Budd Lake

Budd Lake sits right along Route 46 in Morris County, a few miles from Interstate 80, and it's easy to overlook. At 376 acres it's New Jersey's largest natural lake (no dam), spring-fed, and the source of the South Branch of the Raritan River. Its big draw is northern pike: the state has stocked them since the early 1980s, and Budd is where Fish and Wildlife nets the breeding pike for its hatchery. Largemouth and smallmouth bass, pickerel, catfish, crappie and perch fill out a busy lake.

When to fish

• Winter: one of the state's most popular ice-fishing lakes; pickerel near 30 inches and plenty of crappie come through the ice.
• Open water: pike, bass, pickerel and catfish.
• Any time: crappie and yellow perch are favorites with shore anglers, and some reach a foot or more.

Where to fish

• The north shoreline: weeds and lily pads along a cedar swamp, reachable only by boat, for largemouth and pike.
• Rocks and the Route 46 riprap: smallmouth bass.
• Milfoil beds and scattered rock: throughout the lake.
• Route 46 shoreline: about half a mile of public bank access, where you can also slide in a kayak or canoe over the riprap.

How to fish it

The lake's main forage is golden shiners (some over 10 inches), sunfish, perch and white suckers. Budd is also one of the best lakes in the state for white catfish, which run to 3 pounds or more, and channel catfish here reach double digits.

Getting there

A small marina with a ramp is on Manor House Road, the first right at the light after passing the lake on Route 46 west. Budd is one of the few New Jersey lakes that allows unlimited horsepower. Shoulder parking along Route 46 serves the shore access, but parking stops before the beach area. The riprap footing is tricky.