Gunpowder Stream Report and Great Feathers Fly Shop Blog

Fall conditions are in full effect. The good freeze last night will bring the balance of the leaves to the river in short order. The flows are still a liitle up but have been dropping consistantly for the past week and there is little rain in the forcast to bump them up. Parkton is at 86cfs and Glencoe is at 200cfs. The temps are hovering around 42 to 44 degrees. The water is "gin clear"! This means you need to approach the water deftly and with stealth.

The fish are active and feeding for the spawn and the winter weather ahead. When the water was higher and milky, streamers are the flies to use. We have been experimenting with colors and patterns and have had gotten great results. Buggers, matukas, and bunny streamers proved to bring the best results. Small tan caddis in 16, 18 and 20, BWO's, small black stones and midges have been working on the surface. Bugs are getting smaller and sometimes it proves nearly impossible to see exactly what the fish are taking. Changing flies several times may be necessary to find that right fly. Nymphs to use include pheasant tails in 18-22, black pheasant tails, 16-20, caddis pupa, 16-20, and hares ears, light and dark, 16-22. Midges are going to be more popular to the fish throughout the colder months.