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The Musconetcong River, also known as the "Musky," is
located in Northwest New Jersey, and offers fine angling
throughout the season. This medium-sized river, 40- to
60-feet wide, stands its ground with the other quality
trout streams in New Jersey. Here, browns and rainbows
are well stocked and holdover year after year.
The upper end of the Musconetcong, around Saxton Falls,
is where the productive fishing starts. The river here
is some 30- to 40-feet wide, and has great pools, runs,
and riffles. Tree-lined banks help shade this river
and keep it cool well into late spring and early summer.
The Stephens State Park area is located between Saxton
Falls and Hackettstown, where there's some beautiful
water, and good access. Hackettstown, a few miles downriver
from Saxton Falls, is one of the more popular towns
along the river. Here, the river is approximately 40-to
50-feet wide in most spots, giving fly-rodders ample
room to cast. |
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On the downstream outskirts of Hackettstown, there's
a one-mile Seasonal Trout
Conservation Area section with certain regulations,
which runs downstream from Penwell Bridge to the point
Mtn. Road Bridge. This section is clearly marked, and
it's law to follow the regulations for this area. This
helps maintain holdovers year after year.
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Downriver is Beattystown. This is another good part of
the river that easily can be accessed from Route 57.
Here, there's a large population of holdover trout, as
well as fish put in by the State and private clubs along
the river. Below Beattystown, the Musky becomes less
accessible due to the private clubs located along the
river. Still, you will find areas of public water throughout
the stretch, all the way down to Riegelsville, where
the Musky enters the Delaware River. Access is available
in towns such as Penwell, Hampton, and Asbury. You can
locate access points easily by driving along the river
and looking for signs indicating "public water." Many
of the private clubs located along the lower end of the
Musky stock their own fish that will migrate into the
public water. The fishing throughout the lower end of
the river can be excellent, even into late summer.
Some of the early-season bugs on the Musky include
Little Black Stones, Blue Quills, Quill Gordons, and
Tan Caddis. Sulphurs and Light Cahills are very abundant
from mid-May into mid-June, along with a few shades
of Caddis. There even have been rumors that Isonycias
and White Flies are present on the river. Like on most
freestone rivers, nymph fishing also is very productive,
and streamers are too, during high-water periods.
The Musky is easily accessible from many major N.W.
New Jersey roads, and offers great angling throughout
most of the year. Although the river may get crowded
early in the year, it still offers anglers plenty of
miles of river to fish. By the first of May, the crowds
thin out considerably, so it's the best time of year
to give the Musconetcong a try. |
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