Month: December 2009

Pick up a 2010 License Before New Years

The shop will be closed New Years Day. So… if you’re planning on picking up a fishing license to ring in the first fishing day of the New Year, please do so at the shop before Friday, January 1st, 2010. The shop is open from 10AM till 6 PM every weekday. The shop is open every Saturday and Sunday from 8 AM till 4 PM We will be open New Years eve till 4 PM. If you miss us, purchase a license direct by either calling 800-918-2870 or buy your license online. A non-tidal, (freshwater) license and a trout stamp is required to fish the …

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Snowmelt along the Gunpowder River Points to Streamer Fishing Mid-Week

The Gunpowder river is flowing at 668 CFs and is dropping. A full reservoir, coupled with 19″ of snow from the last storm, and a warm and rainy Christmas weekend in the Hereford Zone, pushed the river up to 1, 070 CFs last night. An angler who stopped in the shop yesterday at 8 AM tried his luck at Masemore until a tree floated past him. Typically, flows below 275 Cfs are more reasonable for fly fishing the Gunpowder but even at those levels one should limit wading and use the excellent trail network to get around the river. If pitching streamers from the bank …

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Fly Fishing Maryland: Small Stream Shots 2009

Every year I always make time to explore smaller streams throughout the region in search of wild trout. Fishing small streams, especially for the first time, can lead to incredibly scenic places where few trout are pressured by anglers. Exploring unknown water is a gamble, as many hours or even days can be spent hiking along small streams with few or no trout caught. The anglers who stumble onto small streams with good numbers of trout, often find a piece of paradise to themselves. Over the course of 2009 I fished a number of small wild brown and brook trout streams in Maryland, and wanted …

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Holiday Hours and Good Cheer Via Email

Check out our Happy Holiday Hours: The shop will be open Monday through Wednesday from 10AM till 6 PM. The shop will be open Christmas eve from 10AM till 2 PM. The shop will be open Saturday and Sunday from 8AM till 4PM If you’re Snowbound and still wondering about what to get the fly fisher on your list and have a VISA or M/C handy, fear not, for EMAIL Gift Certificates, redeemable for gear, guide trips and instruction are available for delivery until Noon on December 24th. You may also call us with your email info at 410-357-9557. Cheers!

Snow Day at Backwater Angler

If you’ve called the shop this morning you’ve already heard the news. The shop will be closed today due to inclement weather. If you need a fly fishing gift, enjoy the snow and stay warm by curling up to your favorite computer. It’s easy, just whip out your Mastercard or VISA and shop securely on the Backwater Angler catalog site. If you’d rather drop a gift certificate in his or her stocking, we can email one to you that can be printed out next to, but no too close to, the roaring fire. In other news, NOAA has proven that snowflakes can be turned into …

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Fly Fishing The Gunpowder River In December

The Gunpowder River flow increased to over 600 CFs midweek at the Falls Road gauge, when warm air and rainfall melted the snow that fell the previous week. Once the river flows dropped below 400 CFs, I spent some time nymphing and swinging streamers Thursday. A combination of cold night air and spillover dropped river temps into the 40s, but browns were still eating a variety of patterns. The increase in flow and colder water required deep, slow drifts for nymphing. The takes were really subtle, so using a Thingamabobber, and extra weight on the line helped detect these strikes. The trout preferred big or …

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