Morris Lake in Sussex County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Morris Lake lies in Sussex County, New Jersey. It stands 961 feet above sea level. Roughly 144 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. The whole outline is near 1.9 miles, and most of it is walkable. Few waters listed in Sussex County are bigger. Sparta is the closest town at 1.9 miles. Paterson sits 24 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. It sits near the edge of the county, so check which rules apply.

• Where to Fish on Morris Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Across Sussex County, recorded fish include brook trout, brown trout, walleye and bluegill. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. Work Morris Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 25°F and July at about 71°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. After late March the shallows warm and the fish move up. Climate figures give an open season running late March to late December. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. Expect Morris Lake to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. Expect a half a mile walk in from where the car goes. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Glen Lake, 0.4 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Check the current arrangement for Morris Lake.