The water level on the Gunpowder is remaining low around 30 cfs with water temperature being the much more favorable factor.  On most days the river is peaking around 54-60 degrees, triggering hatches of midges and the occasional stonefly.  Very small dry flies in the size 20-24 range have still been the key to catching fish sipping midges on the surface.

Nymphing is becoming increasingly effective as the weather cools.  One of the best nymphing setups for the catch and release section is a caddis pupae paired with a zebra midge or similar midge larva.  When nymphing, we recommend sticking to a few fly patterns and experimenting more with weight and indicators.  I’ve been using the Deep Soft Weight putty from Loon.  It’s great for fine tuning the weight on your leader without the damage of crimping on split shot.

As always, we endorse fall streamer fishing.  Gunpowder brown trout typically spawn in mid-late November.  So now is the time to tie on a streamer and target structure near good spawning gravel in hopes of finding an aggressive pre-spawn brown.  That being said, use care while wading as to not step on any redds where trout have cleaned a patch of gravel to lay their eggs.