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Rating depth structure for rainbow trout.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
14-acre lake near Burlington. The lake tops out around 4 ft. The depth chart comes from New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Every species below gets its seasonal read from the same numbers driving the chart.
The drawn water covers 14 acres wrapped in 1 miles of bank. With a 2 development index there's bank structure worth casting at, in moderation. Every acre of it sits shallower than ~15 ft: one big littoral zone, cover and forage throughout. The basin spans about 0.5 mi end to end. It sits in Monmouth County. Its nearest charted neighbour, Deal Lake, is 3 mi to the north.
Early season rainbow trout use the shallows, holding in 1 to 4 ft. Even in summer they hold at 1 to 4 ft; winter keeps them in 1 to 4 ft. Put Break off the point first on the milk run — a drop-off near 3 ft that grades prime for 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.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 4 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (2 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 1 to 4 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (3 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 1 to 4 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (2 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 1 to 4 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (3 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
When the water first warms, largemouth bass slide up into 1 to 4 ft. There's no big seasonal slide here — summer means 1 to 4 ft, winter 1 to 4 ft. Start at Main-lake point. It's a point holding about 2 ft of water and rates prime come fall. The feeding windows run early morning and the evening. Keep a texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait rigged through the warm months.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 4 ft chart-limited; documented 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (2 ft) | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 1 to 4 ft chart-limited; documented 8 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (3 ft) | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 1 to 4 ft chart-limited; documented 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (2 ft) | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 1 to 4 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday | Break off the point (3 ft) | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: chain pickerel in 1 to 4 ft. The depth story barely changes: 1 to 4 ft through summer, 1 to 4 ft in winter. The spot to know is Break off the point, a drop-off in about 3 ft of water that rates prime for chain pickerel in fall. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a weedless spoon + trailer or a buzzbait gets it done.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 4 ft chart-limited; documented 2 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | open water | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon (red/white) |
| Summer | 1 to 4 ft chart-limited; documented 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (3 ft) | Weedless spoon + trailer, Buzzbait |
| Fall | 1 to 4 ft chart-limited; documented 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Break off the point (3 ft) | Jerkbait along weed edges, Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 1 to 4 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 18 ft | dawn | Break off the point (3 ft) | Jigging spoon (through ice) |
When the water first warms, brown bullhead slide up into 1 to 4 ft. There's no big seasonal slide here — summer means 1 to 4 ft, winter 1 to 4 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 3 ft that scores prime in winter. In summer the feeding windows fall in after dark and the evening.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 4 ft chart-limited; documented 2 to 8 ft | dusk & night | open water | |
| Summer | 1 to 4 ft chart-limited; documented 3 to 12 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (3 ft) | |
| Fall | 1 to 4 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 15 ft | dusk | Deep basin (3 ft) | |
| Winter | 1 to 4 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 25 ft | midday | Deep basin (3 ft) |
Start shallow in spring: yellow perch sit in 1 to 4 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 1 to 4 ft covers summer, 1 to 4 ft covers winter. Top water on the chart: Deep basin, a deep basin in the 3 ft range, prime in fall. Fish it in early morning and you'll meet the bite. Throw a drop-shot micro plastics or a small spoon tipped with worm until the fish tell you otherwise.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 4 ft chart-limited; documented 3 to 12 ft | midday & dawn | open water | Small jig + curly tail, Perch-pattern micro crank |
| Summer | 1 to 4 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Deep basin (3 ft) | Drop-shot micro plastics, Small spoon tipped with worm |
| Fall | 1 to 4 ft chart-limited; documented 12 to 35 ft | midday | Deep basin (3 ft) | Jigging spoon (small), Perch rig / spreader |
| Winter | 1 to 4 ft chart-limited; documented 15 to 35 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (3 ft) | Tungsten jig + spikes, Rattle spoon (small) |
Early season common carp use the shallows, holding in 1 to 4 ft. Even in summer they hold at 1 to 4 ft; winter keeps them in 1 to 4 ft. Put Deep basin first on the milk run — a deep basin near 3 ft that grades prime for winter. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 4 ft chart-limited; documented 2 to 10 ft | midday & dawn | Deep basin (3 ft) | |
| Summer | 1 to 4 ft chart-limited; documented 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (3 ft) | |
| Fall | 1 to 4 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 18 ft | midday | Deep basin (3 ft) | |
| Winter | 1 to 4 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 30 ft | midday | Deep basin (3 ft) |
Sylvan Lake also holds crappie (1 to 4 ft in summer), bluegill (1 to 4 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Count 4 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deep basin, sits near 3 ft.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for New Jersey waters are set by the New Jersey Fish & Wildlife — and special regulations can apply to Sylvan Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official New Jersey fishing regulations →
Sylvan Lake is about 4 ft (1 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Anglers target rainbow trout, largemouth bass, chain pickerel, brown bullhead, yellow perch, common carp, crappie, bluegill on Sylvan Lake.
Main-lake point is the top-rated area: a point in about 2 ft of water that rates prime for largemouth bass in fall. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by species and season.
For rainbow trout, 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.
Fishing on Sylvan Lake is regulated by the New Jersey Fish & Wildlife. Check the official New Jersey regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Deal Lake 3 mi · Manasquan River 7 mi · Lake Topanemus 15 mi · False Hook Channel 18 mi, NY · Lower Bay 23 mi, NY · Duhernal Lake 24 mi · South River 25 mi · Rockaway Inlet 25 mi, NY · Coney Island Channel 26 mi, NY · Etra Lake 26 mi · Sheepshead Bay 27 mi, NY · East Brunswick Community Park Lake 27 mi
See how Sylvan Lake stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in New Jersey · best crappie lakes in New Jersey · best bluegill lakes in New Jersey · best rainbow trout lakes in New Jersey
Browse all New Jersey fishing maps. See every water on DepthScout. Depth data: New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Lake survey maps. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.