BACKWATER ANGLER

As the frost was turning to vapor, a Bald Eagle flapped noiselessly downstream under the canopy of Poplars and just over the River Birch to drop into a Sycamore snag over a long, green flat. The Gunpowder River is flowing at 157 CFs, is clear and 42 degrees. The River has dropped in flow while warming a bit in temperature the past week. Black Flies are just starting above Falls Rd. Stoneflies are about in the lower river in the #14-16 range and throughout the catch and release section. These flies are tough to see without snow on the ground so as you’re walking the trails check your jacket sleeve every once in a while–then try a quill winged stonefly pattern in the flats and a deer hair stonefly pattern in the riffles. The wild fish have been slow to show themselves on the surface so fishing emergers that imitate the black flies can be an effective way to pass the time until one glimpses a rising fish-use enough split shot on the leader to get stuck in the gravel every half dozen casts. Snowshoe rabbit snow fly patterns are a good bet above Falls Rd. Streamers, dead drifted along log jams and cut banks have resulted in a few larger fish this week, including a 19″ wild Brown that Tom reported today.

The Gunpowder is flowing at 155 Cfs and is 42.5 to 45F throughout the catch and release section. Spillover since mid-September has dramatically changed how anglers are approaching the river. Anglers adjusting to flows above 185 Cfs have been forced to bring along a wading staff use longer leaders in the 10 to 12 ft range and use heavier flies, such as Copper Johns to get to the bottom. Blue winged olives and cream midges are accounting for the majority of the dries present along the river. Little black stoneflies are just starting to show up on warm afternoons so be sure to pick up a few quill winged stoneflies from the muffin tins the next time you’re up visiting the shop.

Thanks to Alex for the stream report and photos he put together during his winter break:

Theaux
I spent a few afternoons on the Gunpowder throughout the past week. The water has been fluctuating around 200 cfs with rain and spillover. However, the spillover has led to colder than normal temperatures for this time of the year, as the water is in the upper 40s. I have mostly fished from Masemore Road upstream towards the Dam. On warmer days, black midges in the # 20-24 range have been coming off. Deep nymphing has been my approach to the higher flows. San juan worms, small hairs ears, and zebra midges have picked up a few fish on long 6x leaders. Make sure you carry split shot with you. This time of the year, you want to be ticking the bottom as the fish won’t move too much for a meal. I have also picked up a few fish on white and vanilla streamers. Stripping them in the back-eddies or swinging them through riffles has worked for me.

-Alex

Thanks to Kevin for sending in a stream report and wishes of holiday cheer!

Theaux,

Just wanted to say thanks for the info regarding the Gunpowder. Chick and I hit the sections you suggested from dam down to the bridge at Big Falls Road over the day and ½ we had to fish. Friday (upper section Masemore Rd to the Dam) was much more productive than Sat (York to Big Falls Rd). We landed a mix of Browns and Bows on Friday but had only two small Browns on Sat. Water looked perfect but we either missed the timing, set up or they just were not interested. We struggled to even spot many fish in the lower section. We wanted to make a stop at the shop and thank you in person before we left on Sat but time got away from us and we had to hit the road back home. Looking forward to seeing you again and spending more time exploring the river.
Thanks again and have a wonderful Holiday.

Tight Lines,
Kevin

The Gunpowder River is 49.5 F and is coming down from 336 Cfs today. This bright rainbow, released by Megan Lewatowski fell for a BWO nymph as the river was quieting down and flowing in the mid 200’s. Last weekend we had several reports that fish were moving on streamers. Blue Winged Olives were coming off and fish were taking snowshoe rabbit patterns in the flat water and pools. With more rain and a dusting of snow midweek the river started acting like a freestone again, moving up from 2.32 Ft and 196 CFs to 4.03 Ft and 665 Cfs. If you’re heading out this weekend leave the three weight in the truck, be sure to bring a wading staff and plan on fishing a five or six weight. The river has been clearing all week as the reservoir just turned over. Fishing streamers with a sink-tip line or Airflo sinking Polyleader might be in order, will be a lot easier to cast than a streamer with three BB shot and will allow the fly to drift rather than swing. With a few warm days ahead of us anglers interested in fishing through the afternoons this weekend should connect in the back eddies and flat water with Mike Bachkosky’s BWO unusuals and “Phunny” emergers from the muffin tins. Longer leaders are a must when the water is up-so try a 12ft 6x with the dries and emergers to allow for better drifts over fish that are holding behind woody debris and along shallow edges.