news - BACKWATER ANGLER

Sweetgrass Bamboo Fly Rods

April 22, 2009

Dave Delisi from Sweetgrass rods in Twin Bridges, MT just sent us a beautiful 7′ 9″ 4/5 Quadrate bamboo fly rod. The rod is a little darker than the hex rods we’ve received thus far. It is a 2 piece, two tip rod with a cigar grip and it is fitted with a down lock curly maple reel seat. This Sweetgrass rod is accurate, powerful and just begging to be cast over some pocket water. And yes, it’s spoken for…The new owner, Geoff Adams, tells me that it will be christened in the Little J over the weekend. May the Grannoms begin… Some time ago …

Mayflies, Rain and Good Water Levels On The Gunpowder

April 21, 2009April 21, 2009

I spent every day the last week and a half on the Gunpowder River, guiding and fishing different stretches at different times of the day. Midges and blackflies are hatching in good numbers and the blackflies can be seen “skimming” along the surface. They look like a miniscule housefly with a short, thick body versus the long, thin bodies on midges. Trout sipping in the flat water areas are usually eating these bugs and flies in the 20-24 range will work. Hendricksons are starting to emerge late in the morning through 2-3 pm, and many are a tannish-olive, although they darken up to a deep …

Guided Fly Fishing Trips In Western Maryland

April 11, 2009

Western Maryland offers fly fishermen a chance at everything from large trout in big rivers to native Brook trout in tiny mountain streams. The region is rugged, wild and fishing pressure can be light, but challenging. Backwater Angler guides have offered trips on the Savage River, North Branch of the Potomac River and small mountain streams for years. In the past we offered overnight packages including lodging, meals and a full day guided fishing, but will now offer only six or four hour guided wade trips based on the overwhelming amount of requests from anglers. The North Branch of the Potomac is known as Maryland’s …

York, PA Fly Fishing News

April 1, 2009April 1, 2009

Thanks to Mark Sturtevant who writes a nice column in the York Daily Record, Sunday News for the mention in the article titled; A Fine but Fleeting Taste of Spring. I lingered at the local fly shop, the Backwater Angler, talking with owner Theaux Le Gardeur about recent fishing and the state of the river. The shop has a new location and is tastefully laid out. Sunshine through the open door pulled me thence and on to the river. The article was also submitted as Rainbows Chase Winter at publicopinion.com

Didymo and Rubber Soled Wading Boots

April 1, 2009April 1, 2009

A year hasn’t even passed since we learned about Didymo’s presence in the Gunpowder River, and yet the angling community’s awareness about aquatic invasives has grown tremendously. Suddenly the act of just going fishing on two different waters over the same weekend can make people apprehensive. At least it should, as the photo above shows a rock on the Gunpowder nearly covered in the invasive algae, which appeared last Spring, and has been appearing in recent years throughout the Northeast on popular trout rivers. An overwhelming number of local anglers are shifting to new rubber soles for travel, and designating old felt soled boots …

Olives, Black Flies and Midges along the Gunpowder River

March 24, 2009

Dry fly anglers rejoice! The Gunpowder river is flowing at 51 Cfs, is clear and 43 F. At these flows the water will be warming quickly each afternoon and the insects will follow-to say that the fish are looking up is an understatement. Small flies delivered by long fine leaders made for some exciting fishing this weekend in the catch and release section. If you’re not fishing with 6x, you’re not in the early season game. For most anglers, tying on a bit of 7x on a leader in the 9 to 12 foot range is an even better idea. This early season fishing is …