MacMillan Reservoir Fishing Guide, Bergen County, New Jersey

• Overview

  MacMillan Reservoir is one of the Bergen County waters in New Jersey. The country round it is rolling hill from end to end. At 13 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Ringwood lies 2.9 miles from the water. The nearest city of size is Paterson, 12 miles away. A county boundary sits nearby, which can matter for local access rules.

• Where to Fish on MacMillan Reservoir

  We hold no depth figure for this one. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Open biodiversity records for Bergen County list bluegill, pumpkinseed, brown trout, largemouth bass and common carp. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. MacMillan Reservoir gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 26°F in January and 72°F in July. Whether it freezes depends on the year. It is not guaranteed even in a cold spell, so check yourself. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. Plan any trip to MacMillan Reservoir around it. After a storm, the water clears from the edges inwards.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. Ramapo Valley County Reservation covers this ground, which means extra rules to check. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Bear Swamp Lake at 1.1 miles is the sensible second choice. Nothing on MacMillan Reservoir should be assumed from this page alone.