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. …

Read more

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 …

Read more

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 …

Read more

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 …

Read more

Sulphurs Won’t Wait…Bring a Rainjacket and Get Fishing!

The Gunpowder river is flowing at 145 Cfs, is clear and 62.7 degrees. If you listen to the weatherman you might end up in a mall for the rest of the Sulphur hatch. They’ve been coming off since the first week of May and by most accounts our wet spring has made it very tough to get any fishing on a consistent basis anywhere else in the Mid-Atlantic but the Gunpowder. We’ve only missed four fly fishing days since January owing to high flows. This month, water temps along the river have been much warmer than average and the fish are responding favorably. Nymphing with …

Read more

Whirling Disease Found in Hatchery Trout Stocked in Five Western Maryland Streams

The Capital ran an article titled; Whirling Disease in Trout Bought for Stocking following a Maryland DNR press release about the Whirling disease infected stocked fish. All told, fish were stocked in five Western Maryland streams. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources said whirling disease has been found in a delivery of 8,000 trout stocked in several western Maryland streams. The department announced Thursday that DNR staff stopped stocking on May 11 after suspicious behavior was observed in fish being placed in the North Branch Delayed Harvest Area, Evitts Creek, Jennings Run and Sidling Hill Creek. Other Articles: Whirling Disease Found in Maryland Stocked Trout …

Read more