Butler Reservoir in Morris County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Within Morris County, New Jersey, you have Butler Reservoir. The country round it is rolling hill from end to end. Roughly 172 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. At about 3.2 miles of edge, most people work one arm at a time. Few waters listed in Morris County are bigger. The closest town, Kinnelon, is 1.2 miles distant. Paterson sits 11 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish.

• Where to Fish on Butler Reservoir

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Survey and observation records for Morris County include brown trout, brook trout, northern pike and bluegill. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. On Butler Reservoir the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 72°F in July and bottom out at 27°F in January. In milder years the surface never sets. Cover comes and goes, so treat it with suspicion rather than trust. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. Plan any trip to Butler Reservoir around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. You will be walking about half a mile from the nearest car park. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. West Lake, 0.7 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Nothing on Butler Reservoir should be assumed from this page alone.