Warm Water Fly Fishing In Maryland

There are many warm water fishing options in Central Maryland during the Summer months. Anglers can fish large reservoirs, ponds, rivers and even small streams across the state. Once June arrives I start to spend a day or two a week exploring numerous warm water hotspots. I went over to Loch Raven Reservoir last week armed with my 1 weight Scott fiber glass rod. I quickly located a fallen tree swarming with crappies. My camera was dead, so it was just an hour of catching and releasing a few dozen “paper mouths.” A few days later I returned to the area to find the fish …

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Beginner’s Fly Fishing School on Sunday, June 12

Please join us for a flyfishing school. On Sunday, June 12, a Backwater Angler Guide will be teaching a fly fishing school that is ideal for beginners. If you’re planning on fly fishing in Maryland, or anywhere else for that matter, this course is a great introduction to the sport. The school covers knots, casting, gear, fly selection and an hour of on-stream instruction. Schools are held in a meadow overlooking the Gunpowder river by a Maryland state licensed and insured fishing guide. Class is held from 11:00 AM till 2:00 PM. Cost is $100 per person and includes the use of gear. A Maryland …

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Low, Frigid Flows On The Gunpowder River

The past two releases from Prettyboy Dam brought water temps down to safe levels for trout. The water temp was climbing into the upper sixties last week due to surface spillover. The flow went from a mix of spillover and release to a flow of 150 CFs. The river temps dropped down to the low fifties, and the reservoir levels dropped just below the lip of the Prettyboy Dam. Wednesday morning flows were cut back to 30 CFs with 46-48 degree water pulled from a lower gate. The threat of thunderstorms and water lapping only inches from spilling over was cause for an additional release. …

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Cool Down On The Gunpowder River

A heatwave brought daily highs into the mid to high nineties in Northern Baltimore. The Gunpowder, which has leveled out at an ideal 150 Cfs between 50-53 degrees, is a perfect place to cool down on a hot day. The recent gate change last week has created more opportunities for anglers seeking hatching bugs and dry fly fishing throughout the day. Reports from guides, clients and anglers over the weekend detailed good morning and midday fishing on the surface. The evenings are still best, but fishing for a few hours at any time of day can be productive. Fishing nymph tandems under an indicator or …

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Late May Fly Fishing On The Savage River

I’ve watched the USGS gauge fluctuate on the Savage River all Spring, and finally found a window to go fishing. I was on the water at noon on Tuesday, as the Savage dropped from the 250 CFs range. The higher water makes for some great fishing, especially throwing dries in the pockets. I arrived, rigged up a sixteen foot 5X leader, and tied on a size 12 snow shoe march brown. I started in a rough water area, fishing the small pockets behind boulders, and where the soft seams meet the fast water. The trout were looking up, and I rose quite a few, but …

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Memorial Day Mid-Atlantic Dry Fly Fishing

The Gunpowder river is flowing at 153 CFs, is clear and 52 F. Seasonally warm water temps influenced by surface water spilling over the dam have been moderated by a change in release earlier in the week. This means cooler water is now flowing into the plunge pool from lower levels in the reservoir and allowing the fish some breathing room. If you’re heading out early, unweighted pheasant tails sized #16 are a good bet. Small elk hair caddis fished in the riffles between Masemore and York Road have accounted for a number of fish this week. Try swinging snowshoe rabbit emergers and partridge caddis …

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