Cautiously setting foot on the frozen lake, I had great anticipation of an afternoon of ice fishing. The first holes were quickly drilled through the six-inch thick ice! The hand- powered Nils auger easily cut through the sun softened ice. Traditional wooden tip-ups and a few newer HT Polar brand tip ups were baited and set up with shiners and fathead minnows. The fresh live baits were purchased from Andover Hunt & Fish. This shop is well stocked and the service was very friendly. I also had an ice fishing rod with a tiny wax worm tipped on a jig that was held at ready to be lowered through the hole in the lake.
The place was Lake Aeroflex in the Kittatinny Valley State Park in Andover, New Jersey.
Lake Aeroflex is a glacier formed lake in Sussex County, nestled in the Kittatinny Valley.
It has a depth of over 110 feet and is ideal for the New Jersey Fish and Game to stock the landlocked salmon and rainbow trout. https://goo.gl/maps/3NuPnJ4zX852
The air temperature was in the mid-50’s and the sun was shining brightly. My thoughts were that this could be the last opportunity for an ice fishing adventure for the elusive land-locked salmon. During the 2018 season, a new state record was caught that weighed 8 pounds and 5 ounces!
We waited with much anticipation for a tip up flag to trip off signaling a bite or the tug at the end of the line where our wax worm tipped jig dangled. Even the family dog, Mickee peered through the neatly cut holes in the ice looking, waiting and hoping for that bite.
As the sun began to set, the afternoon shadows grew longer. The flags on the tip ups stayed in their set positions the entire time, as we had no bites that afternoon. Since the fish were not in a biting mood, I decided to break out the cast iron skillet to prepare our onion cheese steak meal. Hot food cooked on a ice-covered lake rivals the finest meal at a 5-star restaurant!
After stuffing and warming ourselves with a hot meal, it was time to pull up the lines. As we walked off the frozen lake with the sun setting behind us, I sensed that in a few short weeks we would return– next time with our boat in tow to pursue those elusive land locked salmon again.
Discovery Outdoors, LLC 
how far is it from NYC mid town?
could you add a location link, such as google map link, so I can look into it?
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Lake Aeroflex is located about 55 miles from NYC. Nearby is Waterloo Village, this 19th-century village contains a gristmill, a general store, blacksmith shop, a canal museum and several historic houses. The village is located on the banks of the Morris Canal. In addition, an early 19th-century log cabin farmsite and 17th-century Lenape Indian Village exhibit are also located at the site.
I will look into adding a Google Map link – thanks for the suggestion.
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