Jason du Pont

Summer hasn’t officially arrived in Baltimore County, but we got a taste of the heat this past week. Fortunately the recent gate changes and increased flows from Prettyboy Dam have dropped water temperatures 8-10 degrees. In the upper miles the water temperature is a chilly 52 degrees, although a few miles downriver may see temps reach 55 degrees. Yesterday the water was well below 60 degrees at Montkon, and was only 62 degrees as far down as Glencoe Rd. The Gunpowder has miles of fishable water, flows in the 82 CFs range and sections offering a variety of water holding wild trout. Recent trips and …

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The flows on the Gunpowder are at great levels at 91 Cfs, and a gate change yesterday released more cold water. A slight increase in flow from the bottom is negating the warm spillover, so temps are down in the 56-58 degree range in the upper miles of river. Yesterday I wet a line down at Sparks Rd and the water temp was 65 degrees at 3 pm. The Gunpowder has over fourteen miles of fishable water, and wild browns looking for a meal. In the different sections of river anglers will encounter different hatches. In the upper sections the sulphurs are still hanging on, …

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I’ve obviously spent a good deal of time on the warm water scene from my recent posts and videos. A few anglers have sent in their own reports, or stopped by to let us know they have had success fishing for these big fish. Other anglers have had a hard time getting these finicky fish to eat a fly. There is no secret fly, and no sure fire approach to catching carp. On an average day I will make dozens and dozens of casts to fish that seem completely and totally uninterested in eating a fly. Varying the retrieve, pattern size and color doesn’t seem …

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I’ve enjoyed the change of pace exploring warmer water in search of carp and other fish. The really bright, hot days that most trout anglers lament over are perfect for this type of fishing. It shouldn’t be long before these big fish will be taking bugs, seed pods and berries off the surface. “Clooping” is the term for carp feeding on the surface, and I’ve seen them do this often. If rising trout seem difficult to catch….try to get one of these brutes to eat a dry. I haven’t tried dry flies much, but know a few anglers who catch them on hoppers, beetles and …

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Fly anglers searching for good carp fishing don’t need to look too far to find a pond, river or reservoir where these fish are abundant. Carp are proving for many anglers to be unexpectedly challenging, although for the anglers that “crack the code,” fishing for these big fish becomes addictive. Anglers who try carp fishing in a variety of waters will discover that carp will chase and eat flies, take flies off the surface, and even tail in shallow water. The carp above followed the fly in clear water, watched it sink to the bottom, and refused it. A small twitch changed the fish’s demeanor …

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