Fishing reports & field guides

Lake · Freshwater

Lake Shenandoah

South New Jersey

Position

40°5.2′N 74°11.5′W

Lake Shenandoah is a 50-acre lake in Lake Shenandoah County Park in Lakewood, and a quiet local secret for largemouth, pickerel, channel catfish, crappie, sunfish and perch. Trout are stocked in spring and again in late fall. Weeds are sparse, so it fishes more like open water than a weedy pond.

When to fish

  • Spring: trout stocked in March and April. Alewife herring run up the fish ladder, though fishing within 100 feet of it is closed from March through June.
  • Late fall: a second trout stocking.

Where to fish

  • Brushy shoreline extensions and the two small islands: the main cover in otherwise open water.
  • The two docks: the best casting spots from shore.
  • Below the dam: the Metedeconk River's southwest branch flows down to Forge Pond and holds pickerel, crappie, bass and perch (outside the seasonal closure near the ladder).

How to fish it

The lake reaches 13 to 14 feet and averages 5 to 6, with sparse bladderwort and lily pads. Largemouth are self-sustaining and run to 4-plus pounds. Spinnerbaits, bladed jigs, buzzbaits, curly-tail plastic worms, lipless and suspending crankbaits and creature baits all catch them.

Getting there

The park entrances are at 660 Ocean Avenue and 300 New Hampshire Avenue in Lakewood. The concrete ramp is on Clover Street at the upper end, suited to boats up to 16 feet (aluminum recommended), and only electric motors are allowed. Shore access is limited to the docks and small cutouts along paths.

40°5.2′N 74°11.5′WLarger map

From the water

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