Fishing Round Valley Reservoir, NJ

AKA: Round Valley Lake, RVR, The Valley

Boat and bank fishing

Last updated on February 6, 2026.

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Round Valley Reservoir, NJ

Popular Fish Species

Lake Trout

Fishing for lake trout in Round Valley Reservoir can provide anglers a thrill of a lifetime. The state record, over 32 pounds, was caught here. Year round, fishing for lake trout is often good as the fish are plentiful. These large trout can be caught from as shallow as 15 to 30 feet in Spring and Fall, to very deep during Summer and Winter. It is a monumental help to use fish finders, or other electronics to help in locating these roaming schools of lake trout. They feed on baitfish, so jigs rigged to imitate their prey often work well straight down under the boat. Trolling with numerous set-ups can also produce good catches.

Rainbow Trout

This year, fishing for rainbow trout in Round Valley Reservoir is on the rise. Consistent stocking programs by New Jersey Fish and Wildlife have maintained a good population of rainbow trout for anglers. Fish for rainbow trout here with worms, salmon eggs, prepared baits, small spinners, spoons, jerkbaits and small crankbaits in vibrant colors to mimic their preferred prey. While fishing from a boat is preferred, plenty of trout are caught here by anglers fishing from the bank. Trolling with lures or flies behind a boat, casting near shoreline structures, or still fishing with bait can all yield success. Adjusting lure size, color, and retrieve speed can enhance chances of enticing these colorful and spirited fish.

Largemouth Bass

Round Valley Reservoir offers good fishing for largemouth bass. Currently, largemouth bass are thriving due to fertile water, and plenty of cover for both baitfish and bass. Fishing for largemouth bass is good virtually any time they are shallow - in spring, mornings in summer and during warmer fall afternoons. Use shallow crankbaits around rip rap, and around grass use worms, jigs, topwater and spinnerbaits. In deeper water, big worms, jigs and spoons are three good weapons. In winter, spend your time on deeper structure. Once the lake ices over, it's a good time to pursue other species.

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Fishing tips for boat or bank fishing

Fish species to fish for...

Guide to fishing for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, channel catfish, white catfish, rainbow trout, brown trout, lake trout and bluegill at Round Valley Reservoir in New Jersey.

Treated as a Trophy Trout Lake, Round Valley Reservoir offers some of the finest trout fishing in the state. This is a 2,300-acre lake in the northwest part of the state, with almost 10 miles of shoreline.

Fishing Report