Sussex County in northwest New Jersey is known for rural landscapes and a country way of life. Though the face of the county is now freckled with developments where patches of hay and corn once stood, there is one thing that hasn’t changed . . . and hopefully never will. The Big Flatbrook—a well-stocked stream that winds through forests and fields from the far northwest corner of Walpack through Sandyston within the State’s Flatbrook-Roy Wildlife Management Area, passing through Stokes State Forest and High Point State Park.

Much of the Big Flatbrook is available for lures and bait, but the stretch between Route 206 and Mountain Road has been set aside by the State of New Jersey for flies only. Here, where the Little Flatbrook joins it, the stream widens to a 20-to-40-foot-wide river, and early spring brings flourishing hatches to entice the true fly aficionado. Beginning in late March, the river is alive with insects and the fish that feed on them. Like to tie your own? Visit the flyfishingconnection.com website where you will find a chart of every hatch throughout the Big Flatbrook season. Follow the “flies” link, and you can see visuals of the various flies for your tying pleasure.

Parking is easy as several county roads run parallel to or cross paths with the river. Visit once, and you’ll quickly see why the Big Flatbrook is a favorite among New Jersey’s fishing elite. Clear water and a handsome, protected environment have made the river a favorite among fish as well.

At this writing, Trout Unlimited members have been given the go-ahead to clear the river of a large beaver dam which has been impeding the flow of water and creating problems for the trout which inhabit that stretch. They are ready to take on the job of restoring the river and its fish to healthy levels as soon as possible.