Author Archives: Hudson Weber

Gunpowder River Fishing Report 1/28

The Gunpowder River is flowing at 99 cfs and the temperature is 41 degrees F. With the water staying high, fishing larger and heavier nymphs has been working well. We have found that patterns like the blowtorch, mini jig leach, and the Frenchie jig have been our top producers. Flies with natural bodies and a hot spot collar are the way to go. Streamers have also been producing. We have found that stripping them slowly has been the most effective. Patterns like the Bank Robber Sculpin, Wooly bugger, Baby Gonga, and the Complex Twist Bugger have been our best producers. The upper river has been fishing well these last few weeks. Soft seams and deeper pools are where the fish seem to be holding. Make sure to watch out for ice when hiking into your spot. Safe fishing.

The Shop will be Closed on Thursday February 2nd and Friday February 3rd.

Backwater Angler’s Top Ten for Christmas

1.https://backwaterangler.com/product/personalized-fly-selection/

A Fly selection is one of the best stocking stuffers for anglers. We can adjust the number of flies and type to whatever best suits their needs.

2.Backwater Angler Guide Trip Gift Certificate | BACKWATER ANGLER

These certificates grant you access to lots of knowledge and insight on the mechanisms of the river and the techniques we use. It is redeemable whenever you are inspired to go out and be treated with all the gear and knowledge necessary to have a good day on the water.

3.Ross Animas | BACKWATER ANGLER

The Ross is a fantastic gift for the Holidays. With a light feel and durable frame it is one of the best reels to buy for anyone wanting to up their fishing game.

4.Patagonia Winter Weight Fleece Oversock | BACKWATER ANGLER

Tired of cold feet in the winter? Solve that problem with the Patagonia Winter weight fleece over sock. This sock is the best solution that we have found at the shop to keep you warm and comfortable on the water.

5.Scott Centric | BACKWATER ANGLER

The Scott Centric is the top of the line the best of the best. this rod can handle smaller streams like the Gunpowder River but, it works just as well when you’re chasing after those larger fish weather that’s big Trout, Bass, pike, or anything else that swims.

6.Airflo SuperFlo Power Taper | BACKWATER ANGLER

Airflo Power taper is a heavy taper fly line that can load up fast and get your flies to where you want them to be. This line pairs perfectly with the Scott centric!

7.Abel Vaya 5/6 Native Brown Trout | BACKWATER ANGLER

The Abel Vaya is the best reel for trout. This reel suits all of your fishing needs. It is an extremely high quality and very durable reel with a lifetime warranty. we have a vast assortment of sizes and paint jobs to pick from.

8.Echo Trout Fly Rod | BACKWATER ANGLER

The Echo trout is one of Echo’s greatest products in our opinion. It is light and has a fast action that allows the angler to cast in tough winds out west or be precise on small rivers like our home-water: The Gunpowder River.

9.Patagonia | Product categories | BACKWATER ANGLER

Patagonia’s line of waders has exceeded the markets expectations with comfortable, warm, lightweight waders that are made entirely from recycled materials. Each style of wader can cater to your needs and will have you set for years to come.

10.Fishpond Thunderhead Submersible Sling | BACKWATER ANGLER

Fishpond has had the best packs and accessories on the market for years now. The versatility of these packs allows the angler to customize them much more than their competitors. The submersible pack is entirely waterproof so you will not have to worry about taking off their bag, soaking their gear, or even worse their phone.

Stop by the shop or give us a call at 443-357-9557 with any questions regarding the gear and sizing and you’ll be set with a wonderful gift for the Holidays.

 

 

Gunpowder River Fishing Report

The Gunpowder River is holding at a steady 56 CFS and 51 degrees. The water is staying clear and the leaves are starting to become less of a problem for nymph and streamer fishermen. As we move into cooler weather streamer fishing is getting consistently better. Patterns like the Baby Gonga in black, Wooly Bugger in olive and black, Slump Buster in grey, and Bonds Dragon in olive are working well. Midges have been the top producing dries this week. Patterns like the WD-40 and the Crystal Para Midge have been working well. Nymph Fishing has been very effective in the last few weeks. Whether you fishing under an indicator or tight lining, you can’t go wrong with patterns like the Prince Nymph, the Copper John, the Blow Torch, the Perdigon, and the Hares Ear. As the cold weather sets in it’s a good idea to start thinking about getting a new pair of waders. Not having those small pinholes and tears in your waders can make all the difference when trying to stay comfortable on a cold day. Speaking of cold, if you’re tired of having to layer up to stay warm when fishing try the Patagonia Shelled Insulator Pants.

Patagonia M’s Shelled Insulator Pants

Early November Gunpowder River Fishing Report

The Gunpowder has been at consistent levels today in spite of the rainfall. The water temperature is holding steady at 55 degrees. Flow at Falls Rd is 45 CFS. We have been seeing lots of BWO’s coming off mid-day through the evening and fish have been eager to rise to them. With cooler weather ahead, streamer fishing with a sink tip- leader will work very well. Patterns like BWO Compara-Duns, tan Elk Hair and X-Caddis, black and olive wooly buggers, and Bank Robber Sculpins are worth a shot. Euro nymphing has also been working well. We have pre-made Euro leaders and Euro flies in-stock. Stop in and get outfitted!

Gearing up For Montana

Over my last few years working here at Backwater we always have a stream of anglers itching to go out to Montana and chase after its beautiful fish. but there is always the same question from all of these anglers: “what do I even bring out there?” But don’t worry we are here to help you on your way to an amazing trip. To begin with, you will be needing a sturdy rod with a nice backbone to handle those larger fish and cast larger flies. The rod for the job is the Scott Centric

Scott Centric

The Centric is the perfect Montana rod. It’s strong enough to combat stronger winds and still delivers the perfect presentation. It’s also stiff enough to cast larger streamers but has a lighter tip which allows you to feel the bottom while tight line nymphing.

I you are looking for a spring creek rod for more delicate presentations then we suggest the Scott G Series

Scott G Series

The G Series is the perfect rod for making that delicate cast at a rising fish or that stealthy mend for the perfect drift. The G series is truly a fly fishermen’s dream. With its delicate capabilities it is still able to hold large fish and fish larger flies if needed but excels in lighter flies and tighter spaces.

Next, you’ll be needing flies. We suggest looking at a hatch chart for the Area you will be fishing but if you don’t have time to or can’t find one, we have many great fly options here in the shop. Montana is known for its larger bugs, and even more so for its fish loving to eat these big bugs on the surface. Here at the shop, we have what you need.

As far as waders and boots go, it is a necessity that you have a quality pair to wade the rough waters and hike the rugged terrain. To compete with these conditions that Montana has we recommend the Patagonia Foot Tractors or the Patagonia River Salts.

https://backwaterangler.com/product/patagonia-river-salt-wading-boots/

Patagonia Foot Tractor Boots – Sticky Rubber (Made by Danner)

The price on these boots will be rising this Fall by $100+. If you are looking for that new pair of boots that that has an amazing warranty and will last a long. We highly suggest the River Salt or the Foot Tractor for any of your wading needs.

 

Gunpowder Fishing Report

The Gunpowder is flowing at 65 cfs and has been holding steady for the last week. the temperature of the water is 52 degrees, this is perfect for wet wading. if you need a new pair of wet wading socks stop in the shop to pick up the new Patagonia fleece over sock which allows for a comforting feel in the water while fishing. we are seeing fish take caddis and Trestrails off the surface. patterns that have been most effective are as follows, Elk hair caddis, X Caddis, smaller stimulators, and Cubby Chernobyl’s. we have been experiencing the best fishing from 3-7 in the afternoon and from 7-10 in the mornings. stop by the shop to restock your flies and get more Indepth intel.

Central PA Fishing Report

I Have recently gotten back from a fishing trip in central Pennsylvania. With rising water temperatures the end of spring creek season is closer than you may think. Rivers like the yellow Breaches and and Penns Creek have been fishing very well recently with small caddis and mayfly imatations. The set up that I found to work the best was a size 16 caddis and a mayfly nymph 20 inches off the back. This allows you to target two very different sections of the water column and catch more fish. Making delicate casts is essential because these fish are rather spooky and will not eat if the flies are not presented properly. The fishing up in PA is really something special to experience and I recommend stopping in the shop to stock up on flies before you head out there.

June 24th Gunpowder Fishing Report

The Gunpowder River is flowing at 67 CFS and is a cool 52 degrees. As the warmer summer weather sets in, we have been seeing a large amount of fish taking terrestrials and mayfly nymphs. Patterns such as a quick sight beetle, foam ant, and smaller sized chubby chernobyl’s have been working great as indicator flies for dropper rigs. Off the the back of those terrestrials we are putting patterns such as perdigons and pheasant tails. If you are looking to fish single dry flies come on in and check out some of the new flies we just got in; our Adams and caddis patterns have been restocked and are ready to be fished!

Gunpowder Stream Report 3/26/2022


We are happy to announce that the Gunpowder River river is flowing at a consistent 80 cfs and the temperature is 46 degrees. The bug activity is starting to pick up. We are seeing little black stone flies, Hendricksons and March Browns. If you want to probe the depths, stop in to check our fantastic selection of nymphs.  Streamers have been working great! Patterns like the baby gonna and the full sized gonna have been able to move some bigger fish in the river. The lower river is opening  back up today from its stocking period. If you are looking for some stocked rainbows plan on fishing bright flies to attract the attention of some of those fish.