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The recent changes in flow on the Gunpowder River either concentrate the fish in low flows or spread them out in higher water. Each extreme has its advantages and disadvantages, but the fishing remains productive. Many fish are holding on the bottom, so nymphing is a good way to cover water in the high flows, or dredge the deeper slots in low water. The water is very cold, in the low 50s in the C & R, and in the upper 50 to low 60s in the 2 fish a day regulated water. Last week, friend and “Glimpses” co-star, Matt Devlin made the trip from South Carolina …

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The famed Green Drake hatch occurs on few Maryland rivers, but I encountered the hatch while fishing the Upper Savage River on the first two days of June with Neil, a shop regular. We spent two evenings wading areas where primarily brook trout were feeding on these large size eight bugs. The action was right before dark, and while fish were rising, the small brookies and large mayflies allowed the fish to gorge themselves quickly it seemed, and begged the question, just how many of these huge Mayflies can a seven or ten inch brook trout eat? I spent some time photographing this hatch and …

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The Sulphur Mayfly hatch is providing excellent dry fly fishing on the Gunpowder during the early afternoon through nightfall. The water temps are fluctuating between 60-66 from Falls Rd to Glencoe Rd, but are steadily dropping as spillover slows. Sulphurs are coming off consistently in many areas through mid to late afternoon. The shop’s wide variety of Sulphur dry fly patterns have proven effective for numerous customers who connected with the Gunpowder’s wild browns over the past three weeks. Sulphur dries fished through riffles are working during the midday, but skating or twitching them is the key.  Small Caddis dries fished blind will get strikes in …

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The Gunpowder has remained fishable the past weeks despite levels reaching the mid 200 Cfs range. Fishing streamers and nymphs was very effective in the higher flows, and dry fly action was good in the wider slower moving areas of the river. Flows have leveled out around 100 Cfs, with temps fluctuating from 60-64 depending on air temps and surface water temps on Prettyboy Reservoir.  MD Fisheries and Baltimore City are working together to increase insect hatches by allowing the spillover/releases to warm up the river in a way that is closer to typical freestones in the region. The result being that Sulphurs are out …

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The last two weeks of April brought warmer water temps and good hatches of Hendricksons, Blue Wing Olives and Midges. Lately my 9 foot 4 weight Scott G2 has been getting a lot more use than my ten foot Scott “nymphing” rod. The soft action of the whole G2 rod series excels at short casts, turning over long leaders and protecting light tippets. The brown trout may not be rising, (if you hit a good hatch they will), but putting a fly through the good lies produces strikes with regularity. The most successful technique for me has been fishing shallow riffles/rough pockets using light Hendricksons …

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The forecast last week predicted mild temps and scattered rain showers for the western Maryland region, so I decided to fish the Savage for a few days midweek. The whole river was empty, and I saw no anglers until my last day on Friday. Water temps hovered in the 42 degree, and flows stayed at 60 Cfs. The fishing improved during the warm parts of the day, and rising fish could be found in numerous pools along the river. Blue wing olives sized 18-24 were bringing the fish up sporadically, so the dry fly action was a waiting game in some pools. Neil, a customer …

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