Low Water and Wild Trout on the Gunpowder River

Thanks to Mike Colegrove for the stream report and picture: With the recent drop in air temperature it seems that fall has graced us with her presence. The stream is still quite low at 31 cfs so expect to find fish in areas with access to deeper water, cover, and shade. Now is a good time to fish the pools, tailouts and deeper riffles above Falls Road. Water temps are in the mid 50’s by noon so the fish are in good shape, active and a little skittish. Keep your false casting to a minimum and use the longest leaders you can turnover comfortably. Caddis …

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Two spaces left for the Beginner’s Fly Fishing School this Sunday the 15th

Please join us for a fly fishing school. On Sunday, September 15th, a Backwater Angler Guide will be teaching a fly fishing school that is ideal for beginners. If you’re planning on flyfishing Maryland, or anywhere else for that matter, this course is a great introduction to the sport. The school covers knots, casting, gear and fly selection. Class is held from 11:00 AM till 2:00 PM. Cost is $125 per person and includes the use of gear. A Maryland non-tidal fishing license and trout stamp is required and may be purchased at the shop with check or cash the day of the school. Class …

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Fly Fishing for Char in Alaska

Thanks to Neil for the report and picture from Alaska. Hi Theaux and Jennie, Fishing was tough in Alaska with seven days of rain/wind, 24/7. Streamers, streamers and more ugly streamers…didn’t have a dry piece of clothing after day three. –Best char was on the purple leech.

Low Water Labor Day Weekend

The Gunpowder is flowing at 29 CFs is clear and warming up. Water temps have risen in the past week from a high each day of 52 F to temps approaching 58 F. Fish have been looking up after 11 AM and are taking tricos, small caddis and terrestrials. Flying ants and small beetles are also worth a shot. Wet wading is certainly possible as the river has plenty of exposed gravel bars at these flows. Small dries in the #18-22 range fished with a long (10-12ft) and fine (6-7x) leader have been accounting for lots of wild fish in the flatwater. As Josh’s recent …

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Gunpowder River Wild Fish Won’t Wait!

The Gunpowder River is flowing at 70 Cfs is 54.5 F and clear. Fish are looking up and taking small caddis, Bwo’s and Tricos. Bright days are tough on the water so find some shade in the sycamore groves or hemlock stand along the catch and release area. Longer leaders in the 9ft to 12ft range ending in 6x and 7x will help deliver the small flies accurately and drag free. Think short cast-long drift. Thanks to Josh Reider for the great photos and Stream Report from August 19: After fishing this morning I hooked into plenty of fish in the catch-and-release section of the …

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Jerry Kustich and Sweetgrass Rods at Backwater Angler Saturday, August 24th from 11:00 AM till 2:00 PM

I met Jerry K. in 1997 when I started working at the R. L. Winston Rod Co. as the Eastern Sales Rep. At the time I had a gas card, a small pickup with a topper and a U.S. map with a line roughly drawn down the middle from Minnesota to Louisiana that included all points east from Maine to the Keys. Traveling 28 states back then was always an adventure and the dealers always took great care of me. Visiting with Jerry, Glenn, and Jeff in the old airplane hangar that served as the boo shop was always a treat. One afternoon Jerry invited …

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