Monthly Archives: June 2011

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 non-tidal fishing license and trout stamp is required and may be purchased prior to the class with check or cash at the shop. Class size is limited to 4 and pre-payment is required. Please give us a call at 410-357-9557 or drop us a line at info@backwaterangler.com to register.

Low, Frigid Flows On The Gunpowder River

Gunpowder River, Falls Rd access at 24 Cfs
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. In an effort to prevent another spillover event, water was released on Wednesday night to create a “storm buffer”. Currently both reservoirs are at full capacity, which creates a lack for the need to release water from Prettyboy Dam. Essentially, once Loch Raven Reservoir is full any water that spills over is lost for drinking water purposes. The City, while managing water for human use, does respond quickly to keep the river cold for the trout. Many anglers lament the lower flows, but water temperature is obviously a much bigger issue than the volume when it comes to the trout’s survival. As water use increases through the Summer, more water may be released. Currently the water is back to 30 CFs, and fluctuating daily between 46 to 55 degrees. Long leaders, thin tippet and a bit of stealth will improve chances of catching the wary wild browns. In the low water many fish will concentrate in the deeper holes and runs. Nymphing, swinging small nymphs, or even sight fishing without an indicator can be effective. Sulphurs and caddis are still the predominant hatches, but anglers can do well fishing ants and beetles on top. The river is ice cold, clear and a great place to escape on a hot day. If the approaching Summer is a dry one, many rivers and streams in the region will become too low and warm to fish. The Gunpowder will be cold and fishable all Summer, and has a large reserve of cold water.