Mountain Springs Lake Fishing Guide, Passaic County, New Jersey

• Overview

  Within Passaic County, New Jersey, you have Mountain Springs Lake. Tidal water begins 24 miles from here. This is a pocket water of some 4 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Passaic County. You are 2.6 miles from Kinnelon. Paterson sits 14 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. This one sits near enough to a boundary to be worth checking.

• Where to Fish on Mountain Springs Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Across Passaic County, recorded fish include brown trout, walleye, brook trout and bluegill. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Work Mountain Springs Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 71°F and January reads 26°F. Ice comes and goes from one year to the next. It should never be assumed safe, whatever the month says. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to fish here. On Mountain Springs Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. There is no mapped parking or launch nearby, which keeps numbers down. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. Van Nostrand Lake sits 0.4 miles off and takes the overflow. Check the current arrangement for Mountain Springs Lake.