Cliffwood Lake near Highland Lake: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Cliffwood Lake is set in Sussex County, New Jersey. The coast is 28 miles away. At roughly 24 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. It is high ground by New Jersey standards. The closest town, Highland Lake, is 4.9 miles away. Franklin is 5.3 miles and Vernon Center 5.7 miles. It sits near the edge of the county, so check which rules apply.

• Where to Fish on Cliffwood Lake

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. Species logged across Sussex County include brook trout, brown trout, walleye and bluegill. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. Cliffwood Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 24°F and July at about 69°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around late March. Open water usually runs from late March until about late December. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. On Cliffwood Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. There is a mapped slipway roughly half a mile away. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Canistear Reservoir at 0.9 miles is the sensible second choice. Where Cliffwood Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.