Cooper Lake Fishing near Denville, New Jersey

• Overview

  Cooper Lake lies in Morris County, New Jersey. The shore lies 22 miles out. Head to Denville, 0.8 miles away, for anything you forgot. After that come Mountain Lakes at 1.5 miles and Rockaway at 2.9 miles. More in the same country: Arrowhead Lake within 0.2 miles, Great Bay at about 0.3 miles, Sunset Lake within 0.5 miles, Crystal Lake at about 0.5 miles and Birchwood Lake within 0.6 miles. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Cooper Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Records held for Morris County cover brown trout, brook trout and northern pike. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. Anyone new to Cooper Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 73°F and January near 27°F. Temperature moves within a narrow band, and so does the fishing. Hard water here is never dependable, so check for yourself before stepping out. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. That is the shape of the year on Cooper Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. The nearest car park is half a mile from the water. A pier half a mile from here gives a platform over deeper water. Toilets are 0.9 miles away, which matters on a long session. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. For a change of water, Arrowhead Lake is 0.2 miles distant. Check the position on Cooper Lake before loading the car.