Author Archives: Jason du Pont

Guided Fly Fishing Trips In Western Maryland

Western Maryland offers fly fishermen a chance at everything from large trout in big rivers to native Brook trout in tiny mountain streams. The region is rugged, wild and fishing pressure can be light, but challenging. Backwater Angler guides have offered trips on the Savage River, North Branch of the Potomac River and small mountain streams for years. In the past we offered overnight packages including lodging, meals and a full day guided fishing, but will now offer only six or four hour guided wade trips based on the overwhelming amount of requests from anglers.

The North Branch of the Potomac is known as Maryland’s largest trout river with notoriously tough wading conditions, and is home to big stocked rainbows, cutthroats and brown trout. The Lower Savage River is known for great hatch fishing, rough pocket water and all wild trout. The Upper Savage River is home to a mix of stocked trout and wild brook trout. These areas are only minutes apart, yet each stretch has their own appeal.

The first available dates for a guide trip in Western Maryland are April 20th, 21st, 22nd and 23rd. Through Spring and Summer we will continue to post upcoming available dates BWA guides will be on these rivers. Guided trips can also be booked by calling or emailing Backwater Angler for guide availability, and lodging recommendations.

Hatching Bugs and Spillover on the Gunpowder

The Gunpowder River has risen with recent rains, and is dropping, but more rain is forecast before the weekend. The added spillover and warm air temps have improved the fishing and jump started the hatches. This nice brown pictured above was caught on a size 24 blackfly dry, as many fish keyed into the tiny bugs. Stoneflies, midges and blackflies hatching in good numbers had the fish sipping small flies throughout miles of river on Monday. The dry fly action can be sporadic, or fish feeding intensely for brief periods of time in the middle of the day. Expect to fish over selectively midging trout in the flat water areas, twitching stoneflies near woody debris and swinging or dead drifting nymphs in riffles.
I expected to see the occasional Blue Wing Olive, but was surprised to see six Hendrickson mayflies, weeks early. I took this pic before catching a few browns on a small pheasant tail nymph in the same riffle.

Savage River Fly Fishing Report

The forecast last week predicted mild temps and scattered rain showers for the western Maryland region, so I decided to fish the Savage for a few days midweek. The whole river was empty, and I saw no anglers until my last day on Friday. Water temps hovered in the 42 degree, and flows stayed at 60 Cfs. The fishing improved during the warm parts of the day, and rising fish could be found in numerous pools along the river. Blue wing olives sized 18-24 were bringing the fish up sporadically, so the dry fly action was a waiting game in some pools. Neil, a customer of the shop, made the trip for a few days and had some exciting fishing in these pools. After catching a few eleven inch browns on dries the first day, I spent the following three days nymphing small nymphs, in the fast water chutes and runs.

By weeks end I managed over twenty browns and brookies, the larger browns reaching fourteen inches. I spotted quite a few larger browns in the 16-19+ range on the bottom or even occasionally rising, but only had one take and missed the fish.The fishing at times was tough with the cold temps, so I spent a few productive mornings on some brookie streams.

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The region is warming up and the next few months should provide some great hatches and actively feeding fish. I filmed one of the larger Olive mayflies, and my first feisty Savage brown on a dry this year.

Didymo and Rubber Soled Wading Boots

A year hasn’t even passed since we learned about Didymo’s presence in the Gunpowder River, and yet the angling community’s awareness about aquatic invasives has grown tremendously. Suddenly the act of just going fishing on two different waters over the same weekend can make people apprehensive. At least it should, as the photo above shows a rock on the Gunpowder nearly covered in the invasive algae, which appeared last Spring, and has been appearing in recent years throughout the Northeast on popular trout rivers. An overwhelming number of local anglers are shifting to new rubber soles for travel, and designating old felt soled boots for the Gunpowder only. The rubber soled boots clean easy and dry quickly, while felt can prove to be difficult to thoroughly clean and dry for outings the next day. The shop currently has a selection of eight styles of rubber soled shoes in stock from Simms, Cloudveil, Patagonia, and Chota. Check out more details in our online catalog and be sure to check out recent gear reviews posted on the site.

So far the experience with Didymo in the Gunpowder has been varied. While its current presence has certainly affected the aesthetics of the upper C & R sections, its effects on the subsurface fishing has added a new challenge, as the photo above shows. Last April the growths that fouled our flies all winter, started breaking up, washing down river and soon the river bottom was clean again by Summer. The few places I found Didymo present last Summer were slow moving areas, and not the riffles and runs it coated during the Winter of 2007. During Winter 2008 the Didymo grew back in the upper river significantly, and since January the “rock snot” turned a pale gray color and fouled subsurface flies frequently in the first miles below Prettyboy Dam. Pieces of the algae are now starting to drift downstream again, possibly due to fluctuating flows from spillover or a natural cycle for the algae. This Spring/Summer may give us a better indication of what to expect in regards to its lifecycle and growth over the course of the year.

Stoneflies In March On The Gunpowder River, MD

The factors for a good stonefly hatch usually include consecutive, sunny days with air temps above 45 degrees. Prior to the recent snow storm, stoneflies began hatching in small numbers on the warmer days. Now the temps have risen again to optimal conditions and midges, blackflies, and stoneflies are hatching. On the 6th I spotted numerous flying stonefly adults, found four crawling on my waders, and a few dozen more after searching around some logjams. I saw a dozen splashy rises over an hour, when the occasional lumbering stonefly landed on the water. The fish were definitely more active under the surface than in recent weeks, so I continued catching nice browns on nymphs, without trying a dry. Angler reports from the 7th include sightings of stoneflies, midges and rising trout. I briefly filmed a few stoneflies, and included one last look (hopefully) at a winter snow storm.

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Water temps are colder closer to Prettyboy, as I took a 39 degree temp midday at the base of the dam on the 6th. The temps at Masemore hovered around 40 degrees, while York Road water temps rose to 43 degrees. Consider exploring areas farther down river, but areas of the lower river, from the Gas Line through Phoenix RD, are CLOSED until Opening Day, March 28th. Anglers should also be aware that the Falls Rd and Masemore accesses have thick growths of Didymo like we saw last Spring. The “Rock Snot” is prevalent on the bottom from the bridge to the dam, and anglers nymphing these stretches are expressing frustration due to the algae frequently fouling the hook. Last Spring the thick growths were greatly reduced by either the warming of water temps or a higher release, or a combination of both.

Mid February Gunpowder Fishing Report

Winter weather has shifted to warm air temperatures, but the melting of snow and ice are keeping water temps down. Spillover from Prettyboy, which has ice on its surface, has water temps as much as 6-8 degrees below the normal low-mid 40’s of February. A rough mix of half bottom release, and half icy spillover from Prettyboy has reversed the normal “warmer release closer to the dam” theory. Here are a few things we thought we would share about some differences this year in regards to water temps from previous years.

The Gunpowder has hovered around 37-40 degrees F midday for the past few weeks, and the recent warm days did have an effect on water temps and hatches, just not in the upper miles of river. On Wednesday in 62 degree weather the water below the dam was 40.5 degrees at 2 pm, and just a few hatching midges. At 3 pm four miles down river the temps hit 45 degrees, which was two degrees warmer than the previous day, at the same place and time. Four miles of exposure to the sun meant a difference of 4.5 degrees and accounted for a lot of midges and a few sized 16 stoneflies. The fish were holding tight and not willing to strike my skating stonefly pattern, so it wasn’t quite warm enough.

Last year I recorded similar water/air temps and the first stonefly appearance around January 29th in the Falls Rd area. Falls Road has the coldest water temps this year, so consider dipping a thermometer, and checking a few areas before suiting up. Numerous anglers reported seeing a few stones flying around or crawling on the bank in air temps in the upper 40’s. Nymph fishing, while tough has yielded at least a bite or two. A few anglers have reported catching half a dozen on recent outings with dark nymph patterns.

Fishpond Packs and Piopods in Maryland

Fishpond’s innovative designs in their packs, accesories and luggage allow anglers to be better organized and show these products are designed by fly fishermen FOR fly fishermen. Many anglers are trying to start 2009 off right, by carrying less and staying organized. Backwater Angler has a wide variety of packs, vests, bags and accessories from Fishpond in stock.

My personal favorite is the San Juan Vertical Chest Pack, and I’m on my fifth year guiding with this pack. The best features are external tippet spool mounts, elastic floatant/dry shake holders, and an outside pocket to hold a myran box with split shot and indicators. Tools like nippers, hemostats and hook files can all be kept on the outside too, which means no digging around for frequently needed items. The two zippered pockets hold up to four C & F design fly boxes. Each of my boxes holds 564 flies, and thoroughly covers the majority of mayfly, caddis and midge hatches we experience in Maryland. The four point strapping system converts it from a chest pack to a fanny pack, or can be slung across the shoulder in higher water. This pack is perfect for anglers sick of carrying too much stuff, or want a bag that allows quick access to tippet, boxes and accessories. Other popular packs in stock like the Blue River Pack, offer more space for those anglers not willing to go the minimal route. The Eagles Nest Zip Pouch in small and medium can clip to a D-ring and hold loose items you want to keep close by.

Fishpond’s Piopod may help keep all our rivers, lakes and streams a bit cleaner. This “micro trash container” is perfect for tippet or leaders past their prime.

Coming Soon… A Fly Fishing Film

It’s been over two years since I put the first fly fishing video on the Backwater Angler Website, and now we have over sixty videos online. I really enjoyed filming the hatches and the wild trout on the Gunpowder River. I’ve also enjoyed hearing the support from so many of you who tune in to see the latest videos. I recently checked the views to date on the web videos, and the total is just over 53, 000 views! Many people mention they watch the latest videos to see the river, when they get too busy to fish or after they have moved far from the area. I guess the Gunpowder has a way of remaining in people’s thoughts once they fish this scenic, wild trout river.

For all those anglers who enjoy the Backwater Angler site for a local fishing fix, I have been hard at work this Winter on my latest project. I’ve finished editing a compilation of footage from backwaterangler.com, and unseen footage from the past year into one movie, (the reason I have been slacking on recent video posts this winter). The soon-to-be released DVD will only be available for purchase in the Backwater Angler flyshop. It will feature narration, music, and move through the seasons, hatches and fishing over a year’s time on the Gunpowder. Thanks again for all the support and making this has been a lot of fun. Stay tuned for the coming film and more upcoming online videos in 2009!

Kudos for BACKWATERANGLER.COM

Thingamabobbers and Dr. Slick Clamps

It is interesting how a sport steeped in so much tradition has progressed so far that even new designs of an old idea can be greatly improved upon. These new products can help you catch and release more fish.

Consider the Thingamabobber. This round, plastic air filled indicator has an O-ring for easy on and off, holds up heavy nymph rigs and is super sensitive on strikes. These indicators are lighter than all others, cast easier and land softer on the water too. They also come in a variety of sizes and colors.

Dr Slick’s new clamps make debarbing, removing shot, and releasing fish easier. The Release clamp has a built in release tube, that slides down the line, removing the fly without the need to clamp onto the hook. It helps while using the small stuff or delicate flies that get damaged easily by clamps. The Split Shot clamp, with specially designed slotted jaws, makes putting on or taking off split shot much easier than doing so with traditional clamps.

Cabin Fever Sale-35% off select Simms, Patagonia & Cloudveil

Living minutes from a tailwater means year round fishing opportunities, although this Winter’s temps make it more comfortable to be at home tying flies for when the Spring hatches begin. Spring isn’t that far off, and with it come new products from Simms, Patagonia and Cloudveil. Before we come in with the new, we are going out with the old. Items that are being discounted, due to discontinued or changed product design in 2009, are 35% off suggested retail till Sunday, February 8. Discount applies only to items in-stock and quantities are limited.

Simms Rivershed Stockingfoot Wader-Size XL.
A quality breathable wader made in the U.S., with a built in zippered chest pocket and gravel guards. (Regularly $299.99)–Now $195

Simms Rivershed Boot Studded Aqua Stealth-Size 9, 10.
A permanently studded rubber soled boot with a lot of ankle support.
(Regularly $189.95)–Now $123.47

Patagonia Regulator Fleece and Capilene 3 tops and bottoms.
These are great Winter and Fall Layering pieces.
(Regularly $115 to $50)–Now $74.75 to $32.50

Cloudveil Cool Shirts-Sizes: M, L, XL.
A great flats shirt, rated at UPF 45, with a dedicated sunglass pocket and vented construction. (Regularly $75)–Now $48.75

Cloudveil Flat Creek Jackets Sizes: S, L, XXL.
A shop favorite, that is a versatile windproof fleece jacket.
(Regularly $225)–Now $146.25

Hurry in! Cabin fever Sale ends February 8, 2009 and quantities are limited.

BACKWATER ANGLER

A full service flyshop just steps from the Gunpowder River