Ramapo Lake Info?

[kcritch]

I am heading up to Newburgh NY this Saturday for my sons cross country meet and looking for a place to stop on the way back to do a little fishing from shore. Anybody know how to access Ramapo Lake or any information on it? Never been there.

Open to other suggestions off 287 up that way as well.

Thanks,
Ken

[NJ Dave]

Ramapo lake in Mawah? It is off Rt. 202 a few miles away from Ramapo College. The park is called The Ramapo Reservation.
The bottom lake holds pan fish, bass, and trout if you can find em.
The top lake which gets far less fisihg pressure holds the same.
The river you will cross prior to enteriong the park is stocked prety good with trout however I dont know if the fall stocking took place yet. It does hold over trout.
Cross the foot bridge and make a quick right and fish the pools under and around the bridge.
OR
Cross the foot bridge and make a left. Walk past the bend and it gets deep. 10 feet or so.
G/L

[ScowardNJ]

Ramapo Lake is located up in the Ramapo Mountain State Forest in Oakland. You have to hike to it. There are 2 parking lots off Skyline Drive, one at the bottom and one at the top of Skyline Dr. The hike up from the lower lot is easier, takes about 15-20 minutes to hike up there. LM, Crappie, Picky Lake. Lots of shore access.
The lake off 202 in the Ramapo Reservation in Mahwah is called Scarlet Oak Pond. Way easier to access but way more pressure. You got the Ramapo River flowing through right there also. River rat smallies have been pretty active in the River in certain pools from the Doty Rd Bridge in Oakland to the NY State line.

[Det. Brad]

you can also fish Potash Lake in Oakland on West Oakland Ave. The Ramapo River runs into it and this lake empties out into Pompton Lake. Lots of Bass in there.

[Lard Almighty]

Off Route 202 in that same area is Bear Swamp Road. There is a parking lot on the other side of the Ramapo River, by a small creek. That creek has native brook trout in it. Nothing big, but they are in almost every hole. Fishing is artificials only.

[kcritch]

Wow great information guys...thanks alot. I'm "working from home" tomorrow so I will defiitely map out those spots and maybe try to hit a couple of them.

Thanks Again.
Ken

[Det. Brad]

Originally Posted by Lard Almighty

Off Route 202 in that same area is Bear Swamp Road. There is a parking lot on the other side of the Ramapo River, by a small creek. That creek has native brook trout in it. Nothing big, but they are in almost every hole. Fishing is artificials only.

Better bring your hiking shoes for that creek... Awesome fishing spot though. A lot of Native Brookies in there. The color on them are amazing...

[Wilson]

Originally Posted by kcritch

I am heading up to Newburgh NY this Saturday for my sons cross country meet and looking for a place to stop on the way back to do a little fishing from shore. Anybody know how to access Ramapo Lake or any information on it? Never been there.

Open to other suggestions off 287 up that way as well.

Thanks,
Ken

Also there is Shepard's lake state park. Free after Labor day.
Good luck

[Wilson]

Originally Posted by kcritch

I am heading up to Newburgh NY this Saturday for my sons cross country meet and looking for a place to stop on the way back to do a little fishing from shore. Anybody know how to access Ramapo Lake or any information on it? Never been there.

Open to other suggestions off 287 up that way as well.

Thanks,
Ken

So what happened?

[kcritch]

First - Thanks to eveyone for all of the great info...unfortunately I did not see the posts from Friday evening until just now. But will save all of this for the future.

Second - I Suck...Skunked at three of the recommended places. Didn't have time to do the Ramapo Lake hike so stayed with stuff a little closer to the parking areas.

Fished the River up by Ramampo Reservation and Bear Swamp Road, Fished the ponds there as well (Scarlet Oak, etc).

Then stopped at Potash (that place has to be loaded with Bass....looked great) and fished it for about and hour and half...not even a tap. The wife was itchin' to get home at that point since we had been out all day with the cross country meet in the morning and all so called it a day.

Sorry to waste such great intel.....I have been in a real slump lately and have only one fish to my credit in the last 6 outings. Some of those were 8 hr days too! Thinking I should dig out the golf clubs and try that again instead.

Thanks again everyone for all of the help. At least I had a plan and got to try out a few new places.