Butler Reservoir, New Jersey: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  New Jersey holds Butler Reservoir, in Passaic County. The shore lies 25 miles out. With some 36 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. A shoreline of some 1.1 miles keeps the choices simple. Kinnelon at 2.2 miles is the nearest place to stop. Butler is 2.9 miles away, with Bloomingdale at 3.6 miles. The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish.

• Where to Fish on Butler Reservoir

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. Open biodiversity records for Passaic County list brown trout, walleye and brook trout. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. Butler Reservoir repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 26°F and July at about 71°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Ice comes and goes from one year to the next. Hard water here is never dependable, so check for yourself before stepping out. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to fish here. Plan around that when you fish Butler Reservoir.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. The nearest car park we can see is half a mile out, so expect a walk with your gear. The water borders Apshawa Preserve, so reserve rules are likely to apply. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Wonder Lake, 0.4 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Confirm before you fish Butler Reservoir.