Fishing at Cedar Pond, Passaic County, New Jersey

• Overview

  Look for Cedar Pond in the Passaic County part of New Jersey. The ground round it is pine and birch. At about 115 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. Around 1.6 miles of margin, front to back. Size puts it in the front rank of our Passaic County list. West Milford sits 3.4 miles from here and is the nearest stop. Highland Lake lies 5 miles off, Vernon Center another 6.8 miles. The county line runs close by, so rules can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Cedar Pond

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. 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. Records held for Passaic County cover brown trout, walleye, brook trout and bluegill. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Work Cedar Pond in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 69°F and January near 24°F on the long-run figures. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough late March. The season between ice runs from about late March to late December. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. On Cedar Pond that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. The car has to stay half a mile away, which shapes how much tackle you bring. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. Should this one be busy, Hanks Pond is 1.9 miles off. Ask locally about Cedar Pond if anything is unclear.