FARRINGTON LAKE, NJ

Bordered to the south by Davidson’s Mill Road and to the north by Farrington Boulevard, this serpentine-shaped still water has it all for the freshwater angler. From palm sized bluegills, to telephone pole pike, the weedy and winding Farrington strikes a balance of bucolic and busy. This swim is an anomaly considering geographic location and angling opportunity, Farrington Lake will surely re-direct efforts of those who deem it necessary to travel north or south to engage in wrist bending angling.

Exposits New Jersey Bureau of Freshwater Fisheries principal biologist Shawn Crouse, “Farrington is one of those New Jersey waters that, because of its close proximity to highly populated areas, is not taken seriously as a quality fishing venue. This is a huge mistake, because Farrington consistently produces big bass, chain pickerel and channel catfish. And the northern pike? Double digit fish are by no means uncommon.”

Add slab crappies, yellow perch and bluegill and it’s easy to understand what Crouse is talking about. “Don’t be fooled by its location. Farrington provides excellent fishing opportunities for the trophy seeker and also the fisherman who wants to bring dinner home,” he adds.

With a rich forage base consisting of alewife herring, golden shiners, minnows, crayfish, suckers and the smaller size sunfish and crappies, the “Big Four” (bass, pickerel, channel cats and pike) grow quickly and attain lengths and girths one would associate with the Garden State’s bigger waters. The standard trout stocked during the spring no doubt add to the lunker larder.

Farrington is approximately 12 feet at its deepest with a mean reach between 5-1/2 and six feet. The bottom is a mix of sand, gravel and muck, and weeds dominate by the last week in April. However, there are enough alleyways and holes in the blankets of vegetation to encourage presentations. Shoreline access is available in the form of cutouts along the banks bordering Church Lane, Riva Avenue, Oakmont Avenue and Farrington Boulevard. Dropping in a car topper is best at Church Lane, and the more enterprising will find it easy to slip a ‘yak or canoe in at the aforementioned access points.

The northern pike reigns supreme in Farrington. Northerns to 15 pounds have been recorded, with some close to 20 pounds rumored to be caught. The average fish will be in the four- to seven- pound range, with eight- to 10- pound choppers more common than not.
From this corner, it’s difficult imagining the likes of three to five pound largemouth bass, chains to 33 inches in length and channel catfish to a dozen pounds as warm-ups, but that’s the Farrington itinerary.

Opening Day Bonus: Back to those trout. Previously scratched from the trout liberation list for this year, Farrington was re-instated to help deal with the reduction in salmonid stocked waters as per emergency Pequest Trout Hatchery guidelines. For the April 5 opener, a mix of 8,000 brookies, browns and rainbows will be given the let go. Not only will these trout provide awesome opening day action, those left will add to the health of resident esox inhabitants. That’s a lot of trout, so why travel far to find fish-get to it!