High flows are here in the Gunpowder. The river is currently flowing at 86 cfs and the temperature is 53 degrees. With more water coming into the river and water temps on the rise streamer fishing has been great. Fishing anything from a big yellow streamer right down to a super small natural colored fly has been working great. stripping or swinging flies has been a great way to entice these fish. Our best advice is to keep moving and cover a lot of water. Taking four or five casts in a spot them taking a couple of steps up or downstream is a great way to cover lots of water and find some fish. If streamer fishing isn’t for you then fishing a double nymph indicator rig has been working great. Throwing a big caddis imitation with a tiny mayfly as the dropper has been a really effective method. 
Monthly Archives: August 2024
The Perfect Saltwater Setups!
As summer begins to wrap up you may be looking to do some fall Striped Bass fishing or even a trip down south for some of the famous tropical fish. This post is to highlight some the best set ups for whatever you plan on doing in the salt.
The first and most versatile setup showcases the G. Loomis NRX + S in an 8-weight paired with either the Abel Rove or SDS. The NRX + S gives you the backbone to fight both the wind and the large fish you will be targeting while providing enough touch to gently place flies for those picky tropical trophies. Both the SDS and Rove have enough line capacity, drag, and protection from salt to preform even against the big ones.
G. Loomis NRX+ Saltwater | BACKWATER ANGLER
The second setup I’d to showcase would be the Scott Sector in a 9-weight paired with either the Abel Rove, SDS, or even the Ross R salt. The sector still provides a good amount of backbone to fight the wind and cast large flies, however it is more keen to delicate casting needed for bonefish, permit, and redfish. With that said, a 9-weight is still versatile enough to target large fish with bigger flies like Stripers, Albacore or Bluefish.
Scott Sector | BACKWATER ANGLER
It is important when fishing in salt water to get a reel rated for saltwater. The SDS and R Salt are both sealed drag reels. These are relatively maintenance free and protect from sand and other debris from getting into the drag system. The Rove on the other hand has a cork drag system which may be subject to more maintenance but still provide the protecting needed from the salt. I have fished my 7/9 Rove along the East-Coast of Florida for the past year landing tarpon, Snook, Bonefish, and Redfish with next to no problems. The main thing with either choice is to always thoroughly rinse your rods and reels with freshwater after your trips if you want your gear to last.
Abel Rove Black | BACKWATER ANGLER
Ross Evolution R Salt | BACKWATER ANGLER
Abel SDS 9/10 in Blue III with Aluminum Handle | BACKWATER ANGLER
The Abel Rove (left), Abel SDS (center), and Ross Evolution R Salt (right).
New and Used Duffle Bags From Filson, Simms, and More
Here at Backwater Angler, we have a 4 new and used bags we wanted to highlight in this post. These duffle bags will be available for pick up during our store hours or shipped for a flat rate of $20. If interested, please contact the shop at 410-357-9557 or at Backwaterangler@gmail.com.
The first bag we would like to show is the Filson Small Duffle in blue. This bag is new and still has the tag on it, however there are some small marks left on the material from sitting over the years. The dimensions of the bag are 18″ x 13″ x 6″ and retailed at $350. We are asking $250 for it.
The second bag is another Filson bag. This is a slightly smaller duffle in a tan color. It includes two belt-style straps to secure the bag and a strap to carry it. This bag has some wear in tear along the leather straps but is in good condition overall. This bag has the dimensions 14″ x 7″ x 9″ and will be listed at $200.
The Third Bag is the largest of the four. This is a Simms waterproof wader bag in their iconic orange. This bag has no tag however it also has no wear and tear on it. The dimensions are 32″ x 14″ x 13.5″ and has multiple handles, sling, and fasteners to keep everything secure. This bag retails at $300 and we are asking $150 for the bag.
The fourth bag is another large duffel bag from Wright and McGill in a grey color. This bag has two large pouches on either side of the bag and lots of space to hold larger items in the main compartment, along with a name tag. There is no wear and tear on this bag. The dimensions are 22″ x 15″ x 14″ and we are asking $60 for the bag.
Gunpowder River Fly Fishing Report
The river is currently flowing at 82 cfs and the water temperature is 55 degrees. Trico Season has arrived! We are seeing them in the lower river from 7 in the morning and they are gone by noon. Terrestrials and caddis have been the most prominent bugs on the river. Throwing a Hopper Dropper rig is still a great way to target trout. Having a Chubby Chernobyl or a Stimulator as your dry fly and a Waltz Worm or Jigged Pheasant Tail as your dropper is a great place to start out. If you are fishing in the middle of the day and are not seeing any surface action them tie on a double nymph rig or a streamer and cover lots of water. Olive and Black Wooly Buggers have been working great as well as a Senyo’s Minnow. If you are looking to fine tune your fishing skills or learn to fly fish on the Gunpowder give the shop a call and book a trip.