Jays Pond, New Jersey: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Jays Pond lies in Morris County, New Jersey. The surface lies 666 feet up. Surface area runs to about 2 acres — small enough to read in one session. Our Morris County list holds plenty of bigger water. 3 miles away sits Kinnelon, the nearest town. For a city, Paterson is 12 miles off. A border sits close enough to be relevant to the paperwork.

• Where to Fish on Jays Pond

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Records held for Morris County cover brown trout, brook trout, northern pike and bluegill. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. The near bank of Jays Pond is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 72°F and January at 27°F. The season stretches long at both ends here. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. On Jays Pond that shapes the whole year. Nights draw in quickly late in the season, so plan the walk back.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. This sits inside Lake Rickabear Day Camp, so read the reserve notices first. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Lake Ricabear sits 0.4 miles off and takes the overflow. The position on Jays Pond is worth confirming on the day.