Fishing at Kelly Pond, Salem County, New Jersey

• Overview

  Kelly Pond is a Salem County water, in New Jersey. It sits in rolling hill. About 12 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. Nearest town is Woodstown, 4.2 miles off. Carneys Point is 4.5 miles and Penns Grove 5.3 miles. Alternatives close at hand: Laytons Lake 1.9 miles off, Hudson Lake sits 2.4 miles out, Memorial Lake 4.5 miles off, East Lake sits 5.1 miles out and Avis Millpond 6.8 miles off. Rules can differ a short way off, since the county line is near.

• Where to Fish on Kelly Pond

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. County-wide records name bluegill, pumpkinseed, largemouth bass and chain pickerel. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. On Kelly Pond a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 76°F in July and bottom out at 32°F in January. Whether it freezes depends on the year. Cover comes and goes, so treat it with suspicion rather than trust. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. The season on Kelly Pond rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. The closest car park is half a mile away, so pack accordingly. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Should this one be busy, Laytons Lake is 1.9 miles off. Check the current arrangement for Kelly Pond.