Fishing on the Gunpowder the past week has been very difficult.  Long leaders ending in 6X and 7X are a must.  With the flows at only 32CFS at Falls Road you can expect most of the fish to be holding in deeper riffles and pools until the flows bump back up.  Fishing small nymphs under small terrestrials is still a great method.  Many have also had luck fishing unweighted traditional streamer patterns.  The fish above ate a small streamer in a deeper pool on the Gunpowder.  I caught it on a 10′ 5 weight Scott Radian.  It was a great fight, with one jump and a few runs that took me a hundred yards upstream then back downstream.  It is not to often that we see a fish this big, but they are in the Gunpowder.  Stop in the shop on your way to the river and pick up some flies and long leaders to fool the brown trout on the Gunpowder.

Fishing this week has been tough as the flows dropped down to 32 CFS at Falls Road.  Even with these low summer flows many have been able to find fish in stretches below Masemore Road where there are a few tributaries adding needed water to the river. Fishing a small ant or beetle along the banks is a great way to trick the weary Gunpowder fish into eating a dry.  Also, fishing a caddis in the deeper riffles could prove to be productive. Stop in the shop to pick up some long leaders ending in 6X or 7X. The fish above fell for a beetle fished below some overhanging branches and the fish below ate a nymph dropped off of a small beetle.

With the Gunpowder River flowing at 60 CFS and water temperatures around 52°F.  Fishing caddis or a sulphur dun in the middle of the day through the evening is still a productive method.  Many have come into the shop having had success fishing small ant and beetle patterns.  Dropping small nymphs off of the terrestrials is a great method to fool the wild Gunpowder browns as well.  Thanks to Bill for the stream report:

We fished yesterday and were able to catch a sulphur hatch on the Little Gunpowder River. The fish went crazy, they were rising so much that you never knew where the next one would rise.  After the hatch, the fishing became slow until in the evening we landed a couple brown trout on an Elk Haired Caddis.  Thanks for your help with the fly selection, they worked!

If you are tired of fishing for finicky trout try fishing the warm-water options all around the area. Fishing for bass on top-water flies, like the poppers tied by Eric Snyder below, can be a lot of fun. Carp are another great warm water target species.  To catch a carp you must be able to make accurate casts, choose the right fly, and have a little bit of luck. They are very difficult to catch, especially when they are feeding in shallow water.  Stop by the shop to check out some of Eric’s patterns and give the warmer water a try before summer ends.

With the Gunpowder River at 92 CFS and peaking at 52°F at Falls Road, fishing the last couples days has been great.  We have seen fish looking up and willing to take a variety of patterns. Fishing small caddis in a tan or dark brown has been the most productive method but many have started to fish small ants and beetle patterns on the river.  Many fish have been holding on the banks of the river, so be sure to make a cast or two before you get into the water.  You will be surprised where some of the little browns will hold.  If fish are not rising many have had success nymphing small caddis pupa and zebra midges.  The fish above fell for a little beetle pattern fished along the bank.  As long as the weather holds true, fishing should be great this upcoming weekend.  Swing in the shop on your way to the river and pick up a couple small terrestrials like the hoppers below tied by Rainy’s Flies.