Fishing at Cranberry Lake, Sussex County, New Jersey

• Overview

  Set in Sussex County, Cranberry Lake is a New Jersey water. Land around it is open valley. With some 218 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. With 3.3 miles or so of shoreline, boat anglers cover ground the bank cannot. Size puts it in the front rank of our Sussex County list. Head to Stanhope, 3.7 miles away, for anything you forgot. Further out sit Hopatcong Hills (3.7 miles) and Netcong (3.9 miles). It sits near the edge of the county, so check which rules apply.

• Where to Fish on Cranberry Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. Public occurrence data for Sussex County names brook trout, brown trout, walleye, bluegill and pumpkinseed. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. At Cranberry Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 71°F and January near 25°F on the long-run figures. Whether it freezes depends on the year. It is not guaranteed from one year to the next. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. Time your trip to Cranberry Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Boat access is recorded roughly half a mile away. A car park sits roughly half a mile away. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Should this one be busy, Panther Lake is 1.2 miles off. For Cranberry Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.