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

• Overview

  Set in Sussex County, New Jersey, this is Parker Lake. Salt water lies 22 miles off. This is a pocket water of some 6 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. It is a small entry by Sussex County standards. Some 3.5 miles away sits Highland Lake, the nearest settlement. After that come Warwick at 4.3 miles and West Milford at 5 miles. The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish.

• Where to Fish on Parker Lake

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. 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. Records held for Sussex County cover brook trout, brown trout and walleye. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. On Parker Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 71°F at the top of summer and 25°F at the bottom of winter. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near late March. The water is typically free of ice between late March and late December. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. The season on Parker Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. There is a car park half a mile from the bank. There is a toilet block some half a mile out. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Kohout Lake sits 0.5 miles off and takes the overflow. Confirm access to Parker Lake locally before you travel.