Newark Watershed Reservoirs

The Newark Watershed covers 35,000 acres of rocky, wooded highlands in Passaic and Sussex counties along Route 23, and four of its reservoirs are open to fishing by permit, along with a long stretch of the Pequannock River. Because you need a paid permit, pressure is far lighter than on public lakes, and the fishing reflects it: trophy muskies, big walleye, excellent bass, pickerel, panfish and spring trout.

Where to fish

• Echo Lake (about 300 acres, 32 feet deep): muskies rule, with fish over 50 inches caught and netted by the state for broodstock. It's a Trophy Muskie Water, with good largemouth, smallmouth and pickerel too. The ramp is off Echo Lake Road next to the watershed office.
• Canistear Reservoir (about 350 acres, 42 feet deep): walleye to 5 or 6 pounds, plus good numbers of smallmouth and largemouth. The ramp is on Canistear Road.
• Clinton Reservoir (about 423 acres, 42 feet deep): strong largemouth and smallmouth fishing, a Holdover Trout Lake stocked with rainbows each spring, and host to small bass tournaments. The ramp is on Clinton Road.
• Oak Ridge Reservoir (about 482 acres, 56 feet deep): the all-round choice for largemouth, smallmouth, pickerel and panfish. The ramp is off Route 23 South at Oak Ridge Road.
• The Pequannock River: about 5.9 miles through the property, from Oak Ridge Road to just above the Charlottesburg Reservoir, managed for wild brown trout under special regulations and not stocked.

When to fish

• Spring: trout stocking at Clinton. Muskies are catch-and-release in spring at Echo Lake.
• Open-water season: bass, walleye, pickerel and panfish on all four reservoirs.

Getting there

All fishing on the property needs a Newark Watershed permit (daily or seasonal, with a separate daily permit for the Pequannock), available online, at Newark City Hall, or at the watershed office on Echo Lake Road in West Milford, just off Route 23. Boats are limited to electric motors, and canoes, kayaks and inflatables aren't allowed. Check the state's special regulations for Echo Lake muskies, Clinton trout and the Pequannock before you go.