Gunpowder Falls, Baltimore County, MD, 01/15/2010

[3wt7X]

I took the trip down to the the gunpowder today with the hopes of teaching a new fly fisherman some pointers. Unfortunately, he got sick early in the day and I ended up fishing alone. The air temps were in the upper 40s maybe reaching the lower 50s. The water was very cold, I did not get a reading, but I would estimate it around the low 40s. I did not see hardly any bug activity and if I said it there was a sparse midge hatch, it would be the overstatement of the decade. I even checked the banks for tiny black stones, but I did not see any.

I started by nymphing the various runs with a small bugger as a point fly and a zebra midge trailer, but I could not move a fish. Around 1pm I switched to a white zonker strip streamer that had some crystal flash and I stuck four wild browns. All beautiful fish, the biggest being around 12in. I had a lot of follows and I pulled the fly on a large fish, but it was neat watching him stalk my fly nearly 15 feet as it swang down and across. Overall, a beautiful day on the water. I will post pictures once I can get my computer to read my memory card, and I can assure you all that I've disinfected my waders.

 

[3wt7X]

Here are the pics from that trip...So you can see the white zonker strip fly that I was throwing.

 

[PaulG]

3w7x

A couple of very nice GP fish!

PaulG

 

[Daren]

3wt,
Speaking of disinfecting waders, did you run into any problems getting didymo on yer fly. I havent been over there in a few weeks or so but i did not see very much of that junk the last time. I remember either last winter or the winter previous the "snot" was terrible in the upper parts of the gunny. That stuff really scares the hell outta me, i see far too many guys come off of that river without washing and i have to say something to them and they have no idea what im talking about.
Nice fish btw. The Gunny gives me the skunk more than any other place i go!

 

[pennsadventures]

great looking fish. this is one stream that is on my to do list for the spring

 

[3wt7X]

Daren,
I fished a little ways downstream from the dam and I did not have any problems with the didymo on my fly itself. I really dislike that stuff, and I've set aside a pair of waders and boots, just to fish the rivers affected by it. I still clean those waders after every use and I disinfect my reel, net and fly line.

 

[1wt]

3wt,
Way to go!
I've always had better luck in big water with a streamer.
I usually move up to a 3wt with high water and only use my 1wt with skinny water and tiny flies.
Great pix..... thanks so much.

 

[BelAirSteve]

Daren wrote:
3wt,
Speaking of disinfecting waders, did you run into any problems getting didymo on yer fly. I havent been over there in a few weeks or so but i did not see very much of that junk the last time. I remember either last winter or the winter previous the "snot" was terrible in the upper parts of the gunny. That stuff really scares the hell outta me, i see far too many guys come off of that river without washing and i have to say something to them and they have no idea what im talking about.
Nice fish btw. The Gunny gives me the skunk more than any other place i go!

The late season storms and spillover from the dam have increased flows such that the didymo has not been as bad this year. You are right about last year...nymphing above Falls Road was impossible.

 

[Daren]

Penns,
Be sure to try the Gunny come sulphur time, the water boils with rising trout. Just make sure you stay until 930 or later, the best action is at dark but a lot of people leave before it gets too dark to make the walk back out and miss a lot of fun

 

[midgeman]

Although the Gunpowder has had some bad news over the last couple of years, here is a sucess "relative". The MDDNR transplanted 150 browns from the Gunny a couple years back into Beaver Creek. Beaver Creek is a spring creek in the Cumberland Valley of Maryland. These fish were caught in the Put and take section above the FF section and they are now reproducing. I caught them on 1/17. Beaver Creek is an interesting stream where the state (for many years now) stocks the most fertile spawing area with bows and allows AT/bait/creel regulations. Below this section is an extensive stream restoration project where the ff only section is located. Below the ff only section is a private club where feeders (3 of them) are set up to "trap" state stocked fish. These fish grow to gigantic sizes, much like steel head, and do venture up stream into the ff only section. I know many people in the ff community are frustrated by the way things are, but it is what it is. So, for that matter here's some Gunny Browns

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[Dale49]

Midgeman,

I love the Gunny. Was there yesterday and did pretty well before the rain. Yesterday, I estimated that I caught a least 4 generations of fish. Fish it from top (dam) to around Glencoe.

I agree with you about Beaver. If it were better managed, it would be a top flight stream.

 

[3wt7X]

Midgeman,
Beaver creek is a five minute drive from me...I agree that it has some nice fish, but it really does not handle pressure well and it is no where near the fisheries that are in the Cumberland Valley (Falling Springs, Letort, Big Spring). They are planning some stream improvements in the lower fly fishing area, which should help, but the insect activity is fairly weak and wild browns are pretty sparse.

 

[midgeman]

Dale,
I also love the Gunpowder, I used to fish it 5 times a week for 3 years. I know everytime I take a trip, regardless of the time of year, that I'll get one on top. I noticed a major change in the fish population when the storms in the summer of 07 flushed out the major wood jams across the river. The number of large rainbows (which are stocked as fingerings) and browns decreased, how ever the insect population, IMO, wasn't effected. One thing about the browns in the Gun, although they are small, you get a decent fight. And if one happens to hook into one over 16 inches....LOOK OUT!!!

I found this one last winter, there are monsters in there 😉 I found it right below the dam.




3x7wt,

The wooded section restoration improvement is just what is needed. I look forward to the day when the stream is properly managed and agreements are reached with the property owners from the mill and up. On the matter of insect life, although it appears weak compared to other Cumberland Valley streams, I have found that fishing "hatches" is not a relable tactic. I believe that there is plenty of food to go around, I've strained the stream before and after the upper improvement. It has all the right stuff, likewise the wooded section. I always enjoy my time there with the cows LOL!

 

[Dale49]

Midgeman,

Very nice fish. I noticed that in 08 that the fish I caught were smaller than 07. I have experienced that some of the upper river rainbows have found their way down to York Road and below.

I agree with you about the fight the browns put up. I love when they go airborne. I think this may be a good year at the Gun.

Dale