Used to hit that hard in January back in the good ole days when I had a 9.9! I did nothing special, drifted XL Shiners 3 feet off the bottom from north tower through the trough. Worked like a charm depending which way the wind was blowing. Also wacked a few on my trusty jig as well. Way to catch em up!!!

Re: rvr trolling lakers
 

Haven't seen any that big in a while biggest I have been getting is in mid 20's
I think you may have better luck at the other laker lake but its tough to fish always blowin on it and unless you have a good t motor and batterys you can't do it.
I think that would be your best bet!!!

Re: rvr trolling lakers
 

I don't fish Jersey lakes for trout anymore , N.Y. reservoirs my favorite now..A large number of anglers up there when fishing Lakers and the wind is up..Do very well double anchoring and dropping live bait different depths depending on water temp and jigging with spoons, jigs tipped with bait or plastics, gulp minnows work great, or heavier blade baits..31 inch Laker will be a challenge..

Re: rvr trolling lakers
 

how deep was the fish? i am assuming pretty shallow if you were fishing for browns and bows.

Re: rvr trolling lakers
 

We got nothing trying to force shallow trolling so these came at 20 ft actually after we changed gears.

The other laker lake has more big ones I have to agree. I was here for a skillful c&r trout but it just didn't happen.

My friends buddy has already pulled two from in there the past 2 weeks...I blame him!

Re: rvr trolling lakers
 

Hit it again today same results with less and smaller fish...

Nothing would hit up high where we expected bows and Browns to be so we went deeper and picked off some lakers. 3 fish 19-21"

Switching gears for Friday, still looking for skillful angler species number one in the quest

Re: rvr trolling lakers
 

Not sure how you are doing it but you need to be trollin a little faster and jerk the J's like you do the flies! Long lines 250+ back Most if not all of them will be in the top 5-15 feet of water. Need to get them to strike out of reaction. Just cruising along will not do it usually towing the lures. I have had similar results the last few times I was up there. Ended up with a few lakers after trying without success for the rainbows! Go get em' Buddy!!!!

Re: rvr trolling lakers
 

Going between 2-2.5. You think that's fast enough or even faster? I'm at least 400 ft back to be safe with 6 lbs leader. 2 full days nothing but lakers. Gotta change lakes to keep my sanity haha. Hitting mc Friday if the wind is good or waway or aero if not.