New Jersey
South Branch Raritan River — Ken Lockwood Gorge
Location Snapshot
The South Branch Raritan River at Ken Lockwood Gorge is a bounded Hunterdon County trout destination centered on the gorge and High Bridge corridor. Brown, rainbow, and brook trout define the fishery.
Current River Rating
Poor · 47
Conditions are unfavorable based on the available readings.
Scores are model-specific and are not directly comparable across water types.
Partial water evidence · Medium confidence
Should I Go?
Wait
Limited opportunity
Timing Outlook
No reliable fishing window is recommended while current river conditions remain Poor.
Why
- Very clear skies may make trout more cautious in shallow water.
- Water temperature is unavailable.
Favorable Factors
- Recent precipitation has been light.
Timing Evidence
Dusk low light is favorable.
Current Readings
- Flow
- 48.7 CFS
- Gage Height
- 5.93 ft
- Water Temperature
- Not available
- Observation Time
- Oct 20, 2026, 12:45 PM
Updated recently · Nearby USGS station 01396500 · Proxy monitoring location
Readings from past 7 Days
Loading readings from the past 7 days…
Historical readings are provided for context. Readings outside the current freshness window are not used to rate current conditions.
Better Nearby Options
Checking nearby StrikeTracks waters…
Preliminary guidance only. Always assess current weather, access, water depth, current speed, and your own ability before entering the river.
Changing Conditions Advisory
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Weather Near Gauge
Current Weather
Clear
Temperature
57°F
Feels like
48°F
Wind
15 mph N
Wind gust
30 mph
Current precipitation
0.00 in
Updated
Oct 20, 2026, 9:15 AM
Recent Rainfall
Estimated precipitation near this gauge
Last 6 hours
0.00 in
Last 24 hours
0.00 in
Last 48 hours
0.00 in
Little recent rainfall near this river.
Next 24 Hours
Tue 10 AM
Clear
Temp 59°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 15 mph
Tue 2 PM
Clear
Temp 65°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 11 mph
Tue 6 PM
Clear
Temp 59°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 9 mph
Tue 10 PM
Clear
Temp 52°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 12 mph
Wed 2 AM
Clear
Temp 47°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 11 mph
Wed 6 AM
Overcast
Temp 45°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 11 mph
Four-Day Forecast
Tue, Oct 20
Clear
High 65°F / Low 49°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 32 mph
Wed, Oct 21
Overcast
High 60°F / Low 44°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 28 mph
Thu, Oct 22
Overcast
High 65°F / Low 41°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 28 mph
Fri, Oct 23
Partly cloudy
High 59°F / Low 39°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 24 mph
Weather and rainfall are estimated for this river's coordinates. Local conditions can vary, especially in mountainous terrain and during isolated storms.
Recent rainfall can influence river flow, but the timing and magnitude depend on watershed size, soil conditions, upstream reservoirs, and dam releases.
Weather data: Open-Meteo
Historical Flow
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Fishing Overview
Brown trout are stocked in the South Branch Raritan River — Ken Lockwood Gorge, along with brook and rainbow trout.
Fishery Profile
Documented species you may encounter at South Branch Raritan River — Ken Lockwood Gorge.
Species images are AI-generated illustrations for visual reference and may simplify natural variation. Fishery records are based on the cited agency sources. About fish illustrations
Target species
Brown Trout
Salmo trutta
- Expectation
- Primary
- Population
- Stocked
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- High confidence
Brook Trout
Salvelinus fontinalis
- Expectation
- Common
- Population
- Stocked
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- High confidence
Rainbow Trout
Oncorhynchus mykiss
- Expectation
- Common
- Population
- Stocked
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- High confidence
Fishery characteristics
- Composition
- Stocked
- Great Lakes tributary
- No
- Flow regime
- Mixed flow regime
Best seasons
- Spring
- Fall
Common techniques
- Fly fishing
- Nymphing
- Spinning
Stocking information
- Stocked
Brown Trout
Stocked · New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife
- Stocked
Brook Trout
Stocked · New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife
- Stocked
Rainbow Trout
Stocked · New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife
Official sources
Monitoring limitations
- The gauge used for the South Branch Raritan River — Ken Lockwood Gorge is on another reach, so it does not measure this fishing water.
Hatch Match
General fly suggestions
- Parachute-style dryGeneral attractor dry family — not a claim that a named mayfly is hatching.
- Pheasant-tail-style nymphGeneral nymph family for trout rivers without destination hatch timing.
- Elk-hair-style dryGeneral dry/attractor family. Pattern choice only — not a report that caddis are hatching.
- Woolly-bugger-style streamerGeneral streamer family. Not a forage or insect Hatch event.
These are general fishing suggestions, not a report of insects currently hatching at this destination.
Location and Access
USGS monitoring location
Hunterdon, New Jersey
The map marker represents the cataloged waterbody or monitoring location and may not indicate legal parking or public access. Confirm access through the official information before visiting.
River Details
County
Hunterdon
Management Category
Trout stream
Regulation Scope
Ken Lockwood Gorge / High Bridge South Branch Raritan trout reach.
Regulation Summary
NJDEP trout regulations and scenic-gorge management may apply; confirm current seasons, methods, and limits.
Target Species
Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout
Access, Parking, and Regulations
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