Please join us for a fly fishing school. On Saturday May the 12th a Backwater Angler Guide will be teaching a fly fishing school that is ideal for beginners. If you’re planning on fly fishing in Maryland, or anywhere else for that matter, this course is a great introduction to the sport. The school covers knots, casting, gear and fly selection. Class is held from 10:00 – 1:00pm. Cost is $125 per person and includes the use of gear. A Maryland non-tidal fishing license and trout stamp is required and may be purchased at the shop with check or cash the day of the school. Class size is limited to 4 and pre-registration is required. Please give us a call at 410-357-9557 to pre-register.
Monthly Archives: April 2018
Beginners Fly Fishing School
Please join us for a fly fishing school. On Saturday May the 5th a Backwater Angler Guide will be teaching a fly fishing school that is ideal for beginners. If you’re planning on fly fishing in Maryland, or anywhere else for that matter, this course is a great introduction to the sport. The school covers knots, casting, gear and fly selection. Class is held from 10:00 – 1:00pm. Cost is $125 per person and includes the use of gear. A Maryland non-tidal fishing license and trout stamp is required and may be purchased at the shop with check or cash the day of the school. Class size is limited to 4 and pre-registration is required. Please give us a call at 410-357-9557 to pre-register.
Spring Weather and Rising Trout on the Gunpowder
The Gunpowder is at 41 cfs, 50 degrees Farenheit and gin clear below the dam, carrying some color in the lower sections of the river.
As water temperatures steady around the ideal 50 degree mark, the fish have been very active. We’re still seeing quill gordons around Masemore to Big Falls. Sulphurs have been coming off above Masemore up to the dam. Caddis are sporadically hatching throughout the river, swinging a pupa pattern or partridge and green soft hackle in the riffles has been working well. The didymo is breaking up, especially above Masemore up to the Dam, making nymphing tiresome. Better throw a parachute dry or an phuny emerger to rising fish.
Fresh Patagonia Gear at Backwater Angler
We are flush with quality gear from Patagonia here at Backwater Angler. We’re enjoying some proper spring weather and the local rivers are really coming to life, now is a good time to check out some new gearr before going out on any long trips. Stop in and have a look at what we have!
- M’s L/S Sun Stretch Shirt – $99
- M’s Graphic Tech Fish Tee – $55
- Foot tractor wading boots size 10 – 14 – $249
- Ultralight Wading boots size 5-14 – $189
- Rio Azul Waders – $249
- Rio Gallegos Wader – $499
- Middle Fork Packable Waders – $349
- W’s Spring Creek Chest Waders – $399
- Gunnison Gorge Wading Pants – $299
- Neoprene Wading Sock w/ Gravel Guards – $45
- Stealth Chest Pack – $79
- Stealth Hip Pack – $119
- Classic Hip Chest Pack – $89
- Stealth Atom Sling – $119
- Hybrid Pack Vest L – $99
- Mesh Master II Vest – $179
- Sweet Pack Vest – $199
- Vest Front Sling – $99
- Black Hole Duffel 45L – $119
- Black Hole Duffel 60L – $129
- Black Hole Duffel 90L – $149
- Black Hole Duffel 120L – $169
- Black Hole Wheeled Duffel 40L – $299
- Black Hole Wheeled Duffel 70L – $329
- Black Hole Wheeled Duffel 120L – $349
- M’s Tough Puff Shirt – $199
- M’s R1 Hoody -$159
- M’s Minimalist Wading Jacket – $199
- M’s Cloud Ridge Jacket – $249
Spring Hatches on the Gunpowder
The Gunpowder is flowing at 39 cfs, water temperature starting the day in the mid 40’s and swinging up to the 50’s with some sun hitting the water, water remains gin clear.
As things stand, we’re at least 2 weeks behind recent years hatch-wise. The river is fishing well, especially if the conditions are in your favor. Fishing on cloudy days or evenings is far more productive downstream from Falls road as the water remains low and clear. Mayfly are beginning to hatch more consistently. This week has seen a good amount of of Quill Gordons size 14 coming off with some Hendrickson that are having fish on the lookout until midafternoon. Aside from that there is a lot of midge activity and sporadic caddis keeping the trout occupied. At this time of year when various different hatches can occur simultaneously, taking time to read the river and figure out what the fish are looking for can pay dividends.
Locally Sourced Dry Flies Available for Mail Order at Backwater Angler
Phuny emergers (left to right: March brown, female and male Hendrickson)
With warm springtime temperatures just around the corner, now is the time to sort out your dry fly patterns so you’re not without the right pattern when on the water anytime in the upcoming weeks. Besides presentation, having quality flies can make a big difference in helping you catch more quality fish. Backwater Angler has received a beautiful selection of Hendrickson and march brown emergers, red quill parachutes and caddis patterns tied by Mike Bachkosky of Calicoon, New York.
Mike has spent 57 years exploring and fishing the upper Delaware river watershed. In doing so he has perfected his bug imitations for the all most important hatches on Eastern trout rivers. Not only will his flies catch fish, they importantly will withstand a lot of use, remaining buoyant and effective. His phuny and unusual emerger patterns – as simple they may be, are his go-to pattern when the fish are keyed in on the emerging mayfly. If they can trick the large, wild brown trout of the Delaware – little wonder they work so well on the Gunpowder! Mike formerly tied 3000 + dozen flies a year commercially to many small fly shops that have since gone out of business with increasing numbers big box stores opening. Here at Backwater Angler we’re always grateful for the time he puts in to keep us stocked with fantastic flies that catch lots of fish, not just on the Gunpowder, but across almost all our favorite trout waters between Maryland to New England.
If you have any fishing trips planned in the upcoming weeks in any trout waters throughout the mid Atlantic states, now is the time to get your flies ready, consider us to mail you a quality selection of these for you to fish the next few weeks.
Give us a call at 410 357 9557 or email info@backwaterangler.com. If we are closed leave us a voicemail or an email and we’ll get back to you soon after we’re back in shop.
Red Quill Parachute
Beginners Fly Fishing School
Please join us for a fly fishing school. On Sunday April 22nd a Backwater Angler Guide will be teaching a fly fishing school that is ideal for beginners. If you’re planning on fly fishing in Maryland, or anywhere else for that matter, this course is a great introduction to the sport. The school covers knots, casting, gear and fly selection. Class is held from 11:00am – 2:00pm. Cost is $125 per person and includes the use of gear. A Maryland non-tidal fishing license and trout stamp is required and may be purchased at the shop with check or cash the day of the school. Class size is limited to 4 and pre-registration is required. Please give us a call at 410-357-9557 to pre-register.
Beginners Fly Fishing School
Please join us for a fly fishing school. On Saturday April the 21st a Backwater Angler Guide will be teaching a fly fishing school that is ideal for beginners. If you’re planning on fly fishing in Maryland, or anywhere else for that matter, this course is a great introduction to the sport. The school covers knots, casting, gear and fly selection. Class is held from 11:00am – 2:00pm. Cost is $125 per person and includes the use of gear. A Maryland non-tidal fishing license and trout stamp is required and may be purchased at the shop with check or cash the day of the school. Class size is limited to 4 and pre-registration is required. Please give us a call at 410-357-9557 to pre-register.
Midges and Stoneflies on the Gunpowder
The Gunpowder is flowing at 39 cfs, water temps starting the day in the low 40’s, rising to the upper 40’s and gin clear.
The low flows, water clarity and unseasonably cold weather has resulted in a slow start to the season. Masemore upstream to the dam the didymo is particularly bad as the water levels remain low. Fishing nymphs is too much of a chore in these areas. Focus on the fish that are rising or throw a small streamer instead. Trout are actively picking off tiny snow flies, a common form of midge on the river, in the slow glides as they try to emerge. Catching these fish requires 7 x tippet on 10 – 12 foot leader and staying out the water as much as possible. Getting your angles right before making a cast is crucial. These fish will feed, but any form of movement creating shadows or ripples will quickly put them down. Many fish are still looking for early black stoneflies too. A couple of hendricksons have been seen coming off. Hard to believe that this time last year we had sulphurs!
