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Best rainbow trout lakes in New Jersey

28 New Jersey waters hold rainbow trout, 21 mapped with real state-agency depth surveys. Ranked below by size and depth-data quality — open any water to see exactly where to fish it: depth contours, scored spots with plain-English reasons, seasonal windows and bait picks. The classic stocked cold-water trout. Depth is everything: rainbows follow the temperature layer they like.

1. Spruce Run Reservoir — 76 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Northern PikeWhy #1: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
2. Lake Hopatcong — 58 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #2: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
3. Clinton Reservoir — 47 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #3: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
4. Round Valley Reservoir — 180 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Bluegill, Rainbow TroutWhy #4: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
5. Cranberry Lake — 16 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Rainbow TroutWhy #5: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
6. Hammonton Lake — 10 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #6: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
7. Greenwood Lake — 57 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #7: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
8. Cozy Lake — 24 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie, BluegillWhy #8: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
9. White Lake — 46 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Rainbow TroutWhy #9: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
10. Swartswood Lake — 42 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #10: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
11. Mashipacong Pond — 18 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Rainbow TroutWhy #11: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
12. Furnace Lake — 30 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #12: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
13. Monksville Reservoir — 90 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #13: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
14. Lake Topanemus — 8 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #14: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
15. Green Turtle Lake — 21 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Rainbow TroutWhy #15: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
16. Raritan River — 10 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Rainbow TroutWhy #16: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 1 public access site
17. Shaws Mill Pond — 12 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #17: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
18. Sylvan Lake — 4 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Rainbow TroutWhy #18: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
19. Greenwich Lake — 33 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #19: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
20. Mary Elmer Lake — 6 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Channel Catfish, Rainbow TroutWhy #20: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
21. Harlem River — 38 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Rainbow TroutWhy #21: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
22. Grenloch Lake — 7 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Rainbow TroutWhy #22: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
23. Lake Ocquittunk — 10 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Rainbow Trout, Yellow PerchWhy #23: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
24. West Pond — 34 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #24: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached
25. South River — 18 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Rainbow TroutWhy #25: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · no verified access record attached

…plus 3 more New Jersey waters holding rainbow trout.

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When to fish rainbow trout in New Jersey

• Spring 5–20 ft — Post-ice-out trout roam shallow; fish inflows and windblown shorelines.
• Summer 8–30 ft — Rainbows hold near cold inflows, current seams and the thermocline — find the cool water and you've found the fish.
• Fall 10–35 ft — Fall feeding on rock shoals, current and channel edges as water cools.
• Winter 8–40 ft — Trout are comfortable in cold water — one of the best winter targets; streams and tailwaters fish shallow, deep lakes hold on basin edges.

Also in New Jersey: best largemouth bass lakes · best smallmouth bass lakes · best walleye lakes · best northern pike lakes · best crappie lakes · best bluegill lakes · best channel catfish lakes · best muskellunge lakes · best striped bass lakes · best yellow perch lakes · best common carp lakes · best chain pickerel lakes · best brown bullhead lakes · best summer flounder (fluke) lakes · best bluefish lakes · best black sea bass lakes · best tautog (blackfish) lakes

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