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Musconetcong River Fishing Report

Updated Fri, Sep 4, 2026 from live gauge and weather data

New Jersey’s wild trout stream: the Musconetcong runs browns through 42 miles of Highlands valley.

2/5
Slow. Work for them.Conditions favor short windows and patient fishing.
Flow
59 cfs
Air / High
79 / 80 F
Wind
NW 10 mph

Sources: USGS gauge 01455500, Open-Meteo, solunar calculated for these coordinates.

Satellite view
Friday
4
September 2026

Today's Fishing Report

Generated this morning from live readings: gauge, weather model, sun and moon. A fresh report is published here every morning.

2/5Slow. Work for them.Conditions favor short windows and patient fishing.

Musconetcong River feels the season turning: shorter days, grouping fish. The river is running 59 cfs, on the rise. Today brings clear skies, wind NW around 10 mph, rising pressure near 1011 hPa and a high of 80. Water sits around 54 F for the season (estimated). With the last quarter, the solunar majors run 5:39 AM-7:39 AM and 5:39 PM-7:39 PM: the windows to build the day around.

The plan, species by species

Rainbow troutGood

Blue-winged olives and midges on soft seams; streamers on overcast days move the better fish.

Brown troutGood

Pre-spawn aggression: this is streamer season for the fish of the year.

Tomorrow: Cooler at 74 F. The solunar majors shift about 50 minutes later.Next report: Sat, Sep 5, 6:30 AMHow this report is made →

Water and weather

Live readings from Musconetcong River at outlet of Lake Hopatcong.

Flow, last 30 days

USGS gauge 01455500.

35669759 cfs08/0508/1508/2509/04

Right now

Latest readings

Air temp79 F
High / Low80 / 69 F
WindNW 10-21 mph
Pressure1011.4 hPa, rising
Sky / Rain0% cloud, 37%
Sunrise / Sunset06:30 / 19:27
MoonLast Quarter, 50%
Water temp (seasonal)~54 F est.

Bite planner

Hour-by-hour bite forecast for today. Tap a bar to see why.

5 AM8 AM11 AM2 PM5 PM8 PMsunrisesunset

Next 7 days

Tap a day for the detailed outlook.

Fri Sep 4 · Showers, 80/69 F, wind 11 mph, rain 37%

Fair or better. A 11 mph breeze puts a working chop on the banks it hits: fish the wind-blown side.

Species guide

The species that matter on Musconetcong River: seasons, structure and how to fish each one. Today's ratings live in the report above.

Rainbow trout illustration

Rainbow trout

Best: Apr-Jun, Sep-Oct

The workhorse of western rivers: riffles, seams and dry-fly eats. Blue-winged olives and midges on soft seams; streamers on overcast days move the better fish.

Brown trout illustration

Brown trout

Best: Sep-Nov

Wary, predatory and nocturnal by preference. The big ones eat streamers. Pre-spawn aggression: this is streamer season for the fish of the year.

When to come: the Musconetcong River calendar

Activity by species and month, and how the water warms through the year. Tap any cell.

Species activity by month

1 = slow, 5 = peak. Current month highlighted.

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Rainbow trout
Brown trout
SlowPeak

Water temperature through the year

Typical surface temperature for this water type; today is around 54 F (estimated, not a reading).

30405060JanMarMayJulSepNovSep, ~54 F now

Angler reports

Real reports from real anglers, reviewed before publishing. The water log below tracks each day automatically.

No angler reports yet this weekBe the first: your report helps every angler who checks Musconetcong River today, and we feature the best catch of the week.

Water log, last days

Auto-logged from live data
Thu, Sep 3

3/5 Fair. Fish the windows. A steady pattern: dawn and dusk carry the day. Rainbow trout led the card at good. High of 83 F, wind to 13 mph.

Wed, Sep 2

4/5 Good. Solid day ahead. Stable-to-falling pressure and workable wind line things up. Rainbow trout led the card at excellent. High of 71 F, wind to 7 mph.

Tue, Sep 1

3/5 Fair. Fish the windows. A steady pattern: dawn and dusk carry the day. Rainbow trout led the card at good. High of 83 F, wind to 7 mph.

Where roughly, what depth, what bait. Skip anything you want to keep secret.
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Before you go

License

New Jersey requires a valid fishing license for adults. Buy online from the state agency; one-day options exist for visitors.

Regulations

New Jersey license plus trout stamp. Wild trout and special regulation reaches have specific rules: check current NJ Fish and Wildlife regulations.

Access

Route 57 and county road access at Hackettstown, Asbury, Bloomsbury and Riegelsville.

About this water

A 42-mile river from Lake Hopatcong through the New Jersey Highlands to the Delaware River, Warren and Morris counties.

Fishing Musconetcong River: the full guide

A river with wild fish

The Musconetcong River flows about 42 miles from Lake Hopatcong through the New Jersey Highlands to the Delaware River, a limestone-influenced stream that holds wild brown trout in several reaches alongside heavy stocking. Designated Wild and Scenic in parts, it has been the focus of extensive dam removal and restoration work over the past two decades.

Trout by reach

The upper river below Hopatcong and the reaches around Hackettstown and Asbury hold trout, with wild browns concentrated in the colder, spring-influenced sections. Nymphs, small streamers and dries all produce, with hatches through spring and early summer. New Jersey manages sections with special regulations: check the current rules by reach.

Restoration and access

Dam removals have reconnected miles of river and improved habitat measurably, one of the Northeast’s more successful restoration stories. Access is via road crossings, state land and the Musconetcong River Reservation, with the corridor running through farmland and small towns rather than wilderness.

Warren County logistics

Route 57 and county roads parallel much of the river, with access points at Hackettstown, Asbury, Bloomsbury and Riegelsville near the Delaware. Flows respond to rain and to releases from Lake Hopatcong at the top. Summer can warm the lower river: fish the spring-influenced reaches when it does.

Common questions

Are there wild trout?

Yes: wild brown trout hold in the colder, spring-influenced reaches alongside heavy stocking elsewhere.

What did the dam removals achieve?

Reconnected miles of river and measurably improved habitat: one of the Northeast’s better restoration stories.

Does the lower river warm?

Yes in summer: fish the spring-influenced upper reaches when temperatures climb.

Is fishing good at Musconetcong River right now?

Check the daily report at the top of this page: it is regenerated every morning from live data. Today's read: Slow. Work for them. Conditions favor short windows and patient fishing.

Nearby waters

Round Valley Reservoir15 miSwartswood Lake23 miLake Nockamixon25 miLake Hopatcong25 miBeltzville Lake32 miLehigh River37 mi
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