Franklinville Lake in Gloucester County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  New Jersey holds Franklinville Lake, in Gloucester County. The country here is mixed woodland. The water covers some 33 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. It ranks high for size among our Gloucester County listings. Clayton sits 2.9 miles from the bank. The nearest city of size is Philadelphia, 24 miles away. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Franklinville Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. County-wide records name bluegill, pumpkinseed, redbreast sunfish, largemouth bass and brown bullhead. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Franklinville Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 75°F and January reads 32°F. The calendar is generous: something works in nearly every month. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. The season on Franklinville Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. Mapping shows parking within half a mile. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Idle Acres Lake at 1 mile is the sensible second choice. Treat Franklinville Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.