Paulins Kill Lake in Sussex County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  New Jersey holds Paulins Kill Lake, in Sussex County. Around the bank it is rolling hill. The water covers some 178 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. On our Sussex County list it sits near the top for size. 2.7 miles away sits Newton, the nearest town. Beyond it, Crandon Lakes at 4.3 miles and Hardwick at 6.8 miles. Rules can differ a short way off, since the county line is near.

• Where to Fish on Paulins Kill Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Open biodiversity records for Sussex County list brook trout, brown trout and walleye. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. Paulins Kill Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 71°F in July and bottoms out near 25°F in January. A lid forms in a hard winter only. Some winters give nothing at all, so plan for open water. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. It holds true on Paulins Kill Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. The water borders Paulinskill River Wildlife Management Area, so reserve rules are likely to apply. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Spring Lake at 0.6 miles is the sensible second choice. Treat access at Paulins Kill Lake as something to verify.