Fly Fishing the South Branch of the Raritan River. Jim Holland

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      49 . South Branch Raritan River

       Location: Northwest New Jersey, about a 1-hour ride from Newark; a 1-hour ride from New York City; and a 1½-hour ride from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Full-service airports are available at all three cities.

      The South Branch of the Raritan occupies a special place in the hearts of anglers living in the New York metropolitan area. Probably the most common sentiment expressed by visiting anglers is that they can’t believe they are in New Jersey.

      The South Branch originates at the outflow of Budd Lake a few miles northeast of Hackettstown. Here it is a small mountain stream. The river runs approximately 50 miles to its confluence with the North Branch of the Raritan in Branchburg. This area was called Tucca-Ramma-Hacking by the Lenape tribe. This means “the flowing together of water.” It was originally called Two Bridges by the early European settlers due to two bridges built in the 1730s that met at a now-defunct small island on the North Branch. Today this area is referred to as The Confluence.

      On its way to Long Valley, the river is fed by numerous tributaries that contain native brook trout. These fish have been here since the last Ice Age. It is indeed the geology that holds the key to the success of the river. The area is rich in limestone, providing numerous springs that buffer the pH. This makes the waters

      ideal for mayflies, caddis, and stoneflies, as well as wild trout. Average flows are in the 65–200 cfs range, making wading easy.

      The upper 22 miles of the river is of the most interest to fly fishers. It has a reputation as being one of the finest year-round trout streams in the region. In addition to brook trout, brown trout and rainbow trout can be found throughout this section.

      From Budd Lake to the Claremont Trout Conservation Area, the South Branch tumbles approximately 8 miles