fishing report

Fly fishing is a sport that constantly surprises me. One can have a memorable day by catching more fish then usual, catching a big fish, or just having seen an amazing hatch.This past Monday was one of those days for me. I hooked close to 10 fish and landed 3. One of the fish I didn’t land was a big brown pushing 18-20 inches. These are the kinds of days that keep us all coming back to fish again, and with the cold weather finally nearing its end everyone should be itching to get out and wet a line on their favorite stretch of the …

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The Gunpowder River is wonderfully green, flowing at 147 Cfs and is swinging from 39 to 41 degrees F. Trails are wet. Now is the time to consider putting in spikes in rubber soled wading shoes and/or bringing along a wading staff. The clean gravel is full of BWO’s nymphs. Small pheasant tails in the #20 range with plenty of shot will produce in the pocketwater. Stoneflies will start moving towards woody debris as the water temp warms up bit in the shallows. Mike Bachkosky’s red butt soft hackles in sizes #16 and 14 are best fished in the morning hours. If you get a …

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The Gunpowder River is flowing at 100 Cfs, is 43.5 degrees F and is clear. Fly fishing with blue winged olives inthe #18-20 range, cream midges a little smaller than a #22, little black flies and zebra midges and early winter stonefiles sized #16-18 are always a good bet. With the forecast calling for air temps in the mid 50’s to 60 degrees this weekend, River flow up from spillover and water temps moving up, reasons for not getting in some pregame fly fishing are slight.

Despite the cold weather, harsh winds and snow, I have sent many people out fishing in the past week by simply issuing them a a 2013 fishing license, and handing off a basic assortment of nymphs and streamers, including a new leader, a spool of tippet and a few thingamabobbers. Fishing this time of year presents many challenges but if you’re willing to brave frozen fingers and cold feet the wild browns on the Gunpowder River are more than willing to cooperate. Usually in the winter months the flows are in the 30-60 CFs range, but in the past week the River has been closer …

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With the Mayan Apocalypse and more importantly, last minute holiday shopping behind us, anglers throughout the Mid Atlantic may find themselves bundled up and thinking about warmer locations and more cooperative fish. We have recently been outfitting folks heading to Belize, the Caribbean, South Carolina, New Zealand, South Florida and the Keys. I was fortunate enough to escape the Mid-Atlantic cold for a week of fishing on Grand Bahama Island. While generally not as well publicized as other bonefish destinations in the Bahamas, Grand Bahama is home to some of best guides and oldest fly fishing lodges in the Caribbean and is one very special …

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The Gunpowder River is flowing at 315 CFs and is 44.5 degrees. If you find yourself trying to squeeze in some fly fishing in Maryland before New Years stop by the shop and pick up a new pair of Patagonia merino wool socks before you hit the river. Keep in mind that most of the snow that arrived Christmas Eve is gone and the river is colder and higher because of it. York Rd downstream was muddy and high this morning. Fishing streamers above Bunkerhill Rd through the Falls Rd access points has been productive. Dead drifting these patterns with a sink-tip line or a …

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