Monthly Archives: May 2018

Rain, Spillover and Sulphurs on the Gunpowder

The Gunpowder is at 200 cfs and 58 degrees F at Falls road. Below Masemore it is carrying some color from heavy rainfall yesterday evening.

As staffer Carl Cartier would say, yesterday we saw a true Thunder Booming Gully Washer in the Gunpowder Watershed. But today, the river is fishing well once again. The dam is spilling over, so with warmer water, the best time to fish is mid morning – early afternoon if you want to fish sulphurs. These are coming off throughout the catch and release section, but in greatest numbers from Bunker Hill up to the Dam. Caddis, mostly tan caddis size 16-18, are coming off from afternoon through evening and the fish tend to shift their attention to these once the sulphur hatch subsides.  With the extra water coming over the dam and from the tributaries, there’s good opportunities to target some larger fish by banging some streamers against the banks.

In summary, the river is very fishable and has good clarity, but it is pushing so take care when crossing the river, make sure to have some studs in your boots!

Beginners Fly Fishing School

Please join us for a fly fishing school. On Sunday June the 3rd 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.

Beginners Fly Fishing School

Please join us for a fly fishing school. On Saturday June the 2nd 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.

Flows are up on the Gunpowder

The Gunpowder is at an ideal 93 cfs and 50 degrees F. The Gunpowder is carrying a little color from stained water in the tributaries entering downstream of Masemore. The didymo is finally flushing out in large masses.

Prettyboy dam is at capacity, so the river level has been bumped up to prevent spillover. This increase in volume has the didymo breaking off and moving downstream. Short term this may make subsurface fishing a nuisance in the catch and release section until this clears up.  However, with the didymo freeing up, sulphurs and caddis are providing excellent dry fly sport. With the dark, dreary weather we’ve been having, try streamer fishing along the logjams or undercut banks.

Recent guide trips have been very productive, especially for beginners. Call us at 410 357 9557 to schedule a trip with one of our guides. We have lots of availability in the upcoming weeks.

Mid-May Gunpowder River Report

Thanks to Stefan Babij for the following report on the Gunpowder:

Despite recent heavy rain the Gunpowder’s flow and temperature has stayed consistent at around 39cfs and 50 F. Lots of midge activity, along with Caddis and Sulphurs have been coming off during the sunnier days throughout the upper river. On the rainy days nymphing or fishing a small streamer will be most effective. However, nymphing from Falls road upstream remains difficult due to the die-off of didymo.

As the mountain laurels beginning to flower and the trees in full leave, the sulphurs are starting show in larger numbers. The fish below was caught on a hares ear nymph by Guide Bryan Donoway. Now through June the evening dry fly fishing is at it’s best, call the shop at 410 357 9557 to schedule an evenings fishing and instruction with one of our Guides.

 

Beginners Fly Fishing School

Please join us for a fly fishing school. On Sunday May the 27th 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.

Beginners Fly Fishing School

Please join us for a fly fishing school. On Saturday May the 26th 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.

Hungry Trout on the Gunpowder

The Gunpowder is clear, 40 cfs and water temperatures are ideal, starting the day at 48 degrees F swinging up to the upper-mid 50’s.

Caddis, size 16-18, have been coming off in good numbers throughout the river, particularly from Masemore through to Big Falls road, keeping the trout on the lookout for these, particularly in the riffles and faster water. Swinging wets at this time of year is a favorite way to entice a hungry trout. Skating a caddis dry close to the bank can often entice a splashy take; particularly on cloudy days. The streamer fishing has been productive in the early mornings or late evenings.

Beginners Fly Fishing School

Please join us for a fly fishing school. On Sunday May the 20th 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.

Beginners Fly Fishing School

Please join us for a fly fishing school. On Saturday May the 19th 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.