Fishing at Surprise Lake, Morris County, New Jersey

• Overview

  Surprise Lake is one of the Morris County waters in New Jersey. It stands 663 feet above sea level. About 20 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. Start from Kinnelon, 3.4 miles down the road. Lincoln Park follows at 3.4 miles, then Butler at 3.5 miles. The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish.

• Where to Fish on Surprise Lake

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Across Morris County, recorded fish include brown trout, brook trout, northern pike, bluegill and rainbow trout. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. The shape of Surprise Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 27°F to 72°F. Most months fish reasonably, given the right weather. Hard water here is never dependable, so check for yourself before stepping out. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. It holds true on Surprise Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. The water borders Montville Township Open Space, so reserve rules are likely to apply. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. If the gate is shut, Untermeyer Lake at 1.4 miles is the nearest alternative. Rules at Surprise Lake are worth checking on the day.