As of about 7:00am this morning flows on the Gunpowder have changed greatly and most importantly, for the better. The City of Baltimore has increased discharge out of the Pretty Boy Dam and the water is now moving at 58.2 CFS. In addition, water levels have increased from 1.50ft to 1.75ft and temperature is staying consistent around 55 degrees. We expect fishing to be very good in the coming weeks. Fly recommendations are consistent with our last stream report with a new emphasis on Tricos. These tiny little mayflies have been out in numbers on the Gunpowder, and we highly recommend adding a few to your fly box for your next trip to the river. Streamers, caddis & mayfly emergers, as well as nymphs will certainly prove useful in these conditions. As always, stop by the shop to stock up on flies or give us a call to book a guided trip.

Low flows have been the name of the game as of late. The river is currently moving at 27.4 cfs with a high temperature of 57 degrees (Mid-day) and a low of 50 degrees (Morning and evening). Water height is variable depending on what spot you are planning to fish but overall levels are very low. This makes for some incredibly clear water and picky fish. The trout will be able to clearly see your fly so make sure that floats are good and flies stay dry. Powdered or gel floatant can absolutely make the difference. Maxwell and I went out on Saturday evening and observed plenty of fish sipping bugs off the top. We recommend classic elk hair caddis in a tan/brown coloration, sulphur’s in yellow, and tiny little trico flies when all else fails. One of our guides, Brian Donoway, also reported success with dry dropper setups over the weekend. He recommended caddis in the same aforementioned color patterns with small nymphs trailing beneath. Streamer fishing has been notably slow. We are hoping for some rain later in the week to boost water levels and decrease clarity. Make sure to stop by the shop to stock up on flies or give us a call to book a guided trip.