Washington Valley Reservoir Fishing in Somerset County, New Jersey

• Overview

  Washington Valley Reservoir falls in Somerset County, part of New Jersey. The sea is 16 miles distant. It covers about 21 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. Start from Martinsville, 0.7 miles down the road. Finderne lies 2.2 miles off, Bound Brook another 2.2 miles. The county line runs close by, so rules can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Washington Valley Reservoir

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. County-wide records name redbreast sunfish, largemouth bass, rainbow trout and bluegill. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. At Washington Valley Reservoir the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 73°F, the coldest about 28°F. In milder years the surface never sets. Some winters give nothing at all, so plan for open water. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. On Washington Valley Reservoir that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. There is somewhere to leave the car, half a mile off. Washington Valley Park West takes in this water; protected-area rules will apply. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. The nearest alternative is Lake Creighton, 3.3 miles out. Treat access at Washington Valley Reservoir as something to verify.