Shadow Lake Fishing Guide, Bergen County, New Jersey

• Overview

  Out in Bergen County, New Jersey, sits Shadow Lake. The shore lies 15 miles out. Franklin Lakes sits 1.2 miles from here and is the nearest stop. It is 8.1 miles to Paterson, the nearest city. Close by you also have: De Yoe Pond about 0.4 miles, Bunker Pond the better part of 0.6 miles, Cooks Pond about 1 mile, Lawlin Pond the better part of 1.1 miles and Meyers Lakes about 1.1 miles. A county line runs close by, so local bylaws can differ within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Shadow Lake

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Records held for Bergen County cover bluegill, pumpkinseed, brown trout and largemouth bass. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. At Shadow Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 28°F in January to roughly 73°F in July. Mild ends to the year keep the season long. Hard water here is never dependable, so check for yourself before stepping out. The hot months push the fishing to dawn and dusk. It sets the rhythm of the year at Shadow Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. The nearest mapped parking is half a mile away, so the last stretch is on foot. Old Mill Woodlands covers ground next to the water; its rules will apply on that side. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. De Yoe Pond, 0.4 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Nothing on Shadow Lake should be assumed from this page alone.