Fishing at Boonton Reservoir, Morris County, New Jersey

• Overview

  Boonton Reservoir lies within the bounds of Morris County, New Jersey. The land about it is farm and woodlot. Roughly 801 acres of surface: treat each bay as a water in its own right. You are looking at roughly 5.4 miles of shoreline, with plenty of water between access points. It is the biggest water on our Morris County list. For a base, Boonton sits 1.4 miles out. Paterson is the closest city, 12 miles away. The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish.

• Where to Fish on Boonton Reservoir

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Fish documented in Morris County include brown trout, brook trout and northern pike. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. Fish Boonton Reservoir to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 28°F to 74°F. The freeze here is occasional rather than annual. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to fish here. It sets the rhythm of the year at Boonton Reservoir. Short days concentrate it into a narrow window.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. You will be walking about half a mile from the nearest car park. A pier or jetty stands half a mile away, which helps on a crowded bank. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. The nearest alternative is Lake Intervale, 0.9 miles out. Signs at Boonton Reservoir carry more weight than any list.