Hopefully, some lucky New Jersey angler will answer the question whether the "Monster of Round Valley" still exists...

by Tom Vassallo

On a chilly November morning in 2009, New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife biologists rolled their aluminum johnboat off its trailer and into the frigid waters of Round Valley Reservoir. The biologists had made their trip that day to work on completion of the division's annual survey of the huge lake. Their job today...to haul in the large nets strategically placed the previous afternoon about the bottom of its cold, dark waters.  The 2,350 acre reservoir has the distinction of being the deepest body of freshwater in the state of New Jersey, reaching a maximum depth of approximately 180 feet. It is referred to by many who have fished it as the "valley of the giants", so named for the production of four current New Jersey state record fish hauled from its depths. What biologists attribute to the record producing gift of this Hunterdon Valley "jewel" are three characteristics...depth, temperature and superior oxygenation.

Nearly seven years earlier, on May 4, 2002, New Jersey angler Gregory Young was trolling from his boat when he hooked into a very large fish near the very ramp where the division biologists launch their boat.  He finally landed the huge fish after a memorable battle lasting nearly an hour. Weighing 32 lbs. 8 oz., the fish landed by Young on that spring day still stands as the current New Jersey state record Lake Trout.  The fish eclipsed the former state record by over six pounds. But Young's giant trout is not the only record trout hauled from the reservoir.  In 1995 another Jersey angler, Lenny Saccente, landed the New Jersey state record brown trout at Round Valley.  Another "monster", this fish weighed in at 21 lbs. 6 oz. and again, that record still stands nearly twenty years later.

So, fast forward back to November 2009. The division biologists had begun the difficult chore of retrieving the massive nets from the reservoir bottom. As the nets came in, they would occasionally pause to carefully remove the game fish who had become entangled in the net. Each would be gently placed into a live well for measuring, weighing and eventual release back into the cool lake waters. However, this was to be no ordinary survey.  Soon, as they struggled to lift one of the fish into the boat it was evident that it was no ordinary "laker". The tangled and thrashing monster was eventually subdued, removed from the net and excitedly placed into the live well. Those biologists didn't know it yet...but they had captured the true "Monster of Round Valley".

After returning to shore to survey their catch, biologists anxiously measured and weighed the giant female lake trout. Working quickly, it was determined that the fish they had just landed, was larger than Gregory Young's current state record fish, weighing 32 lbs. 11 oz.! However, according to the NJ Division of Fish & Wildlife, no state record accolades would be awarded this day... since this monster had been hauled in during the annual gill netting survey... not by rod and reel. The biologists quickly photographed and released the giant "lady", who silently disappeared once again into the dark and cold of the massive lake.

 

Over four years since the capture of that massive fish, Gregory Young's laker still stands, unchallenged, as the New Jersey Lake Trout champion. Anglers question whether the record fish that biologists netted and photographed on that November day, still patrols the depths of Round Valley. In a discussion I had the other day, someone suggested that the fish had perished or possibly that someone had landed the giant fish and simply did not want to endure the hassles of challenging the record. No one is quite sure. Although most lake trout taken from the reservoir weigh less than four pounds... the fact remains that there are still many giants in the depths of Round Valley over 20 pounds. So what does it take to land one of those "monsters"?

Many years ago while fishing in Canada, we attempted to take a stab at landing a lake trout after the owner of the camp,  a Canadian fishing guide, came by in his boat with one of the other anglers and a nice laker in the 15-20 lb. class. Though not prepared with the tackle to catch lakers, we still decided to rent a couple of boats and outboards, then headed out onto the large lake. Although we caught some nice pike and a very nice smallmouth, we simply were not outfitted to troll at the depths required to catch those trophy trout. You see, basically being young, shoreline, freshwater fishermen, we simply did not own the equipment required for deep water trolling. If you want to venture into serious laker fishing, you need to get your "saltwater" mindset going. Let's face it...when we head out on a boat in search of 15-30 lb. stripers and bluefish, we have the gear required to get down to where the fish are and land those tackle busters! Well...that is what is required for lake trout fishing.

Lake trout prefer cold water. Therefore you are usually going to find them very deep...near the bottom depending on the time of year. So if you want to venture up to Hunterdon County and search for the "Monster of Round Valley"...you are going to need trolling gear that is going to get your spoons way down there. Trout are usually found in the range of 40'-120'. If you haven't got the gear for that, then you are going to need to get some weight on, get some live herring or similar baitfish...and with a slip sinker, try to bounce that weight off the rocks and then lift it somewhat off the bottom. Experienced laker anglers will tell you to bring plenty of bait, since you will lose some of it to the rocks and others to the fish. If you have a fish finder, once you find the fish, another good bet is to vertically jig with some metal (see...saltwater mentality!) It takes some work and it may be quite a ride for many of us, but if you do hook up...it should be worthwhile.

Merrill Creek Reservoir located in Warren County is also home to naturally reproducing trophy lake trout, so that may be worth a trip as well.  Be certain that you follow all New Jersey regulations when "hunting" these freshwater monsters. Remember...you can only take ONE trophy lake trout 24" or over per day at Round Valley or Merrill Creek. You can check the rest of the trout regulations at our "NJ Regs" link at the top of this page. Don't wait too long into the spring, as the best fishing will occur when the water temperatures are cold. Hopefully, some lucky New Jersey angler will answer the question whether the "Monster of Round Valley" still exists...or perhaps that giant Jersey "lady" has simply disappeared into just another New Jersey "legend".