Hoppers Lake Fishing in Passaic County, New Jersey

• Overview

  Look for Hoppers Lake in the Passaic County part of New Jersey. The coast is 17 miles away. About 23 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. Nearest place of any size is Oakland, 1.4 miles away. Franklin Lakes is 2.1 miles and Pompton Lakes 2.5 miles. Within a short drive: 0.6 miles away is Upper Blauvelt Lake, Baker Pond (1.1 miles), 1.2 miles away is Vitale Pond, Pines Lake (1.3 miles) and 1.4 miles away is Conrad Pond. A border sits close enough to be relevant to the paperwork.

• Where to Fish on Hoppers Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Passaic County records list brown trout, walleye and brook trout among the fish reported. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. On Hoppers Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 28°F in January up to 73°F in July. Temperature moves within a narrow band, and so does the fishing. 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. Expect Hoppers Lake to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. The closest car park is half a mile away, so pack accordingly. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. If the gate is shut, Upper Blauvelt Lake at 0.6 miles is the nearest alternative. For Hoppers Lake in particular, ask before you travel.