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Backwater Angler will continue offering fly tying classes on both Saturdays and Sundays on weekends through the Fall and Winter. Classes will vary from beginner to advanced and many will focus on tying techniques, hatches or special materials. This is the time of the year when days get shorter and an angler’s time can be best spent at the vise restocking the fly box. If you put off tying, or thought it was too difficult, costly, or time consuming sign up for a class and learn how to produce easy fish catching patterns on the cheap. For all the experienced fly tiers our classes are …

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Angus Phillips wrote a nice article titled; “For a Flyfishing Treat, Go No Farther Than the Gunpowder River” that recently appeared in the Washington Post. Gunpowder Guide Stacey Smith was also featured in this article about wild fish and scenic beauty surprisingly close to the DC metropolitan area. My favorite quote from the Angus Phillips article, “The gateway to heaven will look a lot like the Gunpowder River in autumn.” Thanks Angus!

I want to begin compiling angler reports about the river user conflicts experienced with floaters and fishermen in the catch and release section from Pretty Boy Dam Rd through Bluemount Rd. If you would like to report any incidents of floaters, (tubers, kayakers, ect…) affecting fishing or would like to express your opinion on the subject, please drop us a line at info@backwaterangler.com with a description of an incident. Please include your name, address, phone # and how often you frequent the Gunpowder River and what time of year the incident occurred. Anglers need to make ourselves heard if we hope to alleviate this problem …

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As of August 27, 2007: On September 5, 2007, the contractor is scheduled to start work to replace the bridge on Big Falls Road between Bernoudy and Monkton Roads. The bridge will be closed for approximately 13 months (280 working day contract). This is the bridge over the Gunpowder River near the Bluemount Quarry. William Pontious, Bridge Department Baltimore County

No fish in the Gunpowder? Believe Hon! Join Maryland Fisheries Biologists in a rollicking sampling tour of the Gunpowder river. The following schedule will be kept firm. The only exceptions will be if electrofishing conditions are unacceptable (ie. Flooding, muddy water, or torrential rain). Volunteers should check with me (cgougeon@dnr.state.md.us) at work (410) 442-2080 or on my cell phone (410) 570-5718, a day or two prior to the work date to confirm that the survey date will go as planned. All meeting times will be at 9:30 a.m. at the planned meeting location. Bring chest high waders if you plan to assist us in the …

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Many thanks to Rod Lamkey of the Washington Times for the recent article on the Gunpowder River that appeared in the Washington Times, Washington Weekend on August 30, 2007. The article focused on the Gunpowder River, stream manners, women in fly fishing, and effective fly patterns. It was a pleasure working with Rod on this feature article!