gear

Savage River October Fishing Report and Testing Cloudveil’s 8X Vibram Grippy Boot

I recently made the drive to the Savage and North Branch of the Potomac for a week of fishing. The North Branch is known for giving up big browns this month, and that coupled with recent stockings brought out more pressure than I have seen all summer. After catching three rainbows in the 17-18 inch range on the North Branch on a crowded weekday, I decided to focus on the Savage for the remainder of the week. I was rewarded with good fishing, saw few anglers and caught some of my nicest Savage River browns of the year. Attractor dries produced smaller browns and brooks, …

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Buggers, Zonkers and Classic Streamers In Stock

We just received a big shipment of streamers, many of them are classic hair and feather wing patterns. We also have a large variety of Buggers, Zonkers, Muddlers and Sculpins in a staggering number of colors and sizes for the Fall bite. In addition to streamers the shop has stocked up on midge pupas, caddis pupas and nymph patterns, as well as popular attractor nymphs. Be sure to pick up a few “hot” flies on your way to the river and stop in and talk to a Backwater Angler Guide or staff member to get the latest information on fly fishing conditions across Maryland.

Fishing Bamboo Fly Rods in Maryland

Many thanks to Gunpowder regular Brian Walsh for his thoughts on fishing his first bamboo fly rod. Theaux, I wish to thank you for having the foresight to set aside the Little Falls for me. Something tells me that you knew I’d be back after reading A Wisp In The Wind. I’ve since blown-off both a meeting at work and a date with a beautiful girl…….. to stand in my backyard with a beer and the rod, casting to my dog’s chew toys, placed strategically around the lawn. All puns aside, I’m hooked. I also want to thank you and the guys for renewing my …

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SAGE ZXL Fly Rod Review

The following is a review of the SAGE ZXL Fly Rod by Terry Newendorp. Thanks Terry! The smoothness and lightness of this rod belies the strength it has to both get your heavy, weighted nymph rig out there, and to land that 23 incher once you’ve hooked it. I have used the Sages since the SP and then the SLT series, and never thought there would be any good reason to add a new one to my inventory – but this one is so wonderful in your hand and so responsive with either size 22 dry or a nymph rig, and so powerful in the …

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Boogle Bugs at Backwater Angler

Our friend Pierce Yates from Birmingham, Alabama just sent us a number of his Boogle Bugs. During an eye-opening visit, he learned some valuable lessons from Mr. Bobs poppers founder Bob Guess. They do make a wonderous noise! Pierce’s own description from his website looks like an entry straight out of Webster’s. BoogleBug® \büg´-əl -bəg\ n 1: a very attractive, most durable bass bug or panfish bug used by knowledgeable warmwater fly fishing anglers to provoke aggressive topwater feeding by their finned adversaries. 2: one very tough, good looking bug that will catch you lots of bass and panfish for fun or food. We have …

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North Platte Fishing Report

In mid-July I was lucky enough to spend an entire week in Wyoming. My family and I stayed at a ranch on the North Platte River just outside of Encampment, Wyoming. The North Platte was flowing high due to significant snow melt. The conditions were great and we were able float the river three times. Tackle and Techniques are slightly different out West in comparison to the East coast. We were mostly fishing with five and six weights where on the Gunpowder we typically use three and four weights. On larger water a larger rod is necessary. Big flies and large trout are easier to …

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