Fishing at Lake Lackawanna, Sussex County, New Jersey

• Overview

  Lake Lackawanna is set in Sussex County, New Jersey. The water sits 719 feet up. With some 115 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. There is roughly 2.7 miles of shoreline here, which is a short walk end to end. Few waters listed in Sussex County are bigger. Some 1.2 miles away sits Hopatcong Hills, the nearest settlement. Paterson sits 27 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. Local rules may differ a few miles either side of here.

• Where to Fish on Lake Lackawanna

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Across Sussex County, recorded fish include brook trout, brown trout, walleye, bluegill and pumpkinseed. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Fish Lake Lackawanna to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 25°F and July at about 71°F, the water has a wide range to work through. The year gives four workable seasons without severe ends. Some winters give nothing at all, so plan for open water. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. Time your trip to Lake Lackawanna by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. There is a mapped landing stage half a mile away. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. Dallis Pond sits 0.4 miles off and takes the overflow. Nothing on Lake Lackawanna should be assumed from this page alone.