Gunpowder River, Baltimore Co., MD, st2/27/18

[dc410]

Stopped by the Gunpowder for about an hour yesterday afternoon. It was flowing at 36 CFS and water temp was 44 degrees. Several degrees warmer than I expected.

I noticed a few rises and several Little Black Stoneflies in the area and on the water. I would describe the hatch as being sporadic but it definitely had the trout looking up. I spent the next half hour or so watching the wild brownies chasing down the skittering naturals with some of those classic splashy LBS rises. I missed a few, stung a few and finally brought my first trout of 2018 to hand on a Little Black Stonefly pattern on top. It was a great way for me to start out the year. The action was short lived but I feel I was very fortunate to actually be on the water that day at the exact time when the water temperature peaked. It's always great to be able to witness some LBS activity as it is a really neat hatch.

 

[Swattie87]

LBS's - It's good to know Trout actually eat those darn things! I've been on Brookie streams in late Winter on nice days with those things all over the banks. I fish an imitation of one and it's ignored, but the next drift through they'll eat a Royal Wulff...I know...silly Gemmies.

 

[redietz]

Swattie87 wrote:
LBS's - It's good to know Trout actually eat those darn things!

They do, especially on tailwaters like the Gunpowder where the water temps are a bit warmer than on freestones and the fish are active enough to chase them down. They're a moving target. I've had several good days so far this year fishing over them (as well as one with little brown stones.)

 

[Wild_Trouter]

I just fished a mixed pop stream and saw the splashy LBS rises in some frog water. I threw the two patterns I had at them, and couldn't buy a hit even though they look like a dead ringer for the natural. I switched back to Royal Stimy #14 and cleared the stretch with three fish to hand. Left me shaking my head for sure.

 

[tewart]

Is the DITMO still excessive?

 

[redietz]

I don't know about above Falls Road, but I've fished from Masemore downstream to York Rd regularly over the last month, and have seen NO didymo. The high flows in early winter may have flushed the bloom for this year. (Right now is when it's usually the worst.)

 

[ryansheehan]

It's above falls right now, I would call it somewhere between mild and moderate for the GP.