Fishing at Openaka Lake, Morris County, New Jersey

• Overview

  Openaka Lake lies within the bounds of Morris County, New Jersey. It lies 719 feet above sea level. Small at around 6 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. For supplies, Victory Gardens is 1.6 miles out. It is 19 miles to Paterson, the nearest city. No border sits close enough to matter. Most of the shoreline can be walked in a session.

• Where to Fish on Openaka Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Across Morris County, recorded fish include brown trout, brook trout, northern pike, bluegill and rainbow trout. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. On Openaka Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 72°F and January at 26°F. The freeze here is occasional rather than annual. Some winters give nothing at all, so plan for open water. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. That shapes the year on Openaka Lake. A rising level usually fishes better than a falling one.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. Mapping shows a ramp about half a mile from the shore. A car park lies 150 yards away, so the walk in is short. Fishing from a pier is possible half a mile away. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. For a change of water, Shongum Lake is 1.1 miles distant. Where Openaka Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.