Spillover Leads to Another Gunpowder River Flood: From Unfishable to Unfathomable

To say that the river is unfishable at these levels is a gross understatement. It’s dangerous, and not just for anyone trying to fish this holiday weekend. Anyone planning on using the river responsibly, (kayakers included) should give it a few days to settle down. Tuesday the Gunpowder River was flowing at a gauge height of 2.35 FT and 203 CFS. Today, the river peaked at 7.2 FT and 1, 690 CFS. The United States Geological Survey, (USGS) measures the Gunpowder River in feet and flow at the Falls Rd gauging station in Parkton, MD. The top hydrograph shows the dramatic, sudden and dangerous effect …

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Olives, Caddis and a few Rainbows in the Gunpowder

The Gunpowder River is flowing at 124 CFs is 54.5F and clear. Blue Winged Olives are still coming off mid-morning in the flat water. Leaders in the 10ft to 12 ft range ending in 6 or 7x have been necessary to trick the wild fish. With rain in the forecast better fishing days are ahead of us. More rain means more spillover-more flow and ultimately, less selective trout. Hard to believe that it is 64 degrees mid-November! Fly fishing after noon with tiny Caddis are still worth a shot. Those intent on swinging flies are finding no shortage of leaves out there. A safer bet …

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Frying Pan River Stream Report

Thanks to Mike for the stream report, gear review and pics. Hey Theaux, It was great to talk with you today. I look forward to getting the three sets of the Simms HardBite star cleats for the Guide wading shoes…once again, you’ve pointed me in the right direction. They are awesome–both the shoes and the cleats. As to the Airflo Ridge Trout line with the loop, as I mentioned, when fishing on the Fryingpan below Reudi Reservoir (as I’m sure Jason knows, that’s a hog lot if there ever was one), after hooking and playing 5 or 6 22″+ fish, I noticed that the loop …

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Fly Fishing for Northern Pike

Thanks to Tony for the stream report and photo…better hold onto that camera before that fish eats it! Great news – those St. Joe Deceivers you tied for my Canadian trip (2) years ago work really well. I caught both fish on my 6 weight with those flies. They have a really nice action and I would like to commission your shop for some more! In the words of my Ojibway Indian guide who saw everything happening in the water, “Holy Jesus, that is a monster”. New personal best on a fly rod that I built myself – 47″ 33 Pounds. Booyah! Tony

G. LOOMIS PRO-4X FLYRODS in Stock at Backwater Angler

We recently received a large shipment of this year’s Best in Show at ICAST winning G Loomis Pro-4X rods here at the shop. I have had a chance to play with these rods in weights from 3-10 and I am very impressed. Retailing between $335-$365 , these latest offerings from the wizards at G. Loomis easily cast as well as rods that cost twice as much. I have yet to find anything priced anywhere near the PRO-4X that can do so many things so well. These rods are not as fast as other Loomis products we have had in the shop, but that is not …

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Stream Report From Colorado’s Yampa River

Thanks to Terry for the August stream report from Colorado’s Yampa River, Hi Theaux: I had a great week of fishing in Colorado Aug 8-12. For the last 10-12 years, I always try to catch a rainbow on my birthday in August, and it isn’t always easy to find reliable water out West to have great fishing. Over the last 6 years, I have found that the waters around Steamboat Springs are high, clear and trout-abundant around mid-August. This year, even more so, because of the extremely high snowpack this last winter. I fished for 5 straight days and averaged 20-24 good fish every day, …

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