Shady Lake in Passaic County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Shady Lake belongs to Passaic County, New Jersey. The coast is 24 miles away. At roughly 6 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. By elevation it is in the upper part of our New Jersey listings. The closest town, Kinnelon, is 3.2 miles distant. Paterson is the closest city, 14 miles away. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Shady Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Reported across Passaic County: brown trout, walleye, brook trout, bluegill and largemouth bass. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Read Shady Lake before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 71°F on average, January about 26°F. The calendar is generous: something works in nearly every month. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. Spring and autumn carry the year; summer squeezes it into the ends of the day. Time your trip to Shady Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. The closest car park is half a mile away, so pack accordingly. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Should this one be busy, Zeliff Pond is 0.3 miles off. For Shady Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.