Theaux Le Gardeur

Little Black Stoneflies on the Gunpowder River

The Gunpowder river is low and clear. It is flowing at 40 CFS and is 50F. Little black stoneflies or winter stones are now making their appearance along the banks of the Gunpowder. This photo, (thanks Jennie!)shows one of dozens that were found along a river bridge abutment this afternoon. Rainbows that were stocked in October along Upper and Lower Glencoe, Sparks and Phoenix Road access points are still being found up to 11 miles upstream in the catch and release section. Small prince nymphs and aug bugs are worth a shot. Try nymphing with 5x tippet and very little weight. Small traditional streamers are …

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Gunpowder River November stream report

Thanks to Gene for the photos and following report: The Gunpowder is 40 cfs at falls road and temperatures remain around the 50 degree mark. November has brought chilly temperatures finally and some needed rain. Swinging small streamers or wet flies such as hares ear and royal coachman has made for very good fishing in the riffles and runs. Fish that are on the lookout for an opportunistic meal tend to be tight up against the banks. When targeting these areas, focusing on making shorter more accurate casts will produce more solid hook ups.

Great dry fly sport on the Gunpowder

Thanks to Gene for the fishing report and photos: The Gunpowder is flowing at 40cfs and water temperatures range from 49 degrees to the lower 50’s by midafternoon. The Gunpowder has been fishing well, especially with dry flies. The surface action being the best between Falls to York road. Streamers and nymphs tend to be more effective above falls road in the boulder pools and in the faster riffles and runs. A simple elk hair caddis size 16 is a solid choice from mid day through to the evening. Soft hackle wet fly patterns like partridge and yellow or orange imitate the emerger well. Whilst …

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Leafy water and colorful trout on the Gunpowder

The Gunpowder is running cold starting at 48 degrees at the start of the day, the level is 38 cfs and clear. Thanks to Gene for the following Fishing report: The fishing has been productive for those fishing caddis patterns. Size 16-18 has been the ticket and these have been coming off when the water hits the 50 degree mark, on warmer days this will be late morning on cooler days mid afternoon. In the evening if you scale down to fish midges in the flatter water this will catch fish. I like using size 22 emergers, 12 feet long leader and 7x tippet. Thanks …

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October on the Gunpowder

The Gunpowder is gin clear, 35.7 cfs and starting the day at 49 degrees. Beautiful autumn colors and vibrant trout abound on the Gunpowder. The fishing has been good as normal for this time of year. Many are reporting observing strong caddis hatches, tan size 18, in the late afternoon through the evening that are bringing up lots of fish. Terrestrials and midges have also been working great. A Griffiths gnat size 20-24 is a super go-to at this time of year in the flat pools where fish are sipping.

New Zealand Mudsnails

A population of New Zealand mudsnails (Potamopyrgus antipodarum)has been confirmed by Maryland DNR in the following press release. Thanks also to Scott Dance for early coverage in the Baltimore Sun of the prescence of the invasive New Zealand Mudsnails in the Upper Gunpowder River. There are two schools of though on invasives; one is the “aw shucks” approach to let thing be, the other more conservative approach is apt to slowing the spread of invasives by educating river users and taking steps to containing invasives to the affected waterbodies. The good folks at MDDNR should be applauded by taking the conservative approach of letting angler’s …

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