Theaux Le Gardeur

Beginner’s Fly Fishing School on September 4

Please join us for a flyfishing school. On Sunday, September 4, a Backwater Angler Guide will be teaching a fly fishing school that is ideal for beginners. If you’re planning on fly fishing in Maryland, or anywhere else for that matter, this course is a great introduction to the sport. The school covers knots, casting, gear, fly selection and an hour of on-stream instruction. Schools are held in a meadow overlooking the Gunpowder river by a Maryland state licensed and insured fishing guide. Class is held from 11:00 AM till 2:00 PM. Cost is $100 per person and includes the use of gear. A Maryland …

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The Shop is Closed Today…We Will Reopen Monday

The shop is closed today, August 28, and will reopen on Monday August 29. Until then we’ll be picking up sticks! Saturated ground and wind gusts typically move trees along the river so give today a rest and plan on tying up some heavy streamer patterns for the upcoming week.

Baltimore County Hurricane Irene Party

The Hurricane Party at Backwater Angler started at 10:03 AM this morning. We’ve had a few folks who drove up to the Gunpowder from Annapolis to float the lower river in a slick pontoon boat armed with large streamers and foam terrestrials. Another brave angler from Columbia reported seeing lots of rising fish at Masemore and left with a few reverse-hackle tricos, 7x, dry shake and a new pair of Simms Headwater Vibram boots in hand. We’ve just taken the flags down and are pulling the rocking chairs off the porch. For more on Hurricanes, stop in before 4:00 PM today, drive the requisite 1,142 …

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Colorado Flyfishing: Frying Pan Fishing Report

Thanks to Chris for the Colorado fishing report from the Frying Pan River: Just came back from a week-long fly fishing trip to Colorado. Conditions were primo all week which allowed for many nice brown and rainbow trout to be taken on mostly dry flies. Fished both small streams at high altitude in Rocky Mountain National Park as well as the Frying Pan River in the town of Basalt. The Pan was on fire with it’s large selective trout feeding on dries each day of the trip. I spent 3 very successful days learning and fishing its public waters, catching fish up to 18″. Small …

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Gunpowder River Stream Reports from Mid-August

The Gunpowder River is flowing at 64 CFs, is 55 degrees and clear. Wild fish have been taking caddis during the trico hatches mid mornings. We’re still using reverse hackled patterns tied on 7X in the #20-22 range to imitate the Tricos in the flats. If you’re focusing on riffles try an x-caddis trailed by a caddis emerger pattern between Falls Rd and Bunkerhill Rd. York Rd downstream has been especially productive with unweighted wooly buggers and ants. Try fishing around any log jams along shaded undercut banks with these patterns and get some fishing in before summer wanes. Thanks to Richard for the stream …

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Earthquake at Backwater Angler

What were you doing at 1:51 PM? At Backwater Angler the chandelier was swaying, the cypress book case was rattling and the reel counter was creaking. Report what you felt at the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program Website. USGS rated this one a 5.9, so if you have any relatives in the Richmond area be sure to give them a checkup call. If you’re local and just a have a few more papers strewn across your desk than normal ask the boss if you can take the rest of the day off to see how the wild fish in the Gunpowder are faring. Note: USGS revised …

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