Wells Mills Reservoir Fishing in Ocean County, New Jersey

• Overview

  Wells Mills Reservoir sits in Ocean County, out in New Jersey. What surrounds it is mixed woodland. It covers about 23 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. For a base, Ocean Acres sits 3.4 miles out. Beyond it, Barnegat at 4.1 miles and Waretown at 4.5 miles. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Wells Mills Reservoir

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. Ocean County records list bluegill, pumpkinseed and white perch among the fish reported. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. Wells Mills Reservoir responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 74°F at the top of summer and 32°F at the bottom of winter. A lid forms in a hard winter only. Some winters give nothing at all, so plan for open water. Autumn steadies things again once the heat lets go. It sets the rhythm of the year at Wells Mills Reservoir. After a storm, the water clears from the edges inwards.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. A parking area is marked roughly half a mile out. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. The nearest alternative is Holiday Lake, 3.9 miles out. For Wells Mills Reservoir in particular, ask before you travel.