Laurel Pond in Sussex County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Sussex County, New Jersey, is where Laurel Pond sits. It lies 1,122 feet above sea level. Surface area runs to about 14 acres — small enough to read in one session. It is high ground by New Jersey standards. Highland Lake lies 1.7 miles from the water. Paterson sits 22 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. You are close to a county edge here; who manages the access can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Laurel Pond

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Fish documented in Sussex County include brook trout, brown trout, walleye, bluegill and pumpkinseed. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. On Laurel Pond a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 25°F to 71°F. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Break-up comes around late March, and the run that follows is short and strong. The lid tends to go about late March and return around late December. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. That is the shape of the year on Laurel Pond.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. A slipway is marked about half a mile from here. Recorded parking is half a mile off, far enough to travel light. Overnight stays are possible half a mile away. There are picnic tables half a mile away. Mapping records toilets within half a mile. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. For a change of water, Wawayanda Lake is 0.4 miles distant. Rules at Laurel Pond are worth checking on the day.