The Best Ice Fishing Lakes in New Jersey

The state of New Jersey is located in the heart of the Northeast, sandwiched between New York and Pennsylvania. With an area of 8,723 square miles and a population of 9.6 million residents, New Jersey is the most densely populated of the 50 U.S. states, with an average of 1,259 people per square mile.

But the Garden State, as it is commonly known, is also a place of amazing scenery straight from a postcard. New Jersey is famous for its Atlantic shoreline and boardwalk beaches, but the state’s true natural treasures lie inland. It is here that you’ll find forests, rivers, and hundreds of lakes.

On the topic of ice fishing, New Jersey may not be the first state that comes to mind. But the fact is, there is great ice fishing to be found in the Garden State if you just know where to find it. If you’re thinking of venturing out on the ice, these are the best ice fishing lakes in New Jersey.

1. Green Turtle Pond

In the northeastern end of New Jersey near the border of New York lies Green Turtle Pond, one of the state’s premier ice fishing destinations. This lake may have one of the most adorable names ever given to a body of water, but make no mistake, the fishing here is serious business.

Here are the particulars of Green Turtle Pond:

In terms of size, Green Turtle Pond covers a modest 40 acres.

It is also relatively shallow, with a maximum depth of 25 feet.
Because of its small surface area, boating is restricted on Green Turtle Pond to vessels with electric motors.

One of the advantages of ice fishing at Green Turtle Pond is that its modest size allows anglers to follow fish around the ice as they roam about the lake basin.

What You Need to Know About Ice Fishing at Green Turtle Pond

Green Turtle Pond is proof positive that even small lakes can support a thriving and diverse population of fish. If you’re planning a visit, here’s what you can expect to target here:

Largemouth and smallmouth bass – these are popular targets for ice fishing and a reliable setup is a tip-up baited with minnows or shiners.
Panfish – crappie, perch, and sunfish can also be caught through the ice at Green Turtle Pond. Locals prefer jigs tipped with worms, maggots, or larvae.

Trout – Green Turtle Pond is regularly stocked with trout every winter which makes this lake the go-to spot for trout anglers. Sizes range from 14 to 18 inches which is as good as it gets during the winter in New Jersey. A word of advice: fish the entire water column as trout like to drift.

While this small lake is definitely off the beaten path and not as easily accessible as larger, more popular spots, Green Turtle Pond is worth a try. Especially if you’re serious about ice fishing and looking to hook some winter trout.

2. Lake Hopatcong

Ask any angler who is familiar with ice fishing in New Jersey, and they’ll probably tell you that the premier spot bar none is Lake Hopatcong. Located in the northern half of the state, Lake Hopatcong is not only New Jersey’s favorite ice fishing destination but also its biggest freshwater lake.

Here’s how it measures up:

Lake Hopatcong covers an area of 2,658 acres or roughly 4 square miles.
The average water depth is 18 feet with a maximum of 50 feet at the lake’s deepest point.

There are 2 islands within the lake (Halsey Island and Raccoon Island) and 2 peninsulas jutting out into the water.

In the Indigenous people’s language, the name Hopatcong means “honey waters of many coves”. This is a perfect description of the lake’s winding shoreline and its many inlets where various species of fish like to hang out.

What You Need to Know About Ice Fishing at Lake Hopatcong

Lake Hopatcong draws more anglers year-round than any other lake in New Jersey and this holds true during the winter. These waters hold a diverse population of fish with robust, healthy specimens across all species that call Lake Hopatcong home.

If you’re planning a visit, the list of species you can target at Lake Hopatcong is an extensive one. Here are the highlights:

One of the most popular fish to target at Lake Hopatcong is walleye. Jigging down to depths of 20 to 30 feet is the best technique to attract strikes.
Panfish such as bluegill, crappie, and perch, can often be found in areas where weeds and vegetation are abundant. These tend to be in the shallow areas which also are the first spots to form good ice. Go with a small jig tipped with worms or larvae.

The western part of Lake Hopatcong features deep drop-offs, and this is where largemouth bass like to hang out. Other species also favor this habitat so don’t be surprised if you drop a line looking for largemouth bass and pull up a pickerel Live minnows work great.
One of the great things about ice fishing at Lake Hopatcong is the diversity of the fish population. You may have a particular species in mind, say panfish or bass, but there are also catfish, trout, and muskie in these waters.

New Jersey fishing regulations allow each angler to have 5 devices. Local anglers like to take to the ice with 4 tip-ups and 1 rod for jigging. Whatever your favorite setup might be, a day out on the ice at Lake Hopatcong is sure to be an ice fishing adventure that you won’t soon forget.

3. Pompton Lake

Northern New Jersey is where you’ll find Pompton Lake, another top ice fishing spot in the Garden State. Like so many great fishing lakes in the Garden State, there is more than meets the eye at Pompton Lake. From the surface, this serene body of water isn’t very impressive in terms of size:

With a surface area of just 185 acres (just over a quarter of a square mile), Pompton Lake is small, even by New Jersey standards.
At its deepest point, Pompton Lake bottoms out at 22 feet.

This lake averages 6 to 10 feet deep throughout its basin.

While these figures may seem quite ordinary by any measure, the quality of the year-round fishing here is quite a different story. Knowledgeable anglers from far and wide flock to Pompton Lake, especially the diehards when winter rolls around.

What You Need to Know About Ice Fishing at Pompton Lake

As you stroll around the shoreline of Pompton Lake, you are greeted by quaint shops, lakefront properties, and plenty of green public spaces. But in fishing circles, Pompton Lake is known as the home of a vibrant fish population, including record-setting crappie and northern pike.

A variety of fish species can be found in Pompton Lake, including:

Black crappie
Chain pickerel

Channel catfish
Common carp
Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass

Muskie
Rainbow trout

But despite all of these popular options, the biggest draw to Pompton Lake during ice fishing season is northern pike. Trophy-sized specimens can be caught from these waters with fish measuring up to 40 inches not out of the question.

Locals prefer heavy lines with circle hooks. Large minnows hooked through the tail will attract good strikes as the bait swims around. You may see a lot of anglers camped out in the north end of the lake during peak ice fishing season but don’t be discouraged. There’s plenty of room on the ice for everyone.

4. Round Valley Reservoir

Located in the heart of New Jersey midway between Allentown, PA, and New York, NY, Round Valley Reservoir is considered by many to be the state’s best lake for ice fishing. Being in central New Jersey makes this popular lake accessible to anglers and outdoor enthusiasts from New Jersey and beyond.

Here’s a snapshot of Round Valley Reservoir:

By New Jersey standards, Round Valley Reservoir is a large lake with a surface area of 2,350 acres. This makes it the second-largest lake in New Jersey behind Lake Hopatcong (which is also on our list of best ice fishing lakes).
The average depth around the lake is around 70 feet with a maximum depth of 180 feet. Round Valley Reservoir is also New Jersey’s second-deepest lake.
Round Valley Reservoir is part of Round Valley Recreation Area, one of the crown jewels of New Jersey’s state park system. Nestled among the Cushetunk Mountains, the greater Round Valley Recreation Area is a haven for anglers, hikers, campers, and nature lovers alike.

Round Valley Reservoir is a true New Jersey gem. Whether you’re trying out ice fishing for the very first time or you’re a seasoned veteran looking for trophy-sized fish, Round Valley Reservoir has good action for every skill level.

What You Need to Know About Ice Fishing at Round Valley Reservoir

As one of the largest and deepest lakes in New Jersey, it should come as no surprise that Round Valley Reservoir is also one of the state’s best ice fishing lakes. So much so, in fact, that state records for smallmouth bass, brown trout, lake trout, and American eel, have been set at this lake.

Here’s a closer look at the most popular ice fishing targets at Round Valley Reservoir:

Lake trout – this is one of the biggest draws during ice fishing season. Round Valley Reservoir is regularly stocked with lake, brown, and rainbow trout and supports a naturally-reproducing lake trout population. A state-record 32-pounder was caught from these waters.
Brown and rainbow trout – Round Valley Reservoir is also a prime habitat for browns and rainbows. Unlike lake trout which prefer deeper parts of the lake, brown and rainbow trout like to hang out in more shallow areas with rocky bottoms.
Smallmouth bass – this is another popular species at Round Valley Reservoir. Smallmouth bass are abundant here and the best places to target them are shallow sandy coves with good weed growth. Crankbaits and artificial lures are sure to get good strikes under the ice.

Whether you live in New Jersey or are just visiting, if you’re looking for the best spot to drop a line through the ice, Round Valley Reservoir should be at the top of your list.

5. Swartswood Lake

Located in New Jersey’s northwestern corner near its border with Pennsylvania, Swartswood Lake is one of the state’s top ice fishing spots. Swartswood Lake is a haven for outdoor activities like hiking, camping, swimming, and kayaking.

But for anglers, it’s all about the fishing and some of the best fish activity here occurs during the winter months after the first ice. Here’s a snapshot of Swartswood Lake:

With a surface area of 519 acres, Swartswood Lake is modestly sized but certainly large enough to support plenty of activities.
The average lake depth is 25 feet with a maximum of 54 feet at the lake’s center.

Swartswood Lake is a place that’s near and dear to many local anglers. It is New Jersey’s third-largest natural freshwater lake, having been left behind when glaciers retreated thousands of years ago. But more importantly, Swartswood Lake was established in 1915 as New Jersey’s first state park.

What You Need to Know About Ice Fishing at Swartswood Lake

Being in the northern half of the state amid mountainous terrain, Swartswood Lake freezes over earlier than lakes further south or closer to the Atlantic shoreline. This makes it especially popular among anglers itching to get onto the ice to drop a line.

Swartswood Lake is famous for its trout population, including brook, brown, lake, and rainbow varieties. But as far as ice fishing is concerned, the biggest draw is walleye. Here’s what you need to know before heading out to Swartswood Lake in search of monster walleye:

Swartswood Lake has a healthy walleye population with some specimens topping the scales at more than 6 pounds and reaching up to 24 inches in length.

Walleye prefer areas of the lake where the bottom is uneven and rocky.
A good setup is ice jigs tipped with minnows or worms.

Other species you can target at Swartswood Lake during ice fishing season are pickerel, perch, and other panfish.

Conclusion

Whether your favorite wintertime fishing target is trout, perch, walleye, or other species, ice fishing in New Jersey can be the experience of a lifetime. If you’re looking to drop a line through the ice in the Garden State but don’t know where to start, look no further than these ice fishing hotspots.

SOURCES:

https://www.njspotlightnews.org/2023/08/new-jersey-is-the-most-densely-populated-state/

https://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMBBD4_Green_Turtle_Pond

https://www.thefisherman.com/hot-spot/green-turtle-pond/#close-modal

https://www.onthewater.com/new-jersey-top-ice-fishing-spots

https://dep.nj.gov/njfw/wp-content/uploads/njfw/hopatcong.pdf

https://www.thefisherman.com/article/lake-hopatcong/

https://usa.fishermap.org/depth-map/pompton-lake-nj/

https://www.pomptonlakes-nj.gov/292/About-Our-Community

https://nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/parks/roundvalleyrecreationarea.html

https://www.nj.gov/dep/daw/roundvalley/

https://dep.nj.gov/njfw/fishing/freshwater/trout-fishing-information/