Position
39°57.4′N 74°40.1′W
Pemberton Lake is a 45-acre former cranberry bog in NJ Fish and Wildlife's Pemberton Lake Wildlife Management Area, off Magnolia Road in Burlington County. It's shallow and stained, and it holds a steady, naturally reproducing largemouth population with some 4- to 6-pounders, plus good crappie, sunfish, big pickerel and spring trout. It's a favorite with kayak anglers.
When to fish
- Late February through May: prime time for bass, pickerel and crappie. Trout are stocked before opening day and weekly in April and bite well into May.
- Mid-October through December: the second prime season, lasting into January if the lake doesn't freeze.
- Summer: the shallow water heats up and is prone to algae blooms; watch for posted advisories.
Where to fish
- Flats, small drop-offs and humps: hidden in the stained water.
- Stickups (visible at low water), the island and brushpiles.
- Laydowns and overhanging brush along the banks.
- Shore cutouts: at low water you can walk and fish the open banks.
How to fish it
The lake averages only about 3 feet deep and tops out around 6, with patches of bladderwort. Shiners, gizzard shad and young panfish are the main forage.
Getting there
There's a dock with parking for about half a dozen cars on Magnolia Road, and a gravel ramp with parking on Coleman's Bridge Road (County Route 616) off Magnolia Road. Only electric motors are allowed.
From the water
Latest reports
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No fishing reports have been published for Pemberton Lake yet.
Field guide
What you can catch
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