fishing report

for river related condition reports

Sulphurs Won’t Wait…Bring a Rainjacket and Get Fishing!

The Gunpowder river is flowing at 145 Cfs, is clear and 62.7 degrees. If you listen to the weatherman you might end up in a mall for the rest of the Sulphur hatch. They’ve been coming off since the first week of May and by most accounts our wet spring has made it very tough to get any fishing on a consistent basis anywhere else in the Mid-Atlantic but the Gunpowder. We’ve only missed four fly fishing days since January owing to high flows. This month, water temps along the river have been much warmer than average and the fish are responding favorably. Nymphing with …

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Clouds Of Spinners On The Gunpowder River

Clouds of mayflies weren’t the only clouds hovering over the river this week. Heavy rain the past few days caused the Gunpowder to hit nearly 600 CFs, and steadily rising as a light rain falls in Monkton today. Current USGS reading at Falls Road today is 596 CFs, and climbing straight up. A good possibility of thunderstorms later today and tomorrow means anglers should check the gauge before the weekend. 100-300 CFs is wadeable, although anglers should be cautious on the higher end of that range. 300-400+ CFs has limited wading options, but fishing is still possible from the banks or shallows of wide flats. …

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Josh Reider’s First Hand Sulfur Account

Many Gunpowder regulars will recognize that Josh has been part of the scene at BWA since the Holidays. For those of you who have not fished the river since last year’s sulphurs, Josh brings good tidings in his first stream report. Between putting in time at Hereford High, Backwater Angler on the weekends and lacrosse practice he manages to fish more than most and is happy to share his knowledge! From May 3rd; Theaux, Just went out this past Sunday downstream of Masemore. By the time that I arrived in late afternoon the river was packed with fishermen and hikers. However I think the weather …

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May Fly Fishing On The Gunpowder River

The Gunpowder has dropped from late April high flows and leveled out from 600 CFs down to 140 CFs. Flow from Prettyboy Dam is still a combination of spillover and bottom release, so water temps are fluctuating from the high fifties to low sixties. The warmer water has spurred on hatches of numerous mayflies and caddis. The caddis hatch is best in the morning to midday, and again just before dark. The trout will take dries, but swinging or nymphing pupa patterns has been extremely effective. Sulphurs are now hatching steady each afternoon and I hit three spinnerfalls this week. The emergence of the size …

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Late April Fly Fishing On The Gunpowder

Heavy rain the past few weeks has kept the Gunpowder at higher flows, but fishable compared to other rivers in the Mid Atlantic. Last week anglers from Pennsylvania, New York, Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia, and New Jersey journeyed to the Gunpowder, since many rivers in those states were blown out. In a “spillover Spring” the frequent rain storms will raise flows on the Gunpowder, but the river remains clear. The higher water last week was producing results for anglers using big streamers, but I could only get chases from a few bruisers I’ve been targeting. This week flows leveled out at 137 CFs, and water …

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Hendricksons and Clear Water Along the Gunpowder River

Recent stream reports are pointing to improving conditions on the Gunpowder. With each passing shower we’ve seen water levels on the river stay consistently high and clear. Water temps are also right on the money at 54 F by late afternoon so we’re seeing a mix of Hendricksons in the #14 range and a few #12 March Browns. Dark bodied bead head nymphs and weighted soft hackle patterns in the #14-16 range are a good bet in the riffles. I spent a great day in the shop and a nice evening on the water with our Spirit River rep this past Thursday. He tricked a …

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