Great Feathers is a Baltimore and Gunpowder River area brick and mortar fly shop staffed by fly fishermen and fly tiers with a passion for the sport. Our blog posts provide you with the latest stream reports on the Gunpowder and interesting posts on fly fishing anf fly tying information.
Conditions on the Gunpowder are high but improving. Because we have had a great deal of rain over the past few weeks, the flows have fluctuated pleanty. As of this morning, Falls Rd. was a little dingy and the flow was at 216cfs. The temperature is a balmy 58 degrees. At Glencoe Rd., the flow was at 512cfs and the temperture was 59 degrees. As you can tell from the two photos, the lower river and most all of the smaller streams are mucked with poor clarity and debris.
Due to the influx of rain the flows are stiff and a little more technical than usual. Water coming over the dam will create significant volume on the northern section and great care should be taken if you are wading. Any flows above 200cfs up top should not be underestimated! Please be sure of your footing and respect the water when the conditions are like this. Clarity is not perfect, but the river is very fishable. The bugs are getting more visible and hatches are becoming more prolific. Sulphurs are starting to be seen, but not peaking. Caddis and stones have still being seen and their patterns have been successful. Dries are also getting better attention. Nymphs and wets are still producing great results.
The lower river and the feeder streams are worse due to the vast amounts of run-off. Clarity is in inches. If you are fishing these sections, streamers in dark colors will prompt strikes. Debris in the water will create headaches for any drifts and wading should be done with care. Large logs and sticks have cut loose and can present dangerous obstacles in the water column. Waders should be wary of submerged debris.
The rains should be abating over the next few days and the conditions will improve relatively quickly. The upper river should relax and conditions will be great by the weekend...barring any more sustantive precipitation. When you get to the river, be aware of what is flying before you step in. Surface activity has been improving. Dry caddis have been working but wets and nymphs are still getting the most attention. Grouse and Herl, soft-hackle pheasant tails, hares ear and copper john are the tried and true. Keep the dries handy!
