Lake Shawnee Fishing near Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey

• Overview

  Lake Shawnee falls in Morris County, part of New Jersey. It sits 31 miles in from the sea. It runs to roughly 82 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. Around 1.9 miles of margin, front to back. On our Morris County list it sits near the top for size. The nearest town is Lake Hopatcong, 2.3 miles away. Paterson is the closest city, 22 miles away. A border sits close enough to be relevant to the paperwork.

• Where to Fish on Lake Shawnee

  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. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Reported across Morris County: brown trout, brook trout and northern pike. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Lake Shawnee responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 71°F and January reads 25°F. In milder years the surface never sets. It should never be assumed safe, whatever the month says. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. Lake Shawnee fishes to that pattern most years. The hour either side of first light is rarely wasted.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. You will be walking about half a mile from the nearest car park. A platform or pier sits within half a mile. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Lake Winona at 1.3 miles is the sensible second choice. Check the position on Lake Shawnee before loading the car.