Terrestrials, Caddis, Midges and Wild Fish

Thanks to Backwater Angler staffer Josh Reider for the Stream Report and great shot of a beautiful wild Gunpowder brown: Fly fishing the Gunpowder River the past week has been very productive. Fishing small terrestrials (hoppers, ants, & beetles), midges, and even caddis (tan #16-18) on the river has been the ticket to get fish rising. If the fish seem to not be looking up, nymphing caddis pupa and zebra midges has been very productive. I caught a number of fish downstream of Bunker Hill one evening last week nymphing a combination of these and pheasant tails. The sulfurs have just about ended and we …

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A Native Brookie, Wild Browns and Local Knowledge on the Gunpowder River

The Gunpowder River is clear and flowing at 92CFS and is 51 F. Backwater Angler staffers Mike, Max and Josh have been getting in some great flyfishing this week. Need a little advice as to how they work this fish magic? We just received some slow water caddis from Mike Bachkosky and have plenty of foam and natural beetles, ants and hoppers in the muffin tins. Nymphing has been consistent in the mornings with a small Hare’s Ear and Zebra midge patterns on 6x above Bunkerhill Rd. The water is cold, clear and brisk in the boulder pools. The fish are waiting. Seek out shade …

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Labrador Brook Trout, Boron IIIX Fly Rods and Bauer CFX Reels Gear Review

Thanks to Neil Jacobs who just returned from a recent fly fishing trip for Brook Trout in Labrador for the pics, gear review of the Winston BIIIX and Bauer CFX series reels, and kind words: Theaux & Jennie, Thanks for moving me towards the Winston Boron IIIX rods–6 and 7 weights as well as the Bauer reels. In Labrador the 6wt landed 6 lb brook trout in very heavy water. But for me the best feature of the Borons was line management and line handling ability-particularly hitting small pockets in heavy water. The CFX3 Bauer reel never missed a beat when I landed a 18 …

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Sulphurs, Caddis, Ants and a Bit more Water

The Gunpowder is flowing at 70 Cfs, is 52 F and gin clear above Bluemount. Josh Reider released this nice brown on the Gunpowder during a Sulphur hatch. The fish took a Caddis instead. As the weather gets a little warmer try a parachute ant or small hopper in the fast water-especially around rootballs and overhangs. The River is back up should remain at this level through the weekend. The gravel bars are covered with water but still very easy to wade. Everything gets a little easier when the river is full bank to bank-especially if you’re planning on floating. Streamers fished along shaded baks …

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Low Flows, Warming Temps and Spinner Falls on the Gunpowder

The Gunpowder River is flowing at 30 CFs is 54 F and is clear above Bluemount Rd. Low flows this week have allowed the water to warm up from the 48 F range closer to the mid-50’s. Spinner Falls have been closer to dusk. Small Elk Hair Caddis in the #16-18 range and BWO’s in the #20-22 range have also accounted for a few fish. Seek out shade and consider picking up a pair of hippies the next time you are in the shop to keep your feet warm and the poison ivy at bay.

Memorial Day Gunpowder River Fishing Report

The Gunpowder River is flowing at a nice, stable 72 CFs and is 48 to 56 F throughout the catch and release section. The above picture is of Josh Reider-he’ll be in the shop tomorrow and knows the Gunpowder. The water is clear and the fish are taking Sulphurs sized #16 and Caddis in the #18 range with abandon. Snowshoe Rabbit Phunny Emergers and Unusuals will work fine in the riffles. Comparaduns and Bachkosky’s Para-Spinners are better choices in the flats. Last week MDDNR fisheries stocked the section above Falls Rd with 5, 000 fingerling rainbows. There is really no compelling reason to fish very …

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