The River crested at the Falls Rd gauge at 5.82 ft and 1,200 Cfs on Wednesday, March 11. The Spring thaw was not gentle in the least. Today, Friday, the 13th flows are down in the mid 300’s making fly fishing the Gunpowder River challenging at best. With more rain in the forecast and Prettyboy reservoir at over 100% of capacity it’s likely that the River will experience another bump upwards over the weekend. If the River stays above 350 Cfs fishing streamers from the safety of the banks may be the best and only option. To give one perspective, the shop does not guide when the River is over 285 Cfs so this weekend might be better spent hiking along the trails and surveying the impacts of flooding to the river corridor than fishing it. This shot from the lower river at Upper Glencoe Rd (which is closed for stocking till the morning of the 28th) shows the remnants of the 2, 000 Cfs plus flows downriver recorded at the Glencoe gauge. Hopefully this is the last of the river ice we’ll see for a while. We’ll be in the shop this weekend if should you need a break from the house, garage, office, in-laws ect.. We are still, among other feats, writing 2015 Maryland fishing licenses-just be sure to bring your old license or drivers license and check or cash for the license payment and we’ll get it squared away for you.

A much needed break in the winter weather awaits. The Gunpowder River is clear, 37 degrees F and flows are now at a fishable level. Heavy rain mid-week cleared away most of the snow as the upper river jumped from under 100 CFS to 610 Cfs at 3.83 FT at the Falls Rd gauge. River levels dropped fast overnight to 176 Cfs and should continue to fall through tomorrow morning into the mid to low 100’s. It was 8 degrees this morning in Monkton and the Gunpowder River is once again blanketed in a fresh eight inches of snow. Thanks to John for plowing the lots at Falls, Masemore and York Rd! The high flows Thursday through Friday have pushed all of the edge ice out and we now have open water throughout the catch and release area down through the two fish a day stretch. If you’re heading out, try some stoneflies in the #14-16 range with black flies sized #20-22 just behind them midday. If you’re dead set on nymphing, small stonefly nymphs in the #12-14 range and zebra midges sized #18-22 are always a good bet. With any luck the warmer temps forecast through Monday will get the white stuff moving but not increase flows dramatically. The five fish-a-day stretch from the gas line above Upper Glencoe through Lower Glencoe, Sparks and Phoenix access points will close tomorrow, Sunday, March 8 and will reopen on March 28 at 5:30 AM. keep in mind that the upper catch and release section and two fish-a-day stretch is open 365 days…

This snowy branch frames a yearling and two geese on the island downstream of the Corbett Rd. Bridge. The yearling crossed the side channel and found itself on this island with a pair of geese waiting out the storm. The Gunpowder River crested at 2,200 Cfs and 7.75 feet at Glencoe Rd. during the heavy rain event that cleared much of the old snow out and down into Loch Raven.