The Snow is Letting Go on the Gunpowder River

Snow still blankets ice over the rocky trails along the Gunpowder River after winter storm dropped 32″ of snow in the Hereford Zone during the last week of January. These shots looking upstream and downstream from the Falls Rd bridge were taken at a river height of 2.79 FT and 300 CFs the afternoon before the snow and ice let go. The next day the Gunpowder River bumped up to 4.97 FT and 900 Cfs in the upper catch and release area. Conditions on the trails are still icy, the river, at present is too high and dangerous to wade fish at 470 Cfs. Before …

Read more

Backwater Angler will now re-open on Saturday, January 30th

Despite our best efforts we are still snowed in. The shop parking lot should be cleared by tomorrow afternoon and we will resume regular hours of 10 till 4 PM on Saturday, January 30th. Thanks for your patience and be safe out there…

New Year’s Eve Fishing Report

The Gunpowder River is clear, flowing at 139 Cfs and is 49 degrees F. Large prince nymphs and other stonefly patterns like Copper Johns are great to fish in higher flows. Try a small midge larva or midge pupa behind the heavier fly on 6x tippet. The wind has been a problem for those dead set on fishing dries. If you have a sink-tip or Clouser-style streamer you’ll stay warmer by limiting your wading by staying out of the water and taking advantage of the great trail network. As Josh reports below, streamers have been the ticket this week. Thanks for supporting our small shop …

Read more

2015 Gunpowder RIVERKEEPER® Year End Wrap-UP!

Thank you for supporting our efforts to protect the Gunpowder River! We champion enforcement and compliance of environmental laws within the watershed to protect and conserve the River for all users. We believe that the proper public notice of state permits is apolitical. Everyone that recreates, lives along or is downstream of the River enjoys the benefits of high water quality and deserves an opportunity to be engaged in the regulatory process. Meaningful public participation results in better projects-those that are protective of drinking water, property interests, sensitive species, recreational and aesthetic values. Our work links and protects the forests, the fish and the faucet. …

Read more