Jersey Shore

Proposed Flat Brook TCA

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Written by LesliewizYS LesliewizYS

Last Updated: 22 September 2012 22 September 2012

Proposed Flat Brook Year Around Trout Conservation Area

Update October 2011:  Approval for the TCA has been slow coming as not all are happy with the addittional regulation that the TCA would bring to the Flat Brook.   It now looks like nothing will be happing before 2013.

Duane Lloyd //  JSTU

 The Fred S. Borroughs North Jersey Trout Unlimited  (FSBNJTU) Chapter is embarking on a project to establish a Year Around Trout Conservation Area on the Big Flat Brook.  The proposed Year Around Trout Conservation Area, will be from the end of the Blewett Track to Roy Bridge, about 1.5 miles.  My understanding this will not be a Fly Fishing Only restriction so Spin fishers may also enjoy the fishing here.

  For those who are not sure just where the Big Flat Brook is, it is in Sussex County in the Roy Wildlife Management Area and the fly fishing only part is commonly known as the Blewett Track. The Blewett track begins at the Three Bridge road and ends upstream of the junction of the Big and Little Flat Brook.  According to Allen G Eastby in my copy of "New Jersey's Fishing Streams and the Delaware River" the Flat Brook is actually three very distinct trout stream.

 The Fly Fishing Only stretch starts at the route 206 bridge and extends down stream to the Mountain road bridge.  Another stretch known as the Blewett begins at the Three Bridges road for about one half mile to the junction of the Big and Little Flat Brook.  The remainder of the stream is open to the use of spin and bait fishing. Good fishing continues all the way to the Delaware River.  The Big Flat Brook bears close resemblance to trout streams in nearby Pennsylvania, clear cold and unspoiled.

 The FSBNJ TU will be conducting a stream survey, with the design firm Urbani Fisheries to define what needs to be done.  The design firm Urbani Fisheries will use a set of techniques called "bed manipulation".  This involves reorganizing the native elements in the stream to favor trout and their food based organisms.  The object is to develop deep pools, riffle and run habitats and establish thriving native riparian vegetation communities along stable stream bank and flood plain areas.

 The FSBNJ TU will be planting trees near the three Bridges access area in Sept or October.  Help is always welcome and this would be a chance to get your good guy points and see the river, up close.   Watch for scheduling details and bring:  shovel, gloves, work boots, 5 gal; spackle bucket.  For more information, call FSBNJ TU Member Glenn Zeeck, 908 753 7065. 

 Information for this taken from;
New Jersey Trout with John Punola
New Jersey Fishing Streams and the Delaware River -Allen Eastby
Fred S Burroughs North Jersey TU Chapter News Letters