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

• Overview

  Morris County, New Jersey, is where Spring Lake sits. It sits 18 miles in from the sea. It is pond-in-a-field scale, with the far bank a short lob away. It is a small entry by Morris County standards. The nearest town is Morristown, 0.9 miles away. Further out sit Morris Plains (2.5 miles) and Cedar Knolls (3 miles). The county line runs close by, so rules can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Spring Lake

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Across Morris County, recorded fish include brown trout, brook trout and northern pike. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Fish Spring Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 73°F in July and bottom out at 28°F in January. In milder years the surface never sets. It is not guaranteed even in a cold spell, so check yourself. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. Spring Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. A carry of half a mile from the nearest parking is the price of fishing here. Somewhere to sit and eat is half a mile out. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. The nearest alternative is Lake Pocahontas, 1.6 miles out. For Spring Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.