Lake Washington near Haskell: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  The Passaic County end of New Jersey holds Lake Washington. Salt water lies 21 miles off. The water covers some 167 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Size puts it in the front rank of our Passaic County list. Haskell at 0.4 miles is the nearest place to stop. It is 11 miles to Paterson, the nearest city. A county boundary sits nearby, which can matter for local access rules.

• Where to Fish on Lake Washington

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Records held for Passaic County cover brown trout, walleye, brook trout, bluegill and largemouth bass. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. On Lake Washington the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 73°F and January near 27°F. The year turns gently, without extremes at either end. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. Spring and autumn carry the year; summer squeezes it into the ends of the day. Lake Washington runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. Recorded parking is half a mile off, far enough to travel light. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. Failing this one, try Twilliger Lake, 0.8 miles away. For Lake Washington, the notice at the access point is the final word.