New Jersey may not be a state you typically think of for fly fishing, but it actually has a lot to offer in terms of locations and fish species. Jersey waters are home to 90 different fish species, including trout, bass, and catfish.
The top ten places to fly fish in New Jersey are:
- Big Flat Brook
- Musconetcong River
- Paulinskill River
- Pequest River
- Pohatcong Creek
- Raritan River
- Van Campens Brook
- Island Beach State Park
- Liberty State Park, and
- The Jersey Shore
New Jersey's diverse topography provides a variety of different fly fishing experiences. The state has everything from mountain streams to coastal saltwater areas. And because of this, there is an abundance of different fish species to target. This article will explore the top ten places to fly fish in New Jersey and the types of fish you can expect to find in each location.
Best Freshwater Fly Fishing locations in New Jersey
New Jersey's freshwater streams, rivers, and lakes are home to various fish species. Let's look at a few prime freshwater locations in this state.
1. Big Flat Brook
Big Flat Brook, or The Flatbrook, is an 11.6-mile (18.7 km) long tributary of the Delaware River in Sussex County, New Jersey. The watershed of the Flatbrook, as well as its two main tributaries, Little Flatbrook and Big Flatbrook, was previously known as the Walpack Valley and was part of the historic Minisink region.
The Flatbrook is a fly fishing destination for trout anglers. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection stocks the river with brown and rainbow trout. In addition, the state also regulates the river to ensure a healthy population of wild trout.
Recommended Fly Patterns for the Big Flat Brook, New Jersey:
2. Musconetcong River
The Musconetcong River is a 75-mile-long (121 km) tributary of the Delaware River in northwestern New Jersey in the United States. It flows through rural mountainous areas of northwestern New Jersey, where a part of it is designated as a National Wild and Scenic River.
The river's source is Lake Hopatcong, on the border between Sussex and Morris counties in New Jersey. It originates at Musconetcong Reservoir and flows southwest past Stephensburg and New Hampton before reaching Washington. It runs past Washington to the south, then follows the eastern side of the Pohatcong Mountain ridge to Phillipsburg, approximately 10 miles (16 kilometers) south of Riegelsville.
Recommended Fly Patterns for the Musconetcong River, New Jersey:
3. Paulinskill River
The Paulins Kill is a 41.6-mile (66.9 km) tributary of the Delaware River in New Jersey, United States, located in northwestern Warren County. It is New Jersey's third-largest contributor to the Delaware River, supplying 76 cubic feet (2.15 m3/s) of water per second on average over a long period of time.
The Paulins Kill is a popular fishing destination for rainbow, brown, and brook trout. Every year during the spring fishing season, New Jersey's Department of Fish and Wildlife stocks trout into the river because there are very few wild trout in this area. This is due to the fact that the river gets shallow in summer and hot. The popularity of fly fishing on the Paulins comes from its large mayfly and caddisfly populations.
Recommended Fly Patterns for the Paulinskill River, New Jersey:
4. Pequest River
The Pequest River is a tributary of the Delaware River in New Jersey's Skylands Region and drains an area of 162.62 square miles (421.2 km2), including ten cities, in Sussex and Warren counties. The Pequest Trout Hatchery and Natural Area, managed by the New Jersey Department of Fish and Wildlife, is located on the river.
At Stickles Pond, Newton, Sussex County, the Pequest flows south through Springdale and Huntsville for about 3.5 miles (5.6 km) before turning southwest. The Allamuchy Mountain ridge is on the northern side of the Peekamoose Reservoir near Allamuchy; here, it meets Trout Brook.
Recommended Fly Patterns for the Pequest River, New Jersey:
5. Pohatcong Creek
The Pohatcong Creek (also known as the Pohatcong River) is a 30.7-mile-long (49.4 km) tributary of the Delaware River in the northwestern part of NJ that rises in Warren County's mountains to the east of Hackettstown. It flows southwest through a valley along the northern side of the Pohatcong Mountain ridge, separating its basin from the Musconetcong River.
It joins the Delaware near Pohatcong Township, about 5 miles (8 kilometers) south of Phillipsburg. Brown trout are stocked in the creek by the New Jersey Department of Fish and Wildlife. For the NJ stocking calendar, visit the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection website.
Recommended Fly Patterns for the Pohatcong Creek, New Jersey:
6. Raritan River
The Raritan River is a major waterway in New Jersey. It flows through the hilly, central part of the state and empties into Raritan Bay on the Atlantic Ocean. The river originates at the North and South branches' confluence near Somerville, Bridgewater, and Hillsborough Townships, West Manchester Township.
It travels 16 miles before slowing down in tidewater at New Brunswick, where its estuary extends 14 miles farther to enter western Raritan Bay at South Amboy.
To improve the water quality, several precautions have been implemented. These measures have benefited both fish species and their populations, including (but not limited to) largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, sunfish, catfish, trout, chain pickerel, and American eels.
Recommended Fly Patterns for the Raritan River, New Jersey:
7. Van Campens Brook
The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area's Van Campens Mill Brook, a tributary of the Delaware River, is one of the few New Jersey waterways supporting all three trout species. The area around the historical village and wary brown trout are common sites for wild brook and rainbow trout. However, brown trout are more common in the lower reaches where the stream empties into the Delaware River.
The lower portion of Dunnfield Creek, which is a brook trout fishery, has both brook and brown trout. If you fish the lower section, don't be shocked if you come across a wild tiger trout, the offspring of brook and brown trout that have successfully mated.
Recommended Fly Patterns for the Van Campen Brook New Jersey:
Best Salt Water water Fly Fishing locations in New Jersey
An ideal aspect of fly fishing in New Jersey is its selection of saltwater locations. The state’s coastline along the Atlantic Ocean provides many opportunities to catch a variety of fish, including striped bass, bluefish, weakfish, and fluke. The following are some of the best spots to go saltwater fly fishing in New Jersey.
1. Island Beach State Park
Island Beach State Park is a state park in Barnegat Township, Ocean County, New Jersey, United States. The park is maintained by the New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry. Most of the park encompasses Island Beach's original borough.
The park is home to the largest natural barrier island reserve in New Jersey and one of the biggest in the United States. The Island Beach Northern Natural Area covers 659 acres (2.7 km2), with some parts restricted to visitors.
The Southern Natural Area, which covers 1,237 acres (5 km2), is considerably bigger. There are also a variety of habitats, including salt marshes and creeks, ponds, and open water within the Sedge Island Marine Conservation Zone, which comprises about 1,600 acres (6 km2) of tidal marshes, streams, ponds, and open water.
Recommended Fly Patterns for Island Beach State Park New Jersey:
- Surf Candy - Size 2/0 and 3/0
- Sand Eel FLY - Size 1/0 and 2
- Bob’s Banger in silver and white - Size 2
2. Liberty State Park
Liberty State Park (LSP) is a New Jersey park located on Upper New York Bay near Jersey City, opposite both Liberty Island and Ellis Island. The park opened in 1976 to commemorate the United States Bicentennial and is run and maintained by the New Jersey Division of Parks & Forests.
The state park has a total area of 1,212 acres (490 ha). The main portion of the park is bordered on three sides by water: to the north by the Morris Canal Big Basin and to the south and east by Upper New York Bay. Its western boundary is defined by the New Jersey Turnpike Newark Bay Extension (I-78).
Recommended Fly Patterns for Liberty State Park New Jersey:
- Clouser Minnow - Saltwater
- Trophy Dungeon - Black - Size 8
- Double Bunny Olive & White - Size 6
3. The Jersey Shore
The Jersey Shore is the coastal area of New Jersey, United States. The term refers to approximately 141 miles (227 km) of oceanfront from Perth Amboy to Cape May Point in the south, which encompasses Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, Atlantic, and Cape May counties.
The northern half of the shore is part of the New York metro area, while the southern half is part of the Delaware Valley. Jersey Shore has the greatest number of oceanside boardwalks in the United States. Some of the best saltwater fly fishing on the Jersey Shore happens at:
- Island Beach State Park
- Belmar, and
- Brigantine
Recommended Fly Patterns for The Jersey Shore New Jersey:
- Surf Candy - Size 2/0 and 3/0
- Bob’s Banger in silver and white - Size 2/0
- Lefty’s Deceiver - Size 2/0
What Gear do I need to Fly Fish in New Jersey?
Assuming you have the proper clothing and footwear for the conditions, you will need a few basic pieces of gear to get started in fly fishing in New Jersey.
If you're fishing in saltwater in NJ, you will need a 9-foot, 5-weight rod, which is a good all-around size for most saltwater fish. You'll also need a reel and line, leaders and tippet material, flies, and a fly fishing vest to hold everything.
You will also need a fly fishing line, tippet, leaders, and flies. The fishing line is weight-specific, so you will need to choose the correct one for your rod. Tippet is a thin, clear monofilament used to tie the flies to the leader. Leaders are also weight-specific and are tapered for a gradual transition from thick to thin.
Additional Facts about Fly Fishing in New Jersey
Can you fly fish in New Jersey?
Fly fishing is popular in New Jersey for a variety of reasons. The state has many different types of waterways, from rivers and streams to lakes and ponds, that are home to a wide variety of fish.
Fly fishing on New Jersey's coastline along the Atlantic Ocean provides many opportunities to catch a variety of fish, including striped bass, bluefish, weakfish, and fluke.
Where can you fish for trout in NJ?
Trout fishing in New Jersey is popular in the state's many rivers and streams. Stocking programs conducted by the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife ensure that there is plenty of trout for anglers to catch.
There are many places to fly fish for trout in New Jersey. Some of the best spots include:
- Lake Hopatcong
- Musconetcong River
- Paulinskill River
- Pequest River
- Raritan River
What flies to use in NJ?
New Jersey's diverse waterways are home to many different types of fish, so there is no one answer to this question. Matching the type of fly to the fish you're trying to catch is important.
Some common flies used in New Jersey include muddler minnows in sizes 8, 10, and 12. For nymphs, use hares ears, prince nymph, caddis larva, and stoneflies in sizes 10, 12, and 14.
Where are trout stocked in NJ?
Trout stocking in New Jersey is conducted by the state's Division of Fish and Wildlife. Every year, the agency stocks nearly 250,000 trout in more than 200 streams and rivers across the state. For a full list of stocking locations, check out the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Fish and Wildlife 2022 Spring Stocking Schedule and Trout Allocations.
There are many different types of trout that you can catch in NJ, and they are stocked in many different locations. Some of the most significant stocking areas include Big Flat Brook (below Steam Mill Bridge), D&R Feeder Canal, Lake Hopatcong, Musconetcong River, Raritan River S/B, and Black River, in addition to several others.
New Jersey is a great place to fly fish, whether you're a beginner or an experienced angler. The state's diverse waterways are home to many different types of fish, making it a popular destination for fly fishing. Thanks to the state's trout stocking program, there is plenty of trout to catch in NJ. And with so many different types of waterways to choose from, you're sure to find a spot that's perfect for your fly fishing adventure.
1 comment
Eddie Fess
Very informative, thanks!
Very informative, thanks!