Mashipacong Pond, New Jersey: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Look for Mashipacong Pond in the Sussex County part of New Jersey. It lies 1,129 feet above sea level. Roughly 49 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. Around 1.1 miles of margin, front to back. It is high ground by New Jersey standards. The closest town, Matamoras, is 7.1 miles away. Sussex is 7.4 miles away, with Port Jervis at 7.6 miles. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Mashipacong Pond

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. County-wide records name brook trout, brown trout, walleye and bluegill. The county list is broader than any single water. Fish Mashipacong Pond where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 70°F in July and bottoms out near 24°F in January. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from late March. On average, late March opens the water and late December closes it again. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. Plan any trip to Mashipacong Pond around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. You can camp about half a mile away, going by the mapping. The water borders Mashipacong Bogs Preserve, so reserve rules are likely to apply. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Failing this one, try Keller Pond, 2.4 miles away. Where Mashipacong Pond is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.