Papoose Lake Fishing near Medford Lakes, New Jersey

• Overview

  Set in Burlington County, Papoose Lake is a New Jersey water. The coast is 16 miles away. Supplies mean a trip to Medford Lakes, 0.4 miles off. Philadelphia sits 21 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. In the same area: Upper Aetna Lake roughly 0.2 miles, Lake Stockwell lies 0.5 miles on, Upper Stokes Pond roughly 0.6 miles, Lower Aetna Lake lies 0.7 miles on and Lake Mishe-Mokwa roughly 0.7 miles. The county line runs close by, so rules can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Papoose Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Public occurrence data for Burlington County names pumpkinseed, bluegill, largemouth bass and chain pickerel. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Papoose Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 75°F in July and bottoms out near 31°F in January. The freeze here is occasional rather than annual. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. Autumn steadies things again once the heat lets go. Plan around that when you fish Papoose Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. The nearest mapped parking is half a mile away, so the last stretch is on foot. A campsite is mapped about 0.9 miles away, which makes an early start easier. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Upper Aetna Lake at 0.2 miles is the sensible second choice. The position on Papoose Lake is worth confirming on the day.