Rvr 2-12
 

Headed back to round valley yesterday around 11am. Fished 3 rods with power bait till a little after 2pm. Not a touch. This is my second trip there this February without a bite. I’m fishing the same area that I did great at from November-January. Not really sure why it’s been so dead and if it’s worth going back. Do the trout move out to deeper water this time of year? Most of the people that I’ve talked to are having the same results as me.

Re: Rvr 2-12
 

Yesterday afternoon I casted the Yo Zuri from the far, eastern shore.

C & R'ed a 15" Rainbow. Had another on but lost it.

The previous 3 times there, I got skunked.

Re: Rvr 2-12
 

I was thinking maybe the same thing, maybe they head deeper. Didnt get skunked all winter till the last 2 trips in Feb. Then hit the BIG skunk twice.

Re: Rvr 2-12
 

Probably didn't help you're fishing the worst time of day.

Re: Rvr 2-12
 

Did you have Power Cheese on all 3 rods ??? Maybe mix it a bit next time, Velveeta, shiners, fatheads, crawlers, M&M ???

Re: Rvr 2-12
 

Because of a crazy work schedule that’s the time I’ve been fishing there since November and I’ve done great every trip up until February at that time.

Re: Rvr 2-12
 

I’ve tried in the past and nothing even comes close to producing the amount of hits like power bait from the shoreline.

Re: Rvr 2-12
 

I was there with the boat Saturday dragging metal around with planer boards for hours by the shore without a hit. I decided on one last drag far off the South tower and that's when I reeled in a 16" rainbow.

The rain came and I packed it in shortly thereafter, making sure a kayaker made through the ice ok.

Re: Rvr 2-12
 

is the valley free of ice?

Re: Rvr 2-12
 

I didn’t see any ice at all except for the swimming area.

Re: Rvr 2-12
 

thanks, maybe ill get the boat out there this week.

what about Merrill Creek?

Re: Rvr 2-12
 

On that afternoon the remaining floating ice, pushed by the NW wind, piled up on the SE shore.

Exactly where I caught the most back in Nov. Did mange that 1 rainbow, another on & lost, just north of that iced in area.

Never see anyone back there. Occasionally, a hiker, mtn. biker,……….

Once, a boat angler was just off the eastern shore drifting towards me. He started yelling something, but I couldn’t hear due to the wind / distance. Finally, I heard him, “Your wading / splashing is scaring all the damn fish!!!” I couldn’t believe it. I just shook my head.

He was going nuts, just as he passed me, when I hooked up to nice rainbow that came flying out of the water.

Re: Rvr 2-12
 

In Round Valley the rainbow trout are going to hold up in water that’s around 55 degrees. That’s a lot deeper in February than in November.

Re: Rvr 2-12
 

How do you guys fish your powerbait there? SLip sinker near the bottom? Could never figure how to rig for power bait in the deeper water (usually use shiners on slip bobbers)

Re: Rvr 2-12
 

The majority of the salmonids in any lake of size that contains a schooling suspended food source such as Alewives, or bottom dwelling Scuds, will not stray far from the bait for long in mid winter... If that means the bait is staying deeper than say 70-80 feet, thats where most of the trout will be... If they are keying on herring they will be roaming close to the moving schools.. some fish seem to like Scuds better, especially some lakers, and they will tend to stay close to bottom where the scuds are.

Here in NY state, the trout are down 150+ feet all winter.. Some do come up shallow or near the surface, but most follow the bait, which is deep this time of year...bob