Pinecliff Lake Fishing in Passaic County, New Jersey

• Overview

  Passaic County in New Jersey is where Pinecliff Lake sits. Salt water lies 22 miles off. Around 144 acres of surface means several distinct areas to work. The edge runs 2.6 miles or so, easy to work in an afternoon. It ranks high for size among our Passaic County listings. For supplies, West Milford is 0.4 miles out. Paterson is the closest city, 18 miles away. This one sits near enough to a boundary to be worth checking.

• Where to Fish on Pinecliff Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. Across Passaic County, recorded fish include brown trout, walleye and brook trout. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. On Pinecliff Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 71°F at the top of summer and 25°F at the bottom of winter. Ice comes and goes from one year to the next. It is not guaranteed even in a cold spell, so check yourself. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to fish here. Expect Pinecliff Lake to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. Parking sits half a mile out, which makes for a walk with tackle. Random Woods covers ground next to the water; its rules will apply on that side. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. West Milford Lake, 0.6 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Nothing on Pinecliff Lake should be assumed from this page alone.