Hemlock Lake near Hopatcong Hills: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  New Jersey holds Hemlock Lake, in Sussex County. Land around it is farm and woodlot. On water this small, stealth matters more than range. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Sussex County. Hopatcong Hills sits 4 miles from here and is the nearest stop. Paterson sits 30 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish.

• Where to Fish on Hemlock Lake

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Sussex County records list brook trout, brown trout, walleye, bluegill and pumpkinseed among the fish reported. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. The near bank of Hemlock Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 25°F in January to roughly 71°F in July. The year turns gently, without extremes at either end. It is not guaranteed even in a cold spell, so check yourself. Spring and autumn carry the year; summer squeezes it into the ends of the day. Plan any trip to Hemlock Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. Parking is not close: half a mile from the bank, and no nearer option is mapped. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Should this one be busy, Forest Lake is 0.4 miles off. What applies at Hemlock Lake may have changed since it was mapped.