The Gunpowder river is flowing at 79CFs is clear and in the mid 40’s throughout the catch and release area. Nymphing up leaves is still a tough way to spend a day on the river. Streamer fishing with Zonkers and small Muddlers is a safe bet, especially in the fast water along the undercut banks. If you’re more inclined to fish light and long, trying small BWO’S in the flats on cloudy days. It’s hard to go wrong with a #18 Elk Hair Caddis on bright warm days in the riffles just make sure that it’s tied n to 6 or 7x tippet.

Thanks to Richard Gunion for the following stream report and picture from Big Hunting Creek.

Dear Backwater Angler,
I just got back from a fishing trip to Big Hunting Creek on 10/27/09 and had a reasonably decent trip. At first not much was biting in the mid section near the concrete bridge as I tried dredging that pool for one of the big trout hiding under the ledge. There are probably some trout in there but not much luck. I tried the upper section and finally had some luck casting a streamer cross current. I caught a brown trout with slash-most likely an attack by a bird unless there could be a real monster of a brown trout in there. Downstream a little ways I hooked a rainbow which spent as much time in the air as the water. Throughout the day fish nibbled at my streamers. Casting streamers (dace pattern and black bead head wooly bugger pattern) cross current, against the current and with the current seemed to work. All in all I caught 1 brown and 2 bows. I was hoping for a brook trout but it appears that it is mainly browns and rainbows. The brook trout stocked earlier seem to be gone. Most of the trout in there are around 10-12″. The stream is in good shape unlike earlier in the summer when water levels were very low. Fall foliage is at its peak right now though not much longer.
Tight lines,
Richard P. Gunion