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Fly Fishing School on Sunday, July 21st

Please join us for a fly fishing school. On Sunday, July 21, a Backwater Angler Guide will be teaching a fly fishing school that is ideal for beginners. If you’re planning on flyfishing Maryland, or anywhere else for that matter, this course is a great introduction to the sport. The school covers knots, casting, gear and fly selection. Class is held from 11:00 AM till 2:00 PM. Cost is $125 per person and includes the use of gear. A Maryland non-tidal fishing license and trout stamp is required and may be purchased at the shop with check or cash the day of the school. Class …

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Backwater Angler Trucker Hats

As we were unboxing a box of Backwater Angler hats from Imperial Headwear, Jennie found a drake that was trying to blend in with the fading paint on the porch. It’s been a while since we’ve seen a mayfly this big in Monkton, MD so we’re feeling that this group of hats may be lucky!

A Native Brookie, Wild Browns and Local Knowledge on the Gunpowder River

The Gunpowder River is clear and flowing at 92CFS and is 51 F. Backwater Angler staffers Mike, Max and Josh have been getting in some great flyfishing this week. Need a little advice as to how they work this fish magic? We just received some slow water caddis from Mike Bachkosky and have plenty of foam and natural beetles, ants and hoppers in the muffin tins. Nymphing has been consistent in the mornings with a small Hare’s Ear and Zebra midge patterns on 6x above Bunkerhill Rd. The water is cold, clear and brisk in the boulder pools. The fish are waiting. Seek out shade …

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Labrador Brook Trout, Boron IIIX Fly Rods and Bauer CFX Reels Gear Review

Thanks to Neil Jacobs who just returned from a recent fly fishing trip for Brook Trout in Labrador for the pics, gear review of the Winston BIIIX and Bauer CFX series reels, and kind words: Theaux & Jennie, Thanks for moving me towards the Winston Boron IIIX rods–6 and 7 weights as well as the Bauer reels. In Labrador the 6wt landed 6 lb brook trout in very heavy water. But for me the best feature of the Borons was line management and line handling ability-particularly hitting small pockets in heavy water. The CFX3 Bauer reel never missed a beat when I landed a 18 …

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Out of Tippet? Visit our Mighty Helpful Fly Shop

The light is fading and fish are rising in front of you in a shallow flat and they’ve just switched to emerges. You’ve just spotted a big fish hanging in a root ball and it’s time to change to that articulated streamer from you-know-where. The above photo is evidence that, after Sulphur season, my own kit needed a quick makeover. If yours looks like this in the middle of a spinner fall you won’t soon forget it. As they say, it’s a long walk back to the truck. Rest assured we have tippet and some mighty helpful folks who fish the river a few times …

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Sulphurs, Caddis, Ants and a Bit more Water

The Gunpowder is flowing at 70 Cfs, is 52 F and gin clear above Bluemount. Josh Reider released this nice brown on the Gunpowder during a Sulphur hatch. The fish took a Caddis instead. As the weather gets a little warmer try a parachute ant or small hopper in the fast water-especially around rootballs and overhangs. The River is back up should remain at this level through the weekend. The gravel bars are covered with water but still very easy to wade. Everything gets a little easier when the river is full bank to bank-especially if you’re planning on floating. Streamers fished along shaded baks …

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