Rainbow Lakes in Morris County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Rainbow Lakes lies in Morris County, in New Jersey. The shore lies 21 miles out. You are 1.3 miles from Denville. Mountain Lakes lies 1.7 miles off, Parsippany another 2.3 miles. Alternatives close at hand: Great Bay a shade over 0.6 miles, Sunset Lake some 0.7 miles off, Arrowhead Lake a shade over 0.8 miles, Cooper Lake some 0.9 miles off and Crystal Lake a shade over 0.9 miles. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Rainbow Lakes

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Fish documented in Morris County include brown trout, brook trout, northern pike and bluegill. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. The shape of Rainbow Lakes decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 73°F; by January the average is down near 27°F. Most months fish reasonably, given the right weather. It should never be assumed safe, whatever the month says. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. Plan around that when you fish Rainbow Lakes.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. Parking is mapped about half a mile from the bank. A jetty or pier is mapped about half a mile from here. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. Great Bay sits 0.6 miles off and takes the overflow. Signs at Rainbow Lakes carry more weight than any list.