Fishing Tamarack Lake in Sussex County, New Jersey

• Overview

  Tamarack Lake is a Sussex County water, in New Jersey. Salt water lies 31 miles off. Surface area is around 35 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. The bank runs about 1.0 miles all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. It is high ground by New Jersey standards. Start from Ogdensburg, 2.9 miles down the road. Beyond it, Franklin at 3 miles and Hamburg at 4.7 miles. A border sits close enough to be relevant to the paperwork.

• Where to Fish on Tamarack Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Across Sussex County, recorded fish include brook trout, brown trout, walleye, bluegill and pumpkinseed. The county list is broader than any single water. On Tamarack Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 70°F and January near 24°F on the long-run figures. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near late March. Averages place the thaw at late March and the freeze at late December. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Tamarack Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. The nearest mapped parking is 0.9 miles away, so the last stretch is on foot. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Summit Lake sits 0.6 miles off and takes the overflow. The position on Tamarack Lake is worth confirming on the day.