June 2003

Name = Jeff & Sue Fosbre
e-mail address = bgfish98@optonline.net
Date = June 29, 2003
Time started fishing = 1:00 pm
Time finished fishing = 4:00 p.m.
Weather conditions = Sunny with clouds
Location = By the camping area
Fishing method = drift with live herring
Depth of presentation = 50-80'
Water depth = 85'
Type of lure = none
Type of bait = herring
Water temperature = 70
Species = Brown Trout
Size = 17"
Total caught = 2
Comments = One Brown and one laker.  We introduced Jeff's cousin, Wayne Lush from PA and avid fisherman, to the Valley and he fell in love with it instantly after landing a 24' laker.  Jeff caught the brown.  It's nice to see that they are flourishing at the Valley again.

Name = Gary & Matt Murdoch
e-mail address = gm78987@aol
Date = 6/29/03
Time started fishing = 5:00 am
Time finished fishing = 2:00 pm
Weather conditions = perfect
Location =  Northtower and pines
Fishing method = Bait& Jig
Depth of presentation = 25ft-85ft
Water depth = 90 ft
Type of lure = maribou  white 3/8 oz
Type of bait = herring
Water temperature = 78
Species = Brown Trout
Size = 14 1/2 ,- 19 1/2 in
Total caught = 2 br,2lk 2 rb
Comments = Great day  went up on Sat. afternoon to get my bait cause the bait store opens at 6:00 am  ..  Think they could open earlier on the weekend or for the tourament!!!!Would be nice if they were open at 4:oo am!!!!!Well started drifting near northtower.. gota brown on teh slip at 25 ft. and jigged the laker there too. At 9:00  my little guy wanted to moved so I listened to him went to the back and found a nice pod to anchor on in 90 ft.. wellI threw the slip bobber and well not even 5 sec the brown was chasing the herring on top nice!!! the action got real goodfor and hourand  than died out....  great day......love that place..

Name = marco  anthony
e-mail address = www.fishoff@optonline.net
Date = 6/28/03
Time started fishing = 6:00 am
Time finished fishing = 3:00 pm
Weather conditions = sunny
Location = in the water
Fishing method = bait
Depth of presentation = 70 ft
Water depth = 60 ft
Type of lure =
Type of bait = herring
Water temperature = 76
Species = Lake Trout
Size = from 16" to 26" healthy
Total caught = 31 LT  1BT   1 RT
Comments = WHAT A DAY! ONE OF MY BEST DAYS ON THE VALLEY. WE STARTED FISHING AT 6:00 AM. THE FISH STARTED SHOWING UP IMMEDIATELY. WE HAD ACTION ALL DAY AND BOATED 29 LAKERS,1 BROWN AND ONE GOOD SIZE RAINBOW . WE RAN OUT OF BAIT SO WE STARTED TO DOWNRIG. WE LANDED 2 MORE LAKERS WITH A POSSABLE 1 @ 3 PLACE IN THE TOURNAMENT. THE FISHING WAS TO GOOD TO BE TRUE. WE SHOULD HAVE KEPT THE RAINBOW THAT WOULD HAVE PLACED TOO. OH WELL CAN'T WIN THEM ALL. SEE YOU ON THE WATER.

Name = Clint Burgher
e-mail address = Burgher@aesop.rutgers.edu
Date = 6/28
Time started fishing = 6am
Time finished fishing = 4pm
Weather conditions = sunny no wind
Location = N shore and center
Fishing method = trolling
Depth of presentation = 24, 28 & just off bottom
Water depth = 70, 120
Type of lure = jointed rapalas
Type of bait = herring
Water temperature = 75
Species = Brown Trout
Size = 12 to 16 BT, RT & 18 to 22 LT
Total caught = 14
Comments = Caught 7 Browns up to 16", 2 rainbows up to 16" and 5 LT. Caught the browns and rainbows between 24 and 28', most hits came in 70 ft of water. Caught the lakers in the afternoon in 120 to 125' of water.  All but 1 laker and a brown returned safely.  Not as many boats on the water as I thought there would be with the great weather and the open tourney.

Name = Gerry DuMont.Mark Lodata
e-mail address = g.dumont@worldnet.att.net
Date = 6/26/03
Time started fishing = 4:30 PM
Time finished fishing = 9:30 PM
Weather conditions = Clear,calm
Location = North dam area
Fishing method = Double anchored /bait
Depth of presentation = 25'/85'
Water depth = 90'/85'
Type of lure = N/A
Type of bait = Herring
Water temperature = 78
Species = Brown Trout
Size = Bt.12"-18" / LT 12"-20"
Total caught = 14 Bt / 3 Lt / 1 Sm Bass
Comments = Another productive evening at the reservoir. Brown trout started almost imediately on slip bobbers set at 25'.Only a few lake trout hits today,despite throwing lots of herring chunks.The Brown trout were hitting so light that many times the slip bobber did not even submerge,but merely tip on its side or move across the waters surface.The largest brown of the evening took the bait and swam right at the boat, the bobber just kept coming at us,I merely reeled in the slack and set the hook.To me it is amazing that they can hit without sinking the bobber, because one more split shot on the leader sinks the bobber.We again seen the Bald Eagle this makes for cosecutive trips that we have observed him.

Name = Gerry DuMont
e-mail address =
Date = 6/26/03
Time started fishing = 5:30 PM
Time finished fishing = 9:15 PM
Weather conditions = Overcast  Slight breeze
Location =  North tower area
Fishing method = Anchored Bait
Depth of presentation = 20'-70'-85'
Water depth = 85'
Type of lure = N/A
Type of bait = Herring
Water temperature = 72
Species = Lake Trout
Size = LT 10"-18"    BT 12"
Total caught = 10
Comments = Browns seemed to be scattered,could not locate any schooled up fish so decided to anchor up over laker readings.we were fising two slip bobber lines at 20" a line at 70" and another just off bottom.Within ten minutes Mark hooked a small brown on one of the slip bobbers but lost it. Shortly afterward I hooked and landed a 12" brown.Then Mark proceeded to get three small Lakers in quickn order while I went hittless on the bottom.I came up to the 70" depth but still could not gwet a Laker to hit. I then went back to bottom and the fish were now there as I got three Lakers in about ten minutes.The fast fishing did not last very long as the Lakers seemed to turn off about a half hour before dark.These Lakers were the smallest bunch I have ever caught here and even the bigger ones did not fight very well, they all came up like a rag.
, even though some of them hit very hard.

Name = Gery DuMont,Mark Lofdatta
e-mail address = g.dumont@worldnet.att.net
Date = 06/22/2003
Time started fishing = 6:00 AM
Time finished fishing = 9:45 AM
Weather conditions = Cloudy the partial clearing, Light breeze
Location = North Point
Fishing method = Dbl. Anchored / bait
Depth of presentation = 20'/25'/85'
Water depth = 85'
Type of lure = N/A
Type of bait = Herring
Water temperature = 66
Species = Brown Trout
Size = BT-10"- 18" LT 12"-19'
Total caught = 5 - BT/ 4 LT
Comments =  action started quickly with browns on slip bobbers set at 20' and 25". Missed a couple of laker bits on bottom rig.We had been anchored for about one and one half hrs, when some idiot comes through deep trolling with downriggers 65' off of our bow.All of a sudden our little boat begins turning and the guy thinks he has a hit.After we informed him that he had our anchor he circled back and freed the balls off of our anchorline.He spent a little time untangling his lines then took off without even an apologetic nod.We then had to bring in all lines and both anchors and reset back on our coordinates.Which is when we got all of our lake trout.

Name = marco mani
e-mail address = www.fishoff@optonline.net
Date = 6/20
Time started fishing =          2:00 - 5:00
Time finished fishing =
Weather conditions = rain heavy rain  and more rain
Location = the south tower
Fishing method = bait
Depth of presentation = 70
Water depth = 80
Type of lure =
Type of bait = herring
Water temperature = 67
Species = Lake Trout
Size = 20 inches
Total caught = 1
Comments = last week I couldn't keep the rods in the water this time the rods sat with littel action.landed one laker lost 3.lost something big at 30 ft ?
but the good news is that the stripers at spruce run are in full swing.I started there early this morrning and boated 14 stripers lost 6 and 1 small pike. Biggest fish was 8lb .I should have stayed there. all fish were retured to fight another day. see ya on the lake.

Name = Andy Still
e-mail address = stillville@excite.com
Date = June 15, 2003
Time started fishing = 6:30  am
Time finished fishing = 10:00 am
Weather conditions = clear and calm
Location = past North tower
Fishing method = live lining,  double anchored
Depth of presentation = all over
Water depth = 70 ft
Type of lure =
Type of bait = Herring
Water temperature = ?
Species =  Other
Size = 0
Total caught = 0
Comments = Live lined a total of 6 doz. herring without a single hit, my worst day on the Valley thus far. Bait shop was a zoo at 5:45 am when they finally decided to open, I think I got the last of the herring in the tank, anyone behind me wasn't fishing herring that day, we need another bait store near by that sells herring, compitition always makes things better. Ideal conditions for live -lining, I'll take my time coming back again, next time I fish there will probably be at  night. I  couldn't even scare up a smallmouth by the rocks, bad.

Name = Mark Lodata, Gerry Dumont and Robert 'I'm Bunting' Russomano
e-mail address = mlodata@patmedia.net
Date = June 14, 2003
Time started fishing = 06:00 AM
Time finished fishing = 12:30 PM
Weather conditions = Clear with light variable breeze
Location = Off loading dock (100-200 yds) and along south shore
Fishing method = Drop line and slip bobber
Depth of presentation = 15 - 45 ft.
Water depth = Average of 60 ft.
Type of lure =
Type of bait = Herring
Water temperature = Didn't check
Species = Brown Trout
Size = Footers
Total caught = 2
Comments = After a decent Thursday night out (4-8 pm)..with hits and boated fish...this trips highlight was being able to pull boat just about right under a full size bald eagle resting in tree (about 100 feet over our heads)...he just peered down at us and saw the frustrated looks on our faces.  Gerry had the only action (2 fish and missed a couple).  The onyx and glenfiddish kept us somewhat distracted from the fact we weren't doing well.  One day your hot, the next your not. 

Name = marco  &  katrina
e-mail address = www.fishoff@optonline.net
Date = saturday  14th
Time started fishing = 8:00 am
Time finished fishing = 1:00 pm
Weather conditions = foggy / calm
Location = in the water
Fishing method = bait
Depth of presentation = 70 ft
Water depth = 80 ft
Type of lure =
Type of bait = herring
Water temperature = 65
Species = Lake Trout
Size = from 16" to 26" healthy looking
Total caught = 25 lake trout 1 brown
Comments = All the fish were healthy and aggressive.  We hope everyone has such luck to enjoy these amazing creatures.  All were caught and released! There were very few boats out. See you on the lake....

Name = Dave and Don
e-mail address = crash07080@yahoo.com
Date = 6-12-03
Time started fishing = 8am
Time finished fishing = 2pm
Weather conditions = foggy till 10am hazy and humid after
Location = eastern end
Fishing method = shiners,worms,lures on a drift
Depth of presentation = 10'
Water depth = 30'
Type of lure = silver rattle trap.
Type of bait = shiner,worm
Water temperature =
Species = Smallmouth Bass
Size = average 2lb
Total caught = 5
Comments = Floated around for a while trying different things.Found a few nice pockets loaded with bass about 20 yards off shore.All in all good day,better than being at work

Name = Mark 'Achtung' Lodata and Gerry 'The Stream Vacuum' Dumont
e-mail address = mlodata@patmedia.net
Date = 06/12/03
Time started fishing = 04:00 PM
Time finished fishing = 07:30 PM
Weather conditions = Overcast and Mild
Location = out from loading dock about 100-200 yards
Fishing method = Herring with drop line and Herring with Slip Bobbers
Depth of presentation = 20 - 30 Feet
Water depth = 50 on average
Type of lure = We don't drag metal and disturb other fishers
Type of bait = Herring
Water temperature = Unknown
Species = Brown Trout
Size = 12 to 16
Total caught = 6 released
Comments = Due to river levels, we decided not to fly fish but get the boat out for the first time this year. Going out we started to read fish immediately..we circled and started our first drift straight off dock about 100 yds.  We each had one drop and one slip (Gerry had two slips).  Before we even sat down, Gerry's slip disappeared and he had footer brown.  Before he had a chance to release him, his other slip went away, he was being overworked landing fish, this second one a better fish.  I was down 3-0 and I went to work and hooked up on my slip with decent fish. The great thing was I have this rig..called the ultimate rig...and since I got that the boat has not produced well at all. Hopefully, that curse has been put to rest.  Finished with 2 on that rig and 2 on the slip.  The first hour and half was fast fishing, but it did die down last hour.  It was a good time out..and to catch browns like we did, lets hope this is a good sign that their coming back and that they!
 keep putting more herring in the resevoir....keep a laker and save a brown.

Name = Jim Saccento
e-mail address = jim@saccento.com
Date = Sunday, June 8th, 2003
Time started fishing = 11 am
Time finished fishing = 3 pm
Weather conditions = overcast, calm
Location = Launch Cove & North Tower
Fishing method = Bait, trolled and on bottom
Depth of presentation = 10 ft & 100ft
Water depth = 35/100
Type of lure = n/a
Type of bait = Herring
Water temperature = 60
Species = Rainbow Trout
Size = R'bows:16, 10, L. Trout :22"
Total caught = 3
Comments = Best day so far this season. Caught a 16" and 10" Rainbow right near the ramp. Simply hooked a Herring  through the nose, and slow trolled it around with the trolling motor at about 10 ft down.  Also, caught a nice chubby 22" Laker, drifting over the North Trench. I tried an alternative bottom rig from the traditional RV  "line through the egg sinker". I used sort of  a Cod rig.  I attached a 3/4 oz  Lindy sinker to the end of the line, then tied a #4 circle hook on a 24" leader about 3 ft up.  I hooked the Herring through the lower lip so that the slow drift made it seem like he was swimming just above the Laker's heads. Seems to work. Got to try it again next time

Name = Nick N, George, Chad
e-mail address = nilen@netscape.net
Date = June 8, 2003
Time started fishing = 8:30 AM
Time finished fishing = 3:00 PM
Weather conditions = Overcast
Location = Various Locations
Fishing method = Bait
Depth of presentation = 1' to 70'
Water depth = 70'
Type of lure = N/A
Type of bait = Herring
Water temperature = ??
Species = Lake Trout
Size = Laker (up to 23'), RB (16.5' & 15.5'), Brown (15')
Total caught = (15) Lakers, (2) Rainbows, (1) Brown
Comments = Not a bad day at RV.  Started slow by the North Tower.  Started picking Lakers between North and South towers.  Quite a few fish feeding on the surface.  Caught (2)Rainbows and (1)Brown on dead floating herring.

Name = Mike Bartosh
e-mail address =
Date = 6/8/03
Time started fishing = 1 pm
Time finished fishing = 4pm
Weather conditions = overcast with light breeze
Location =
Fishing method = bait & trolling
Depth of presentation = 15 to 25 ft
Water depth = 35 to 75 ft
Type of lure = white with green back crank bait
Type of bait = herring
Water temperature =
Species = Brown Trout
Size = 13 to 15 inches
Total caught = 4
Comments = Picked up three browns on herring all had jaw tags and one smallmouth all released.

Name = Gary& Tyler Murdoch
e-mail address = gm78987@aol
Date = /6/6/03
Time started fishing = 11;00 am
Time finished fishing = 3;00pm
Weather conditions = nice
Location = both towers and the pines
Fishing method = downrigging
Depth of presentation = 18-45 ft
Water depth = varied
Type of lure = j-7  and  a.o. shiner
Type of bait = lure
Water temperature = 60
Species = Rainbow Trout
Size = 16 in
Total caught = 1
Comments = Of course got there late..  set the riggers coming out of the boat ramp had a  knock right away missed it... went over the  50 ft hump pickup the  bow on the backside of the hump..  that was it..  read lots of fish  at the north tower  but did not want the lures....