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White Lake Natural Resource Area is located in Warren County, NJ. It is known for it's crystal clear waters, nicknaming it the Caribbean of NJ. The lake is very small and takes under an hour to circumnavigate. This lake is open from dawn to dusk, all watercrafts are allowed. It's a great beginner lake since it is one of the smallest public ones available.

Here is the Google Maps pin for the location.


 

Where to park and where to unload:




 

It's been a bit of a slow start for me this season, and I have really had to pick my spots. 

This location was one of the last few I visited in the fall, and I went into this season not really having a plan on where I wanted to go first. Recently my daughter and I hiked near the area, after we had to abandon the Sussex Branch Trail near Cranberry Lake due to flooding. 

Once I revisited from my hike I wanted to come back and fish it again. I had a window on Saturday morning before the winds were forecasted to come in, and off I went.

The lake was like glass in the morning, and was covered with a thin sheen of pollen & white snow - those white seed pods that always seem to be floating around every year during the first week of May; I don't know what they're called or what tree or plant produces them. All I know is without fail, this time of year there are several days with white things blowing around all day long. I told my daughter it always coincides with her birthday week

Was not expecting much due to the bluebird skies, but the pickerel certainly were willing enough, although several declined their photo ops with me. I only ended up with a couple and the bass weren't hitting much, but it was still an ok outing. It's early in the year, but the lily pads are already starting to come in pretty quickly. In another month or so this place will be a sea of pads, but there are still plenty of holes around to fish the edges. 

There was enough water from the recent rains that I was finally able to edge into the northern section of the lake. My last few trips here there were a lot of visible stumps poking out above the water, and I believe it's the shallowest and weediest portion of the lake. 

 

Looking forward to a few return trips here during the 2023 season! 

I'm not entirely sure where my next paddle will be. I have Merrill Creek, Spruce Run, and Round Valley relatively close by.

Show-off your kayak, paddleboard, or canoe and tell us why you'd recommend it.

Here's my primary, a Delta 12.10. I recommend it because of how light it is, being only 31lbs. It's 12.5' long, which is just enough for bays, but great for lakes and rivers (like the Delaware). The plastic is a little softer than others, so you may want to be careful with rocks.