The Pequest Trout Hatchery is in the Pequest River Valley near the town of Oxford, NJ in Warren County. The hatchery encompasses approximately 50 acres within a 4,000-acre Wildlife Management Area with 64 concrete raceways, 10 feet wide by 100 long.
New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife (Division) currently has three trout stocking programs (spring, fall and winter seasons) that utilize catchable Rainbow trout that are raised at the Pequest Trout Hatchery. It’s also a great location for hosting events.
Introduction to Fly Fishing
September 12, 19, and 26* from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Have you wanted to get into fly fishing but didn’t know where to start? Let the Pequest Natural Resource Education Center staff walk you through it. Staff will cover everything from regulations, equipment, where to go, basic entomology, and much more. This two-hour class will meet three times in September, with the last class putting what you learned to use in the Pequest education pond. Equipment will be provided, or you can bring your own.
For ages 12 and above. Participants 16 years of age and younger must be accompanied by a participating adult. All participants 16 and older are required to have a NJ fishing license.
* Must attend all three sessions.
** There is a $30 charge for this program that will cover all three sessions. Fee to be paid on September 12, 2023, by check or money order made out to “State of New Jersey”.
To register, go to www.eventbrite.com/e/intro-to-fly-fishing-tickets-695589084677?aff=oddtdtcreator.
Intermediate Fly Casting
September 15 from 10 a.m. until noon.
Want to take your fly casting to the next level? Join the Pequest Natural Resource Education Center staff for a two-hour Intermediate Fly Casting program going over Roll Casting, Mending, Mending Cast, Bow and Arrow Cast, and the Single and Double Haul Cast. You will be casting on grass and water. Equipment will be provided, or you can bring your own; we just ask for no flies.
Prerequisite – participants must be able to perform the standard four-part cast.
For ages 16 and above.
To register, go to www.eventbrite.com/e/intermediate-fly-casting-tickets-695599114677?aff=oddtdtcreator.
Let’s Go Fishing – An Intro to Fishing for Adults
September 11 and 18 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Does a child in your life want to fish, but you’ve never learned how? Moms, dads, and caregivers, please join the staff from Pequest for the basics of angling over two evenings at Pequest Trout Hatchery learning about equipment, techniques, and tactics. Each evening will run for two hours. At the end of this experience, you will know the basics of fishing, and more importantly, you will be prepared to teach children how to fish safely. Equipment, expertise, and a trout-stocked pond for this adventure will be provided for ages 18 and above (must attend both nights).
To register, go to www.eventbrite.com/e/lets-go-fishing-pequest-an-intro-to-fishing-for-adults-tickets-696635885687?aff=oddtdtcreator.
Night Hike
September 29 from 6:45 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.
Join the Pequest Fish Hatchery as we explore local trails for two hours with an easy hike up the mountain to start. Once at the top, take a seat at McDowells Pond to see what wildlife comes out to join you. The staff asks that everyone bring a headlamp or flashlight and apply bug spray before coming into the building. For ages 8 and above.
To register, please go to www.eventbrite.com/e/night-hike-tickets-695601582057?aff=oddtdtcreator.
