We had a nice report from a young man at Masemore yesterday that was picking up fish on a #16 Little Black Stonefly.

Water temps have risen to 41 F through most of the catch and release section and the flow is back down to a nice level. Warmer weather this weekend bodes well for those who wish to trick fish with dries. Riffles from Masemore downstream through Big Falls should not be neglected. Get out and fish.

Note: Safety first!
As the float passes, if you can’t catch beads or doubloons in your hands, don’t pick them up off the street-instead place your foot over the dropped item to claim it-then pick it up when it’s safe to do so…

It’s nice to see some grass for a change. The gauge is showing flow at 180 Cfs. The water level is up a bit from mid-week and the river temps are still in the high 30’s. Midges have been more important this week than the stones. A #22 cream or grizzly midge should work fine-if you’d like to fish two flies, try a heavily hackled stonefly in a #16 with a #20-22 cdc midge emerger behind it. The river should warm up over the next few days and as the water temps hit the the low 40’s it’s best to hold onto your hat. The stoneflies are coming.

Note: Most of the trails along the river are in good shape. The trails along Falls RD. are still tough going –so be sure to bring a wading staff.

It must be getting close to Spring. Birds are chirping and the state just sent us a pile of stocking schedules-if you don’t have time to stop by this link should give you the goods on truck fish.
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/springstocktable.html?#Baltimore
Locally we’re getting ready for stonefly madness. The water has bumped up from 32-33 F to a little over 37 F. The river is clear and with flow in the low to mid 200’sis in great shape. We have lots of locally tied stonefly patterns in stock-thanks Jim, Charlie and Wally-and we’re ready to hang up the pheasant tails for a while.

Enough already! It will be especially tough to get around the river the next few days with all of this melting and refreezing going on. The river is up and is still coming over the top. If you get out, there is a good chance that you’ll see some ice floating. Some of the smaller deadfalls are on their way downriver. Water temps are still hovering around 33 F and the trout, they are taking a break, eh?

Note: Give the calendar a hard look and give Captain Jeff Lewatowski a call @ 410-808-5105 and book a warm day in the Spring for the Big Rockfish push on Susquehanna Flats-This is a limited time offer! Don’t delay…The Catch and Release Season is March 15-May 3.

Give the gauge a look the next few days.In the Hereford Zone we have lots of snow on the ground, a full reservoir and rain in the forecast.The trout might be holding on to the rocks with their teeth because they’ve been pretty tough to move lately. I have not fished any side channels on the Gunpowder yet, but if these flows keep up, we might have to start. Give the river a few days to drop below 300 Cfs and until then daydream a little about fishing somewhere warm. New Zealand and Argentina come to mind…

Note: If you end up out West on an early season trip and are faced with more runoff than expected, hit the side channels, they can be very productive.

Sure today is warmer than the past week but make sure that you’re dressed for it. The water temp is 32-33 F so your best bet is to nymph a little with a bead head Carey Special or pheasant tail sized #14-16. Make sure you have somewhere to warm up after you squeeze in a little fishing-and let us know how you’re handling the cold. FYI: The shop has oil heat. The trails are in pretty decent shape but avoid the right trail downstream from York Rd. to Big Falls as it’s icy and rutted out. We have some pretty little black stoneflies in the shop from local tiers Jim Greco and Wally Vait but it will have to warm up for the real action to start.

Note: Stanley’s ice off paste works! Ask for it by name.