The river is moving along at a brisk 346 CFs and is now dropping and should level out just under 125 CFs. Flows should drop to a better level for fly fishing for the next day or so and the “fish while you can” axiom might lead some diehards to call in sick midweek. The Gunpowder river is clear and 60 F. Most anglers planning on fly fishing the Gunpowder River would do well to limiting their wading and approach fish from the bank during flows over 300 CFs. Despite the high flows we’ve had a number of folks in each day “toughing it out” between Falls Rd and Bunkerhill Rd with catches of fish reported between 10 and 13″ range. Be sure to bring along a wading staff, a good measure of caution, and a few large terrestrials if you’re planning on fishing from the boulders and intent on covering the edges above Falls Rd.

Masemore Rd access through Bunkerhill should afford more consistent streamer fishing, especially around deadfalls and cut banks. Rollcasting from the banks near downed trees is but one solution to high flows. Leaders in the 9ft 4x and 5x range will give you more control over Light Bright Zonkers, Double Bunnies and small Clousers. These patterns should account for their share of fish. Relatively high water on the Gunpowder typically puts wild fish on the feed, so get out there and feed’em.

These shots of Gunpowder Guides Capt. Jeff Lewatowski and Jason du Pont were taken at flows in the 260-275 Cfs range. Capt. Jeff stopped by Backwater Angler this afternoon and reported excellent fishing late in the day as the river was dropping to a more manageable level.