I Have recently gotten back from a fishing trip in central Pennsylvania. With rising water temperatures the end of spring creek season is closer than you may think. Rivers like the yellow Breaches and and Penns Creek have been fishing very well recently with small caddis and mayfly imatations. The set up that I found to work the best was a size 16 caddis and a mayfly nymph 20 inches off the back. This allows you to target two very different sections of the water column and catch more fish. Making delicate casts is essential because these fish are rather spooky and will not eat if the flies are not presented properly. The fishing up in PA is really something special to experience and I recommend stopping in the shop to stock up on flies before you head out there.
Monthly Archives: June 2022
June 24th Gunpowder Fishing Report
The Gunpowder River is flowing at 67 CFS and is a cool 52 degrees. As the warmer summer weather sets in, we have been seeing a large amount of fish taking terrestrials and mayfly nymphs. Patterns such as a quick sight beetle, foam ant, and smaller sized chubby chernobyl’s have been working great as indicator flies for dropper rigs. Off the the back of those terrestrials we are putting patterns such as perdigons and pheasant tails. If you are looking to fish single dry flies come on in and check out some of the new flies we just got in; our Adams and caddis patterns have been restocked and are ready to be fished!
Abel Reels
A new line up of Abel reels are in the shop! From large saltwater reels like the new Abel Rove to the lightweight Vaya, we have many different sizes and paint jobs to choose from. The most notable of the new hand painted reels are the Vaya 5/6 in Native Brown Trout, the 9/10 SDS in Blue III, and the Vaya 5/6 in Larko Brown Trout.
https://backwaterangler.com/product/larko-brown-trout-vaya-5-6-reel/
If you’re looking for something a little less flashy, we also have many models in the satin and standard black. These still offer the unmatched quality of Abel without the glamour and price tag. Give the shop a call at 410-357-9557, an email at backwaterangler@gmail.com, order online, or stop in to get one of these reels for yourself!
Notice: The shop will be closed on Father’s Day, June 19th.
Backwater Flat-brim Hat Sale
With the heat rolling in there isn’t a better time to get a new hat. With every purchase over $75 made in the shop we will be giving away one of our Backwater Angler Flat-Brim hats. They come in a heather, blue, and brown colors and will be provided to customers while supplies lasts.
These hats are a $30 value that we will be giving away. If you aren’t going to spend over $75 then you can get the hat directly through our website. These will be a good addition to any Father’s day gift so that they are set to go out on the water.
https://backwaterangler.com/product/bwa-embroidered-flat-brim-fitted-hat/
Early June Fishing Report
With Summer about to hit the flows have dropped down to 60 CFS with temperatures in the low 50s. Even with the drop in flows the bug activity has been quite active with lost of sulphurs coming off throughout the day. The best way to fish effectively is with a slightly longer leader between 10 and 12 feet. This will allow you to present flies without having the fly line bother the fish in the pool.
Nymphing has been quite effective throughout our mornings and in our deeper pools. These fish will often hold deep when hatches are not active and fishing a nymph rig is the best way to go. Our mayfly imitations have been the most effective throughout the river with a midge trailing behind to get any of those picky fish.
Father’s Day Great Eight Gifts!
Abel Reels- Abel is the pinnacle of fly fishing reels. They offer the best durability, warranty, and style in the Fly Fishing business. These are a one time purchase, leaving the customer set for life. We offer many variations of Abel reels from basic colors to eccentric hand painted designs.
https://backwaterangler.com/product/underwood-on-the-hunt-deep-green-vaya-5-6-reel/
Ross Reels- Ross focuses on the durability and ergonomics of a fly fishing reel. It contains all the strength and technology harbored in Abel reels without the flashy finishes. These reels are truly the best bang for your buck.
Fishpond Submersible Sling- The Fishpond line of submersible packs are optimal for the most active or most clumsy of fisherman. These packs allow you to push your waders to their limit without the worry of wet items like your keys, phone or other valuables.
Airflo Fly line- The newest edition of Airflo Lines have been spectacular for the employees and the customers of Backwater Angler. They offer a smooth cast that will load the majority of rods well.
Gift Certificate- As always a Gift Certificate is a safe bet when buying a gift. If you’re entirely unsure what to get for fathers day you can always let them pick.
Scott Centric- The Centric is one of the best rods on the market right now. It had the most advanced technology that creates a quick and sensitive response with the rod. A 5 weight would be ideal for fishing out west and on our bigger eastern streams while the 4 weight will be more ideal for our local bodies of water.
Patagonia Waders- The Swiftcurrent Line of waders has been found to be the ideal wader for fishing throughout the temperate climates like ours. They are lightweight but durable enough to withstand the thorns and brush that tear up weaker waders. Patagonia also offers a great warranty program that allows you to send the waders in for repair if needed.
Umpqua Fly box with Fly Selection ($75,$125,$175,$250): We can offer a personalized fly selection at 4 different price ranges. We can pick specific flies for whatever best suits their fishing needs in high quality fly boxes.
https://backwaterangler.com/product/umpqua-day-tripper-box-with-personalized-fly-selection/
June Fly Fishing Schools!
With our Hatches in full effect the month of June is the perfect time to learn how to fly fish. We have 3 spots available on June 12th and on June 18th. Our Fly Fishing Schools includes a 3 hour course with all gear necessary to learn. In the first half of the course we go over our basic knots, casting skills, fly types and choices, and our techniques on the river.
Following Instruction on the bank we practice our techniques on the water. You will get to try the 4 main techniques we use while fishing this river: dry flies, wet flies, nymphs and streamers. Our guides will go over the techniques and help each individual with to best prepare them for a trip on their own.
Please contact us at backwaterangler@gmail.com or 410-357-9557 and we will get you set for trip on the Gunpowder River.