Best Lake, New Jersey: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  The Somerset County entry here is Best Lake, in New Jersey. The country here is mixed woodland. This is a pocket water of some 4 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Our Somerset County list holds plenty of bigger water. Some 0.1 miles away sits Watchung, the nearest settlement. After that come North Plainfield at 1.3 miles and Plainfield at 2.2 miles. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Best Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Records held for Somerset County cover redbreast sunfish, largemouth bass, rainbow trout and bluegill. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. The near bank of Best Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 29°F and July at about 74°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Fishing continues through most of the calendar, with quiet spells rather than closures. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. That is the shape of the year on Best Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. There is recorded parking some 150 yards off. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Should this one be busy, Watchung Lake is 0.4 miles off. Confirm before you fish Best Lake.