Fishing Hidden Valley Lake in Passaic County, New Jersey

• Overview

  Set in Passaic County, Hidden Valley Lake is a New Jersey water. The bank is 308 feet above sea level. At 4 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Our Passaic County list holds plenty of bigger water. Wanaque is the closest place, 2.5 miles off. Beyond it, Haskell at 3.2 miles and Ringwood at 3.3 miles. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Hidden Valley Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Across Passaic County, recorded fish include brown trout, walleye, brook trout and bluegill. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. At Hidden Valley Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 73°F, with January the cold end at about 27°F. The year gives four workable seasons without severe ends. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to fish here. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Hidden Valley Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. You will be walking about half a mile from the nearest car park. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Skyline Lakes at 0.3 miles is the sensible second choice. Where Hidden Valley Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.