Sawmill Pond Fishing near Matamoras, New Jersey

• Overview

  Sawmill Pond is listed under Sussex County, New Jersey. The bank is 1,224 feet above sea level. Surface area runs to about 20 acres — small enough to read in one session. Compared with other New Jersey water on our list, it sits high. Matamoras sits 5.2 miles from here and is the nearest stop. It is 37 miles to Paterson, the nearest city. It sits near the edge of the county, so check which rules apply.

• Where to Fish on Sawmill Pond

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Public occurrence data for Sussex County names brook trout, brown trout, walleye and bluegill. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. On Sawmill Pond the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 70°F in July and bottom out at 24°F in January. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Ice-out usually falls in late March, and the weeks after it fish hardest. Average temperatures cross freezing around late March in spring and again near late December in autumn. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Sawmill Pond fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. You can park half a mile away and walk in from there. A campsite lies 80 yards away for anyone staying over. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. If the gate is shut, Steeny Kill Lake at 1.7 miles is the nearest alternative. Confirm before you fish Sawmill Pond.