Crandon Lakes in Sussex County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Set in Sussex County, Crandon Lakes is a New Jersey water. It sits at 869 feet above sea level. Around 78 acres of surface means several distinct areas to work. The full circuit measures close to 1.6 miles on foot. Size puts it in the front rank of our Sussex County list. The closest town, Crandon Lakes, is 0.4 miles distant. Further out sit Pocono Ranch Lands (6.3 miles) and Newton (6.8 miles). A county line runs close by, so local bylaws can differ within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Crandon Lakes

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Fish documented in Sussex County include brook trout, brown trout, walleye, bluegill and pumpkinseed. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. On Crandon Lakes that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 70°F at the top of summer and 24°F at the bottom of winter. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Look for the thaw near late March; the fishing lifts straight after. Open water usually runs from late March until about late December. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. That is the shape of the year on Crandon Lakes.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. No launch point is recorded nearby, so this is a bank water unless you carry a boat in. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Quick Pond sits 0.6 miles off and takes the overflow. Check the current arrangement for Crandon Lakes.