Fishing at Carnegie Lake, Mercer County, New Jersey

• Overview

  Look for Carnegie Lake in the Mercer County part of New Jersey. It lies 52 feet above sea level. Roughly 244 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. The perimeter runs near 7.7 miles, so plan the walk before you start. It ranks high for size among our Mercer County listings. Princeton sits 1.2 miles from the bank. Edison sits 17 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. Rules can differ a short way off, since the county line is near.

• Where to Fish on Carnegie Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Reported across Mercer County: bluegill, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed, white perch and brown bullhead. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Carnegie Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 30°F in January to roughly 74°F in July. A lid forms in a hard winter only. Some winters give nothing at all, so plan for open water. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Carnegie Lake. A rising level usually fishes better than a falling one.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Mapping shows a ramp about half a mile from the shore. D&R Canal Towpath Parking is the nearest mapped car park, half a mile out. There is a jetty half a mile off, worth knowing on a busy day. A picnic area is mapped about half a mile away. A toilet block sits half a mile away. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Should this one be busy, Gordon Pond is 1.6 miles off. Check the current arrangement for Carnegie Lake.