trout season

[ken jan]

Hi All,
Just wanted to introduce myself to the bros out there.
I'm a newbie to the site and not so experienced to trout fishing in NJ. I am from Northern California and I'm apart of the Norcal kayak anglers. I live out here 1/2 the year, usually from late fall to spring. I love fishing for trout, I have a 12 foot jon boat and live in Vernon, NJ.
In Cali I usually troll with a dodger and worm behind a kayak at about 2mph. Dodger brings the rig down to about 5-10 feet under the surface.
trying to figure out a game plan for the trout season fast approaching. I went out to Lake Wawayanda last Friday and didn't even get a bite from trout. The water temp was 45degrees. Tried trolling with a rapala J-7, dodger and worm, and jigged on the bottom about 80 feet with plastic shad.
Am I doing it right? or is the fishing tactics different out here for trout in lakes?
I did however pick up a small LMB on the way in.
Hope to see you'all on the water
Cheers

[Tony Cav]

Im partial to drifting herring when lake fishing for trout.......suspended somewhere between 10 and 20 feet in water (deeper than that)......all depends. Lake trout you can jig in 75 to 100 feet of water streight down near the bottom with a spoon or castmaste type lure. I think lately they are trolling them at that depth.

Good luck and welcome

[ken jan]

Thanks Tony,
Thanks for the info, I will definitely try with drifting the herring. Would a 1 ounce sliding sinker with 18" leader work for live bait? What type of rig do you use? Have you ever trolled deep at Lake Wawayanda? I guess one would probably use a down rigger.
Hope to see you out on the water.

[AndyS]

I don't know why that trolling method wouldn't work at Aeroflex, Round Valley and Merrill Creek Res.

It's all good. Welcome to the site, go back and read some of the other posts from years back, kinda gives you a good idea of what is going on.

[ken jan]

Great thanks AndyS.
I'll look at the previous posts. Thanks for the reply