Fishing at Lower Aetna Lake, Burlington County, New Jersey

• Overview

  Burlington County, New Jersey, is where Lower Aetna Lake sits. The bank is 66 feet above sea level. This is a pocket water of some 18 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Supplies mean a trip to Medford Lakes, 0.3 miles off. Vincentown follows at 5.7 miles, then Leisuretowne at 5.7 miles. It sits near the edge of the county, so check which rules apply.

• Where to Fish on Lower Aetna Lake

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. Records held for Burlington County cover pumpkinseed, bluegill and largemouth bass. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. On Lower Aetna Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 75°F and January at 31°F. Temperature moves within a narrow band, and so does the fishing. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. Lower Aetna Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. You can park 100 yards away and walk in from there. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. If the gate is shut, Lake Mishe-Mokwa at 0.4 miles is the nearest alternative. Treat Lower Aetna Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.