The Gunpowder River is gin clear, flowing at 40 Cfs and 52 F. Using smaller nymphs will prevent all of those leaf hook-ups. Small, traditional streamers are still a good bet. Small caddis larvae and pupa are especially effective in the riffles. Try to limit your wading and use longer leaders in the 12ft 6x range. In the flat water, fish are taking Blue Winged Olive emergers. A few anglers late this afternoon reported that a few slate drakes were coming off as the water warmed up through the catch and release section. This week we have been checking in plenty of hardy winter gear from Patagonia including warm hats, gloves, socks and rainjackets-feel free to stop on in if you’ll be fishing this weekend.

Thanks to Alex for the stream report and pics:

Theaux,
My good buddy Gates Blair and I floated a section of the lower Gunpowder River below the catch and release area this past Tuesday the 19th of November. We floated a three-mile stretch of the river and mostly focused our efforts on streamer and nymph fishing. The streamer fishing was slow at first but once the water temperature warmed up the streamer bite turned on. We were having success with large bead headed white and tan woolly buggers in the size # 4 to # 8 range. The browns were aggressively chasing our streamers throughout the riffles and deep pools. Nymphing with small caddis pupas and pheasantails was also very productive. A number of fish were also taking a large size # 8 rubber legged squirrel tail nymph. Gates and I caught a large number of browns in the 8 to 12 inch range throughout the day. We also boated two larger browns taping in at 13 and 15 inches long. The larger 15 inch brown pictured below was tricked in a riffle on a size # 14 bead head caddis pupa on 6x tippet. The browns are becoming more aggressive as the fall is coming to a close. Streamer fishing and nymphing should continue to produce into December.

-Alex McCrickard

Thanks to Josh Reider for the stream report and pictures from Big Spring:

Fly fishing the ditch at Big Springs is a completely different game, there is virtually no flow, the water is gin clear, and it embodies the idea of sight-fishing. It is a rewarding and fun time. I have been fishing it the past couple of weeks attempting to catch one of the 20 plus inch rainbow that you can see cruising the channel. I have not had the luck to land one yet but have landed lots of brook and rainbow trout. The most productive way of fishing is to nymph a scud behind an indicator fly. Unlike other streams I have not hooked on fish on the indicator fly but have watched many eat the scud. I have also been fishing a tiny BWO to fish I see rise and have had almost every fish eat. On this stream it is essential to watch the water before fishing, then to crawl and cast from a seated position so the fish cannot see you. Otherwise you will end the day frustrated that you didn’t see a fish all day. Big Springs offers a great unkept secret fishery that makes for a great day trip and is only an hour and a half from the Gunpowder River.

Thanks,
Josh

Thanks to Werner Mueller for the photos and stream report from the Passer River, Alto Adige in Northern Italy:

Theaux,
Hope you are well. Per our discussion a couple of weeks ago I am including a couple of images in regard to my fishing trip to Alto Adige in Northern Italy this past September. The Passer river section I fished is 10 KM of fly fishing only . You will need a fishing license for Italy 30 EU/10 years validity and a daily license fee of 20 EU . The water is club owned and extremely well maintained. There is one guide- daily rate EU 250.00 -great guy . Please let me know if you desire more information. I am thinking of dropping in on Thursday may fish in the afternoon for a couple of hours.

Best regards,
Werner

The Gunpowder River is flowing at 42 Cfs is 52 F and clear. BWO’s have been accounting for wild fish in the flats and tailouts, small streamers like Grey Ghosts are still tricking fish in the log jams and over leaf piles. Nymphing remains challenging, if only because the likelihood of snagging leaves with weighted flies remains high. So try smaller pheasant tails in the #16-18 range are small enough to keep you out of trouble and still find a few fish. Now is the time to explore the area outside of the catch and release section. Remember that the Gunpowder has 18 miles of water that supports wild trout. Stop in the shop over the weekend and let us show you some new places to discover on the Gunpowder River.

Thanks to Josh for the Gunpowder River stream report and photos from November 8:

This past week I was able to come home and visit – and of course made time to get out on the Gunpowder for a few hours with my girlfriend. I have started to peak her interests in fly fishing and taught her how to cast. She has caught many fish nymphing and fishing streamers but never on a dry. This past weekend our goal was to catch a fish on the surface. About 15 casts in she hooked a nice fish but lost it in the current. Later that day she was able to land the nice fish above, for her first fish on a #16 Olive Caddis. Needless to say we have another hooked on fly fishing!

Josh

The Gunpowder River is gin clear, flowing at 40 Cfs, and is 54 to 57 degrees F throughout the catch and release section. Hatches are winding down. Warmer water temps in the afternoons have allowed a few cream midges and a Blue Winged olive or three to lift off. Warmer water temperatures this week from the drop in flow and mild evenings have resulted in more active wild fish. Unweighted streamers are a good way to cover water around the log jams. Small terrestrials-especially beetles are still accounting for a few fish. In low water, try to approach fish especially along the edges of riffles and banks with longer (12ft) leaders ending in 6 or 7x. Thanks to Josh Reider for the great shots of the wild Gunpowder River browns and to Dan Hinder for the following stream report from October 28:

Hey Theaux,
Thanks for your help on Sunday. I went out yesterday late afternoon and after several takes finally managed to hook up on the wet fly you recommended, the fish were small but it made all the fish less trips to the Gunpowder worth it. Again thanks for your help.

Sincerely,
Dan