Pequest River - Pequest - New Jersey
Fly Fishing River Report & Conditions
Pequest River – Pequest - Water Flow Chart
Pequest River – Pequest - Weather report & radar
Pequest River – Pequest - General hatch chart
| Month | Hatch | Time of Day | Recommended Fly Sizes | Popular Fly Patterns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Midges | Mid Morning | 20-22 | Griffith’s Gnat |
| Blue Wing Olives | Afternoon | 18-20 | Pheasant Tail Nymph | |
| February | Midges | Mid Morning | 20-22 | Zebra Midge |
| Blue Wing Olives | Afternoon | 18-20 | Blue Dun | |
| Stoneflies | Afternoon | 14-16 | Nymph | |
| March | Blue Wing Olives | Afternoon | 16-18 | Emerger |
| Midge | Dusk | 22-24 | Cluster Midge | |
| Stoneflies | Mid Day | 12-14 | Prince Nymph | |
| April | Hendricksons | Late Afternoon | 12-14 | Red Quill |
| Blue Quills | Afternoon | 16-18 | Blue Quill | |
| Midges | Morning | 20-22 | Griffith’s Gnat | |
| Caddis | Evening | 14-16 | Elk Hair Caddis | |
| May | Sulphurs | Evening | 14-16 | Sulphur Dun |
| Light Cahills | Evening | 12-14 | Light Cahill | |
| Caddis | Afternoon | 14-16 | X-Caddis | |
| June | Caddis | Afternoon | 14-16 | Stimulator |
| Green Drakes | Evening | 10-12 | Green Drake | |
| July | Terrestrials | All Day | 12-14 | Ant, Beetle, Hopper Patterns |
| Tricos | Morning | 18-20 | Trico Spinner | |
| August | Terrestrials | All Day | 12-14 | Chernobyl Ant |
| Tricos | Morning | 18-20 | Trico Dun | |
| Midges | Morning | 20-22 | Brassie | |
| September | Terrestrials | All Day | 10-12 | Foam Beetle |
| Blue Winged Olives | Afternoon | 18-20 | Rusty Spinner | |
| October | Blue Winged Olives | Afternoon | 18-20 | Blue Winged Olive |
| Caddis | Afternoon | 14-16 | Peacock Caddis | |
| November | Blue Winged Olives | Afternoon | 18-20 | Blue Dun |
| Midges | Mid Morning | 20-22 | Disco Midge | |
| December | Midges | Mid Morning | 20-22 | Gnat |
| Blue Winged Olives | Afternoon | 18-20 | Blue Winged Olive |
Pequest River – Pequest Access Points
The Pequest River is a well-regarded fly fishing destination. Here are the best access points for keen anglers:
- Park Site 1: This turnoff along Pequest Road provides direct access to the river. It’s both easily accessible and typically not crowded.
- Park Site 2: Located off Route 46, this park site has lots of room for anglers. It’s an excellent spot for rainbow trout.
- Pequest Trout Hatchery and Natural Resource Education Center: This spot at 605 Pequest Rd, Oxford, NJ, not only provides fishing access, but anglers can also learn about the fish they’re catching.
- Pequest Wildlife Management Area: This sprawling wildlife area covers several miles of the river, providing varied and remote fishing opportunities.
- State Route 31 Bridge: This access point requires some walking, but it’s one of the best spots to catch brown trout on the river.
Pequest River – Pequest Fishing Spots
The Pequest River, located in scenic New Jersey, is a haven for fly fishing enthusiasts and boasts several hotspots for you to enjoy this sport:
- Pequest Trout Hatchery: The area around this hatchery is celebrated for its abundance of rainbow, brown, and brook trout. Perfect for fly fishing aficionados.
- Belvidere: This charming town sits along the Pequest River, offering access to a multitude of fishing spots teeming with trout.
- Liberty Township: Here, calm waters meet abundant fishery creating a perfect scenario for fly fishing.
However, it’s necessary to check local fishing regulations before you cast your line, and always ensure to respect local wildlife and private property during your adventure. Remember to pick up trash and leave these beautiful areas as pristine as you found them for the next fly fishing enthusiast.
Pequest River – Pequest Local Fish Species
- Brown Trout: One of the most common fish targeted on the Pequest River by fly fishers. Known for their difficulty to catch and distinct markings.
- Rainbow Trout: Prized for their beautiful, multi-color scales and their fight when hooked, making fly fishing for them a challenge.
- Brook Trout: A bit easier to catch, Brook Trout are a popular quarry for beginner fly fishers on the Pequest River.
- Northern Pike: A larger, more challenging fish to catch on the fly. Known for their toothy grip and aggressive behavior.
- American Shad: An anadromous species that migrates through the Pequest River during the rise of spring temperatures.
- Smallmouth Bass: These fish provide fly fishers a solid fight for their size. Best known for their bronze back and red eyes.
- Walleye: A rare catch on the fly, but possible in the river. Known for its glassy, reflective eyes.
- Muskellunge (Muskie): The largest pike species in the river, fly fishing for Muskie is like hunting, requiring patience and precision.
About the Pequest River – Pequest
For all the folks who appreciate the beauty of nature’s uninterrupted flow, the Pequest River unquestionably holds a special spot. A tributary of the Delaware River, Pequest meanders gracefully through the rural landscapes of beautiful New Jersey, USA.
This picturesque river, spanning nearly 35 miles, originates from a modest town named Andover, further enhancing its serenity before uniting with the mighty Delaware.
- 1700s: The river was named ‘Pahaquarra’ (meaning the point between two mountains) by native Lenape people.
- 1800s: The name was later anglicized to ‘Pequest,’ and it became a hub for mills due to its strong water flow.
- 1980s: The Pequest Trout Hatchery, New Jersey’s leading trout-rearing facility, was established along the river.
Today, the Pequest River is cherished for boating and fishing, but more for its vivid contribution to the region’s rich history and mesmerizing nature.
Community Contributions
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