Stony Lake Fishing Guide, Sussex County, New Jersey

• Overview

  Sussex County in New Jersey is where Stony Lake sits. It stands 892 feet above sea level. The water measures roughly 15 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. The closest town, Crandon Lakes, is 6.3 miles distant. After that come Birchwood Lakes at 8.4 miles and Sussex at 8.7 miles. A county boundary sits nearby, which can matter for local access rules.

• Where to Fish on Stony Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Species logged across Sussex County include brook trout, brown trout, walleye and bluegill. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. On Stony Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 24°F and July at about 70°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough late March. In an average year the thaw lands around late March and the freeze near late December. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. The season on Stony Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Parking within half a mile means no long carry with tackle. A picnic spot sits half a mile from the bank. Toilets are half a mile away, which matters on a long session. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Should this one be busy, Lake Robert Rooke is 1.7 miles off. Where Stony Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.