Fishing Kittatinny Camp Lake in Sussex County, New Jersey

• Overview

  The Sussex County end of New Jersey holds Kittatinny Camp Lake. Elevation runs to 709 feet. Surface area runs to about 11 acres — small enough to read in one session. On size it sits at the modest end of our Sussex County list. Birchwood Lakes is the closest town at 4.5 miles. Beyond it, Gold Key Lake at 7.1 miles and Crandon Lakes at 8.1 miles. It sits near the edge of the county, so check which rules apply.

• Where to Fish on Kittatinny Camp Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Across Sussex County, recorded fish include brook trout, brown trout, walleye, bluegill and pumpkinseed. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Take Kittatinny Camp Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put July near 70°F and January near 24°F. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around late March. Ice clears near late March and comes back about late December in a typical year. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. It sets the rhythm of the year at Kittatinny Camp Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. There is a mapped slipway roughly 160 yards away. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. The nearest alternative is Lake Robert Rooke, 2.5 miles out. Signs at Kittatinny Camp Lake carry more weight than any list.