After over two inches of rain yesterday, the upper river is in great shape.
The Gunpowder river is low, clear and is flowing at 26 CFs. Water temp is 42 F throughout the 7.6 mile catch and release section. If you’re fishing stonefly patterns stay in the shadows, covering the log jams and wood along the banks.
Keep in mind that stoneflies need lots of gravel and leaf litter so try Masemore downstream through Big Falls Rd. Stoneflies crawl out of the water onto wood and rocks before wriggling out of their nymphal shucks so covering the banks with nymph patterns is typically more effective than swinging them soft hackle style. We have a number of traditional hair wing and quill winged stonefly patterns tied by Mike Bachkosky that fish as good as they look. If midging is your thing give the Falls Rd stretch a look. With lower flows , the river has a chance to warm up midday and steady hatches should follow. Black flies in the #20-22 range are the usual suspects but cream midges are also worth a shot. Long, 10-12ft leaders ending in 6x and 7x are essential for presenting these dreaded tinys.The lower river from Bluemount downstream through Sparks RD. is high, muddy and flowing at 258 CFs. The lower river is dropping fast from a high flow yesterday of 2, 620 Cfs and should be very good streamer water by Sunday afternoon. Large Zonkers, Matukas and Grey Ghosts should move a few fish near cutbanks and boulders.
