Fishing at Clove Acres Lake, Sussex County, New Jersey

• Overview

  Clove Acres Lake is one of the Sussex County waters in New Jersey. Height above sea level is 413 feet. Surface area is around 34 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. The nearest town is Sussex, 0.4 miles away. After that come Hamburg at 4.6 miles and Vernon Center at 5.8 miles. A county boundary sits nearby, which can matter for local access rules.

• Where to Fish on Clove Acres Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Public occurrence data for Sussex County names brook trout, brown trout, walleye and bluegill. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. On Clove Acres Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 25°F to 71°F. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from late March. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about late March until roughly late December. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Time your trip to Clove Acres Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. Expect a half a mile walk in from where the car goes. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Lake Neepaulin sits 0.8 miles off and takes the overflow. Rules at Clove Acres Lake are worth checking on the day.