Fishing near Montclair, New Jersey

Look for Montclair in the Essex County part of New Jersey. The place runs to some 39,701 residents. Set out by distance: Clarks Pond 1.5 miles away, Verona Lake 2.0 miles away to the west, Crystal Lake 2.7 miles away, Great Notch Reservoir 3.9 miles away to the north and Butchers Pond 4.8 miles away. At Crystal Lake the shallow end warms first, which matters in early spring. The mix of water types here is unusually wide. Look for the line where sand gives way to silt. Ice here is the exception, not the rule. It is never dependable, so check before you step out. Clarks Pond is the easiest to reach with a car. Across Essex County, recorded fish include pumpkinseed, bluegill, largemouth bass and common carp. The far ones are usually the emptier ones. The count nearby is modest, but the next ring out is not. Anyone based in Montclair can reach every one of these in a morning....