Wawayanda Lake

Wawayanda Lake sits high in the hills of Wawayanda State Park in Vernon Township, Sussex County. At 255 acres and up to 90 feet deep, with coves, points, drop-offs and rock formations everywhere, it fishes bigger than it is. It's a Holdover Trout Lake, gets more landlocked salmon than any other lake in the state (about 1,275 in 2025), and is also known for good-sized largemouth bass. Thanks to its elevation it freezes earlier, thicker and longer than most New Jersey lakes, which makes it a winter favorite.

When to fish

• Winter: some of the most reliable ice in the state. Anglers jig over deep water for salmon and holdover rainbows while tip-ups baited with shiners sit near the weeds for bass and pickerel.
• Spring and early summer: drift live herring about 15 feet down over open water for salmon and trout, and troll small spoons near the surface into late June.
• Summer: dense weeds in the shallows hold bass, pickerel and big black crappie.

Where to fish

• Deep water near weeds: a good bet for salmon and trout in winter; salmon are often just a couple of feet under the ice.
• Weedlines, weed pockets and fallen trees along rocky shores: bass, pickerel and crappie. The fish can vary cove by cove, so pay attention to what each spot holds.

How to fish it

Through the ice, jig for salmonids and set shiner tip-ups for bass and pickerel. In summer, use weedless frogs, weedless spoons, Texas-rigged plastics and heavy tungsten jigs that punch through thick weeds, and fish topwater over submerged weeds and along the edges. Slow down: a weightless plastic worm worked quietly often out-fishes a fast search. Expect largemouth around 2 to 4 pounds, pickerel to 2 feet and crappie to 14 inches.

Getting there

Wawayanda State Park is at 885 Warwick Turnpike in Hewitt. The lake has a good boat ramp; electric motors only. It's a Holdover Trout Lake with its own trout and salmon rules; check the current Freshwater Fishing Digest.