Fishing Hartung Lake in Bergen County, New Jersey

• Overview

  Hartung Lake is set in Bergen County, New Jersey. Tidal water begins 14 miles from here. At 2 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Most waters listed here for Bergen County are larger. For supplies, Wyckoff is 0.1 miles out. Franklin Lakes is 1.7 miles and Midland Park 2.4 miles. The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish.

• Where to Fish on Hartung Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Survey and observation records for Bergen County include bluegill, pumpkinseed and brown trout. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Anyone new to Hartung Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 73°F and January reads 28°F. In milder years the surface never sets. It should never be assumed safe, whatever the month says. Spring and autumn carry the year; summer squeezes it into the ends of the day. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Hartung Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. Parking is mapped about 130 yards from the bank. A picnic spot sits half a mile from the bank. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. A phone call first saves an afternoon. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. If the gate is shut, Parsons Pond at 0.7 miles is the nearest alternative. Where Hartung Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.