Bearfort Waters near West Milford: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Bearfort Waters belongs to Passaic County, New Jersey. Land around it is mixed woodland. Roughly 25 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. By elevation it is in the upper part of our New Jersey listings. West Milford is the closest place, 2.2 miles off. Beyond it, Highland Lake at 3.4 miles and Vernon Center at 5.9 miles. Rules can differ a short way off, since the county line is near.

• Where to Fish on Bearfort Waters

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Public occurrence data for Passaic County names brown trout, walleye, brook trout and bluegill. The county list is broader than any single water. On Bearfort Waters the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 25°F in January to roughly 71°F in July. A long season, with weather mattering more than the month. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. Autumn steadies things again once the heat lets go. Plan around that when you fish Bearfort Waters.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. Leave the car at P7 Parking, about half a mile from the bank. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Should this one be busy, Terrace Pond is 0.7 miles off. For Bearfort Waters, the notice at the access point is the final word.