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Fishing Lake Hopatcong: what the data says
2,507-acre lake near Hopatcong . The lake tops out around 58 ft. The contours are modeled from the water's real shoreline and maximum depth. Treat them as a rough guide, and never use them for navigation. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
White Bass & Hybrids fishing at Lake Hopatcong
Start shallow in spring: white bass & hybrids sit in 3 to 15 ft that time of year. They move out to 10 to 30 ft in summer and finish the year down in 20 to 40 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Main-lake point: a point around 15 ft that scores prime in fall. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A jigging spoon or a topwater (when schooling) covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Rooster tail / inline spinner, Curly-tail jig (white/chartreuse) |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Jigging spoon, Topwater (when schooling) |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Small blade bait, Jigging spoon |
| Winter | 20 to 40 ft | midday | Jigging spoon, Blade bait (vertical) |
Rainbow Trout fishing at Lake Hopatcong
In spring, rainbow trout run shallow here, mostly 5 to 20 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 8 to 30 ft, and winter fish settle into 8 to 40 ft. The spot to know is Break off the point, a drop-off in about 26 ft of water that rates prime for rainbow trout in winter. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Largemouth Bass fishing at Lake Hopatcong
Start shallow in spring: largemouth bass sit in 2 to 10 ft that time of year. By summer they slide out to 8 to 20 ft, and by winter most fish are in 15 to 35 ft. The spot to know is Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in about 6 ft of water that rates prime for largemouth bass in spring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Tie on a texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 15 to 35 ft | midday | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
Smallmouth Bass fishing at Lake Hopatcong
In spring, smallmouth bass run shallow here, mostly 3 to 12 ft. By summer they slide out to 10 to 30 ft, and by winter most fish are in 20 to 45 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Rock reef: a rock pile around 3.173395581997138 ft that scores prime in spring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 20 to 45 ft | midday | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Chain Pickerel fishing at Lake Hopatcong
In spring, chain pickerel run shallow here, mostly 2 to 10 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 3 to 15 ft, and winter fish settle into 5 to 18 ft. The spot to know is Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in about 6 ft of water that rates prime for chain pickerel in spring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A weedless spoon + trailer or a buzzbait covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Weedless spoon + trailer, Buzzbait |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Jerkbait along weed edges, Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 5 to 18 ft | dawn | Jigging spoon (through ice) |
Brown Bullhead fishing at Lake Hopatcong
In spring, brown bullhead run shallow here, mostly 2 to 8 ft. They move out to 3 to 12 ft in summer and finish the year down in 10 to 25 ft. The spot to know is Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in about 6 ft of water that rates prime for brown bullhead in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | dusk & night | |
| Summer | 3 to 12 ft | night & dusk | |
| Fall | 5 to 15 ft | dusk | |
| Winter | 10 to 25 ft | midday |
Lake Hopatcong also holds channel catfish (8 to 25 ft in summer), yellow perch (10 to 30 ft in summer), common carp (3 to 15 ft in summer), crappie (10 to 25 ft in summer), bluegill (4 to 15 ft in summer), walleye (15 to 35 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Notable structure
- Deep basin: deep basin, around 49 ft
- Break off the point: drop-off, around 26 ft
- Shoreline point: point, around 17.384754518872704 ft
- Main-lake point: point, around 15 ft
- Secondary point: point, around 15 ft
- Dock / pier line: dock line, around 15 ft
- Dock / pier line: dock line, around 10 ft
- Dock / pier line: dock line, around 10 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 9.73451253839637 ft
- Dock / pier line: dock line, around 8 ft
- Shoreline point: point, around 7.653077015673223 ft
- Shoreline point: point, around 6.719382308201118 ft
- Shallow bay flat: weed flat, around 6 ft
- Back-bay flat: weed flat, around 6 ft
Common questions
How deep is Lake Hopatcong?
Lake Hopatcong is about 58 ft (18 m) deep at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
What fish are in Lake Hopatcong?
Anglers target largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, rainbow trout, white bass & hybrids, yellow perch, common carp, chain pickerel, brown bullhead on Lake Hopatcong.
Where is the best fishing spot on Lake Hopatcong?
Main-lake point is the top-rated area: a point in about 15 ft of water that rates prime for white bass & hybrids in fall. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Lake Hopatcong?
For white bass & hybrids, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Nearby waters
Duck Pond · Lake Musconetcong · Cranberry Lake · Budd Lake · Cozy Lake · Deer Park Pond
See how Lake Hopatcong stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in New Jersey · best smallmouth bass lakes in New Jersey · best walleye lakes in New Jersey · best crappie lakes in New Jersey
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