Panther Lake, New Jersey: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Panther Lake lies in Sussex County, in New Jersey. The coast is 36 miles away. With some 50 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. Bank access stretches around 1.1 miles in total. Nearest town is Hopatcong Hills, 3.7 miles off. After that come Hopatcong at 4.6 miles and Stanhope at 4.7 miles. It sits near the edge of the county, so check which rules apply.

• Where to Fish on Panther Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Records held for Sussex County cover brook trout, brown trout, walleye, bluegill and pumpkinseed. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. Treat Panther Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 25°F to 71°F. Fishing continues through most of the calendar, with quiet spells rather than closures. It is not guaranteed even in a cold spell, so check yourself. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. Plan around that when you fish Panther Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. A car park sits roughly half a mile away. There is a campsite 90 yards from the water. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. If the gate is shut, Forest Lake at 0.6 miles is the nearest alternative. For Panther Lake in particular, ask before you travel.