Fishing at Lake Cherokee, Morris County, New Jersey

• Overview

  Set in Morris County, New Jersey, this is Lake Cherokee. It stands 945 feet above sea level. At 4 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Our Morris County list holds plenty of bigger water. The closest town, Randolph, is 1.4 miles away. The big place round here is Paterson, 23 miles distant. A border sits close enough to be relevant to the paperwork.

• Where to Fish on Lake Cherokee

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. Records held for Morris County cover brown trout, brook trout, northern pike and bluegill. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Read Lake Cherokee for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 71°F, the coldest about 26°F. Spring and autumn are the strongest, but nothing is truly closed. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. At Lake Cherokee the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. Parking sits half a mile out, which makes for a walk with tackle. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Bryant Pond sits 1.5 miles off and takes the overflow. None of that is settled for Lake Cherokee in what we hold.