Boating on beautiful Lake Aeroflex

By Laurie Gordon
ANDOVER — It's located about a mile from Route 206 and just a few miles north of Route 80 in Andover: but you'd never know that. There's even a small airport along its northern shores, but the airport is tiny and the planes but a gentle murmur in the distance. Places like this are hard to find these days. There are no swimming beaches or campgrounds near Lake Aeroflex, but the beauty of this pristine body of water can be thoroughly enjoyed by by getting out on it.
That's where Garrett Kazar, from Andover Hunt & Fish comes in. He saw a great opportunity to enable people to enjoy Aeroflex and all of it's wildlife, and three years ago started renting boats.
“We're open for the 2018 season, and a customer can call the store if a person is not at our lake kiosk,” Kazar said. “We have staff at the lake full time on weekends now and weekdays this will start on June 15th.” He added, “Many customers book ahead especially if the are in a group or looking fro an electric row boat to go fishing. We rent kayaks, Jon boats with electric motors, paddle boards and canoes.”
Lake Aeroflex offers the combination of serenity plus some great fishing. As one of the deepest lakes in New Jersey, landlocked salmon have been stocked there since 2006 when the State of Massachusetts offered their excess hatchery fingerlings to New Jersey's use in its few deep and cold lakes. Additionally, the State also stocks Lake Aeroflex with several species of trout. Kazar said that bass, pickerel and pan fish can also be found.
“We offer guided fishing and hunting trips,” he said. “We guide on all local lakes and rivers for trout, landlocked salmon, bass, shad, catfish, muskie, pike and wallaye. We also do guided striper salt water fishing trips which are hot right now. Last year we started guided bear, deer, turkey, ducks, goose and pheasant hunting trips. We have the know how and locations to provide some of the best hunting experiences in New Jersey.”
Kazar said, “Hunting and fishing is our passion, and we love sharing our knowledge with anyone who is interested in learning new tricks or a fist time outdoors-men.”
Andover Hunt & Fish's latest successful venture was the addition of Kids Fishing Camps which were initiated last year.
“Through the camps, boys and girls of all ages experience the best fishing New jersey has to offer and catch all species of fish,” Kazar said. “Everyone brings home dinner. They learn how to use a fishing pole/reel, how to bait a hook and how to land a fish. We use live bait and well as artificial lures, and we go to lakes, ponds, streams and rivers. The moms and dads love to see their children experience the great outdoors.”
Andover Hunt & Fish supports ice fishing in the winter, trout, shad, striper and turkey in the spring, bass in the summer and aspects of hunting in the fall.
Kazar said, “On the home protection front we offer the best prices and guidance on firearm and ammo purchases, we have become the fastest growing sports shop in New Jersey, and we look forward to another successful year.”
For information/registration about the summer fishing camps/parties or boat/bike rental, call Andover Hunt and Fish at: 973-786-7382. The boat launch can be accessed by taking Route 206 north or south to Limecrest Road located adjacent to the Exxon Station in Andover. The boat launch is a few miles down on the left. Andover Hunt & Fish is located at 196 Main Street in Andover.