Gunpowder River Stream Report

CFS on the Gunpowder has been bumped up to 58, likely due to the rain we have received recently. Water height has changed very marginally with an average depth of 1.73ft and temperature remains consistent at 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Fish are still eating flies eagerly but remain picky in terms of which fly they choose to eat. Zebra midges are still one of the most effective patterns currently. Nymphs in general are also great during this time of year as the trout begin to slow down and settle at the bottom of the water column. If your nymph or midge fly does not have enough weight to reach the depths, consider adding a second one to your rig with more weight. Shop staff have been throwing a fair number of streamers during their time on the water recently and have reported success on small clouser minnows and jiggy buggers. Larger streamers are effective for above average fish but tend to fall short in terms of quantity. you will likely miss a lot of smaller fish on a big streamer.  As always, come visit the shop to stock up on flies or gear for the river or give us a call and book a guided trip!

Stop by the shop to stock up on flies/gear this Sunday and get a free drake magazine and BWA hat with any purchase of $100 or more.

Gunpowder River Stream Report

The Gunpowder is still moving at an average of 56 CFS with a steady temperature around 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Furthermore, water height has stayed consistent from our last report at about 1.72ft deep. Water clarity is currently very high, and it is important to remember that the trout can see you far better than you can see them. Long leaders of 9ft or more are a staple of these conditions. Focusing on presenting your flies correctly from a distance will greatly increase your chances of catching a fish and avoiding spooking any. The most apparent difference between this report and our previous one is that the fish seem to be back striking at dry flies on warmer days. Two specific flies have been attracting bites consistently, Griffith Gnats and Tricos. Smaller G-Gnats represent a cluster of midges clumped together on the water’s surface and larger ones take the form of adult caddis or dead mayflies. This pattern has a wide range of uses. Other noteworthy dry flies are October Caddis, Elk Hair Caddis, and Goddard Caddis. These flies tend to be easier to cast and are large enough to tie a dry dropper on. Wet flies are certainly working as well with midges and nymphs proving quite effective. A Zebra Midge paired with a Hot Spot, Hares Ear, or Perdigon Nymph is a great combo. Weather conditions have been very tame, and the warmer weather may not last for long. Consider taking the opportunity to get out and fish. As always, come visit the shop to stock up on flies or gear for the river!

Stop by the shop to stock up on flies/gear this Sunday and get a free drake magazine and BWA hat with any purchase of $100 or more.

New Patagonia Forra Wading Boots

The perfect wading boot for the active angler has arrived in store and online.

Patagonia Forra Wading Boots

The new Patagonia Forra is an incredibly light weight and durable boot that is perfect for anyone that likes to hike or cover tough terrain while fishing.

Specs and Features from Patagonia:

Specs & Features

  • Durable Construction

    Abrasion-resistant Cordura® nylon mesh upper for quick-drying, durable, lightweight support

  • Design Details

    High collar design provides a more stiff upper for ankle protection and stability; reinforced toe caps for technical wading

  • Sole Details

    Vibram® Mars sole provides a large contact area for superior grip; outsole features HexaBase lugs for maximum traction and stability; compatible with Patagonia® Forra Wading Boots – Grip Studs® Traction Kit

  • Drainage Details

    Boots are engineered to clear water quickly; upper boot is free from unnecessary foams and backers for faster dry times

  • Lacing Details

    Adjustable webbing lacing system provides in-stream security; hardware is noncorrosive and abrasion-resistant

  • Engineered to Weigh Less

    Engineered for light weight and comfort during overland approaches and for reliability in all types of wading

  • Country of Origin

    Made in Italy.

Gunpowder River Stream Report

The Gunpowder river is currently moving at 56 CFS with an average temperature of 53 degrees Fahrenheit. Water height is steady at 1.72ft. Be mindful of where you wade and try not to disturb any redds. Recently, even on warmer days, I have chosen to stay away from dry flies. From my experience and the ever so useful chatter amongst fisherman in the shop, it seems the fish are choosing almost entirely wet flies. Zebra midges, orange hot spot nymphs, pheasant tail nymphs, and stone flies have been extra productive this week. I absolutely recommend having at least one of these flies in your box before heading to the Gunpowder. Tight lining has been lucrative, and the results are proof. I caught the fish shown above on a stone fly pattern yesterday and managed to get two other fish to the net as well in less than 1 hour. I happened to run into a fellow angler on the water who was happy to share that he netted three fish on a similar rig. It should be noted that the river is particularly beautiful this time of year. The image bellow shows that the trees are almost all in peak color change with a few exceptions. Vibrant reds, oranges, yellows, and greens line the bank of the river. Get out there soon if you wish to see the leaves change because it won’t last for too long. A cold front has subsequently moved in today and conditions will soon change.

Stop by the shop to stock up on flies/gear this Sunday and get a free drake magazine and BWA hat with any purchase of $100 or more.

 

 

Backwater Angler is now open on Sundays!

We are excited to announce that starting this weekend we will be open on Sundays during our usual hours! Come see us this Sunday and receive a FREE Backwater Angler hat with any purchase of $100 or more. Plenty of gear, clothing, and flies in stock. Stop by on your way to fish!

All in-stock, discontinued Patagonia waders are currently 20% off!

Patagonia Men’s Swiftcurrent Expedition Zipfront Waders

Brand new product available for purchase through our website and in-store are the Patagonia Forra Wading Boots.

Patagonia Forra Wading Boots

Gunpowder River Stream Report

 Cold weather is slowly rolling in with the occasional warm day mixing things up. Fall fishing can be as tricky as it is good because of this variability. The river is moving at an average of 56 CFS with a steady temperature of around 52 degrees Fahrenheit. Furthermore, river height is averaging 1.72 ft. It is important to keep in mind that the height gauge does not factor in deep pools so the water will be much deeper in certain sections. I have found that the warmer days bring with them good conditions for dry fly fishing. We have switched almost entirely from elk hair caddis to October caddis in favor of their bright orange coloration true to the caddis we see this time of year. In addition, tricos are still proving to be very effective on these days as well. On colder days I have been throwing almost entirely wet flies. Don’t count out the dry dropper rig though. Nymphs, midges, and streamers have all produced fish on these days. Pheasant tail nymphs and wooly buggers are the stars of the show. Black colored buggers have been very productive in deep pools where the water is not as clear. This coloration stands out well in dark / murky water allowing fish to spot the fly with ease. If you fish at dawn or dusk, you will want some bright colored streamers as well for a similar reason. When light levels are low the fish have trouble seeing flies. Thus, bright colors give you a better chance of catching the attention of a trout. Come visit the shop to grab some flies or book a guided trip. Good luck out there!

 

Gunpowder River Stream Report (Recent Update)

As of about 7:00am this morning flows on the Gunpowder have changed greatly and most importantly, for the better. The City of Baltimore has increased discharge out of the Pretty Boy Dam and the water is now moving at 58.2 CFS. In addition, water levels have increased from 1.50ft to 1.75ft and temperature is staying consistent around 55 degrees. We expect fishing to be very good in the coming weeks. Fly recommendations are consistent with our last stream report with a new emphasis on Tricos. These tiny little mayflies have been out in numbers on the Gunpowder, and we highly recommend adding a few to your fly box for your next trip to the river. Streamers, caddis & mayfly emergers, as well as nymphs will certainly prove useful in these conditions. As always, stop by the shop to stock up on flies or give us a call to book a guided trip.

Gunpowder River Stream Report

Low flows have been the name of the game as of late. The river is currently moving at 27.4 cfs with a high temperature of 57 degrees (Mid-day) and a low of 50 degrees (Morning and evening). Water height is variable depending on what spot you are planning to fish but overall levels are very low. This makes for some incredibly clear water and picky fish. The trout will be able to clearly see your fly so make sure that floats are good and flies stay dry. Powdered or gel floatant can absolutely make the difference. Maxwell and I went out on Saturday evening and observed plenty of fish sipping bugs off the top. We recommend classic elk hair caddis in a tan/brown coloration, sulphur’s in yellow, and tiny little trico flies when all else fails. One of our guides, Brian Donoway, also reported success with dry dropper setups over the weekend. He recommended caddis in the same aforementioned color patterns with small nymphs trailing beneath. Streamer fishing has been notably slow. We are hoping for some rain later in the week to boost water levels and decrease clarity. Make sure to stop by the shop to stock up on flies or give us a call to book a guided trip.

New Patagonia Shirts!

 

Snap shirts on the left and river ramblers on the right.

The new shipment of Fall Patagonia gear has arrived! Outerwear, shirts, and waders have all been restocked. Snap Jackets designed for colder days, traditional sun shirts for hot ones, and river rambler hybrid button down shirts with detachable sun hoods for everything in between.

Tropic Comfort Hoody

 

Patagonia Tropic Comfort Hoodie

Patagonia Early Rise Snap Shirt

Patagonia River Rambler Shirt

 

Gunpowder River Fishing Report

High flows are here in the Gunpowder. The river is currently flowing at 86 cfs and the temperature is 53 degrees. With more water coming into the river and water temps on the rise streamer fishing has been great. Fishing anything from a big yellow streamer right down to a super small natural colored fly has been working great. stripping or swinging flies has been a great way to entice these fish. Our best advice is to keep moving and cover a lot of water. Taking four or five casts in a spot them taking a couple of steps up or downstream is a great way to cover lots of water and find some fish. If streamer fishing isn’t for you then fishing a double nymph indicator rig has been working great. Throwing a big caddis imitation with a tiny mayfly as the dropper has been a really effective method.