Maryland Fly Fishing

Low Water on The Gunpowder – Think Smaller!

Micahdammeyer Big Gunpowder Falls, fishing, fishing report, Summer, Trout July 25, 2012Big Gunpowder Falls, Big Gunpowder Falls Water Levels, DC Fishing, fly fishing big gunpowder falls, fly fishing gunpowder falls, flyfishing, Gunpowder Falls, Gunpowder Falls fishing report, Gunpowder Falls Fly Fishing Guide, Maryland DNR, Maryland Fly Fishing

IMG_1005 - Copy — Low water turns the riverbed into heat-sink for the Gunpowder.

While flows on the Big Gunpowder Falls are abysmally low, smaller streams in the area are looking nice and full for July. Exposed rocks in the Big Gunpowder falls will raise temps below Masemore Rd. fast on hot sunny days while the Baltimore DPW has the valves cranked low. If you’re headed up to there to fish, focus your efforts above Falls Road to avoid tubers and give the fish down-stream a break while they’re under stress from the herons. I think even the tubers and canoeists will have a tough time with flows below 30cfs.

With that said, the Baltimore/DC regions other streams are looking great for July. The Pax rivers are running a bit stained but there’s fishable water to be found around Savage Mill (a favorite of Micah’s for cloudy water smallies) as well as upstream in the other special regs areas. The brookie streams have more water than can usually be expected this time of year and anglers who brave the high grass with a short rod can find fish. We’ll be out tossing the 7-footers in the tiny creeks this week for sure. This is a great time to grab the swim trunks and a few Clouser Minnows to hit the Potomac and cool off. Early and late are going to be your best bets no matter where you go.

If you’re undecided about where to fish, give us a call this week!

Cold Water and Happy Fish

Micahdammeyer fishing report, Summer, Trout, Uncategorized July 16, 2012Big Gunpowder Falls, DC Fishing, Fishing, fly fishing big gunpowder falls, fly fishing gunpowder falls, flyfishing, Gunpowder Falls Fly Fishing Guide, Maryland, Maryland DNR, Maryland Fly Fishing, Maryland Fly Fishing Guide, Maryland trout fishing, Terrestrial fishing, Terrestrials, Trout

While the hot weather eases-up occasionally, it never seems to go away this July. Knee Deep Fly Fishing is here to help you cool off. Right now is the perfect time to ditch the waders and sport those wading-boots with a pair of neoprene booties and get cool in a tail-water like The Big Gunpowder. While your fishing friends may be driving north to New England the water is running in the 50’s here in Maryland.

IMG_0933c - WM — Staying cool and getting her hands wet!

Outings in the last few weeks have required a lot of patience later in the day (see article about tubing here) but a great assortment of trout-feed has the fish looking up. Caddis, Tricos, beetles and grasshoppers have all fooled trout while anglers kept cool. Big terrestrials fished with a “Fast Caddis” for a dropper have been a winning combo in the riffles. We’ve seen lots of anglers catch their first fly-rod trout in the last few weeks and had quite a few laughs at the tubers floating by. While a few days topped out around 100 degrees, time on the water has been time well spent.

Give Knee Deep Fly Fishing, LLC a call and we can help you find the fish and escape the heat of the city!

IMG_0930c - WM — Proof that trout make people smile!

The Water’s Cold, Wish You Were Here!

Micahdammeyer Big Gunpowder Falls, fishing report June 29, 2012Big Gunpowder Falls, fishing report, fly fishing big gunpowder falls, fly fishing gunpowder falls, fly fishing in hot weather, Gunpowder Falls, Gunpowder Falls Fly Fishing Guide, Gunpowder falls fly fishing report, Gunpowder Falls Guide, Maryland Fly Fishing, Maryland Fly Fishing Guide, Maryland trout fishing, Trout, trout fishing

With the heat setting in, standing in the mid 50’s water on the Big Gunpowder Falls has been a GREAT way to beat the heat. Just recovering from a hot week on the road, Thursday was a great day of fishing before the air temps hit 100. I spent the day sharing some of my favorite parts of the Gunpowder with a great fellow angler and we had success with summer patterns like the classic Elk Hair Caddis and my “fast caddis” fished as a dropper and in tandem wet-fly rigs.

IMG_0891cwm - reduced — Great cold water brown from The Big Gunpowder

Weekdays are a treat on The Big Gunpowder Falls as the crowds are sparse. I was amazed how few anglers were on the water yesterday. The weather forecast may have scared a few folks off but the temps on the water were comfortable. With neoprene booties in my wading boots, I was comfortable going without my waders. An occasional trip into deep water for a snagged fly was refreshing!

If you’re headed out in the heat this weekend/coming week, be sure and pack some water as well as some kind of “sports drink” and travel light. Check your boxes for a few light colored Elk Hair Caddis, bright green larvae for subsurface as well as some trusty PT nymphs and midges. Friends are reporting Tricos but I haven’t been lucky enough to see them. I spotted a few bright green hoppers on the banks and am excited to fish hopper patterns again; nothing else produces such a big splash. It’s going to be hot for a while but the fish don’t seem to mind! Give us a call and we’ll help get you out there.

Tight lines,

Micah

Some Nights

Micahdammeyer Big Gunpowder Falls, fishing report, Uncategorized May 30, 2012Big Gunpowder Falls, DC Fishing, fly fishing big gunpowder falls, Gunpowder, Gunpowder Falls, Gunpowder Falls Fly Fishing Guide, Maryland Fly Fishing, Maryland trout fishing, spinner fall, spinner fall big gunpowder falls, Sulfur hatch, sulfur mayflies, Sulfur spinner fall

IMG_0755WM — Spinner Fall on The Big Gunpowder

Some nights are just better than others. If you can stay late for the next couple weeks, your reward will be spinner falls and big pools to yourself. Pack a few Rusty Spinners and coffee for the ride home. Check out Matt Grobert and Tim Flagler’s Rusty spinners over at Caddis Chronicles. I like mine with an egg sack and a bit of orange foam on top.

Go get your feet wet!

Getting Knee Deep …Late Night

Micahdammeyer Big Gunpowder Falls, fishing report, Mayflies May 22, 2012May 22, 2012Big Gunpowder Falls, Big gunpowder falls spinner fall, Big Gunpowder Falls sulfur hatch, fly fishing big gunpowder falls, fly fishing gunpowder falls, Gunpowder Falls Fly Fishing Guide, Maryland Fly Fishing, Maryland trout fishing, Sulfur hatch, sulfur mayflies, Sulphurs

IMG_0730cWM — This is past your bed-time.

Lots of anglers can put in the 8 hour day or even longer. Other anglers only need 45 minutes to catch as many fish as you did all day. Those anglers are making the most of their time on the water by dialing their fishing hours in to the most productive. The minutes just at dusk can provide some of the hottest action if the conditions are right. In May, anglers on the Big Gunpowder Falls often head home to their dinners and families as those in-the-know are just making their way to the river for the spinner-fall. Having fresh tippet and a straight leader before the light fades is key. A powdered floatant and a headlamp with a red light make a world of difference. Scouting out a place to fish the spinner fall during the day is important though it may take a few nights to find a spot to fish that fits your casting and vision needs.

When booking with Knee Deep Fly Fishing, LLC this month, be sure and let us know if you can stay late into the evening. It’s worthwhile!

2.5 Feet High and Rising

Micahdammeyer Big Gunpowder Falls, fishing report, Fly Tying, Mayflies May 15, 2012Big Gunpowder Falls, Gunpowder, Gunpowder Falls, Gunpowder Falls fishing report, Gunpowder Falls Fly Fishing Guide, Gunpowder Falls high water, Maryland DNR, Maryland Fly Fishing, Maryland Fly Fishing Guide, Maryland trout fishing, Streamer Fishing, Sulfur hatch, sulfur mayflies, Sulfurs, Sulphurs

While the water is high and may get higher today, there are sunny skies in the future forecast. Here at Knee Deep Headquarters, we’ve got a day off the water tying Pheasant Tail nymphs and spinners for when things return to normal.

The prior week was filled with great fishing on The Big Gunpowder Falls. Sulfur emergers, wets, and dry + dropper combinations proved deadly right up until the latest front rolled through, when things slowed down.

If you’re headed out this week, be sure to check the river gauges before you head out. At close to 300 CFS the water is mighty fast. Fishing heavy streamers in the eddies is a great way to stay on the banks and hook up with some big fish. Don’t let stained water scare you away. If you can cast around the rapidly growing vegetation on the banks, you’ll find fish holding on the edges. By late this week, things should calm down.

Tight Lines,

The Knee Deep Team

Keeping Up With The Browns

Micahdammeyer fishing report, Trout, Uncategorized April 30, 2012Big Gunpowder Falls, fly fishing big gunpowder falls, fly fishing gunpowder falls, Gunpowder Falls, Gunpowder Falls Fly Fishing Guide, Maryland Fly Fishing, Maryland Fly Fishing Guide, Maryland trout fishing, Trout

Mixed hatches of caddis and mayflies have stirred up the hungry fish on The Big Gunpowder Falls. While it’s known as a great brown trout fishery, you never know what’s hiding beneath the glare of a riffle…

IMG_0642-001 — It's Not Always About The Browns!

Sometimes, the slashing takes on your elk-hair-caddis are from the toothy end of a beautiful brook trout.

The Big Gunpowder falls is fishing great right now. The week ahead should provide great dry-fly fishing. If you haven’t hit the water yet this year, this is the time to get out and work the kinks out of that old fly-line. Check the flows before you head out; there’s a few thunderstorms in the forecast mid-week. Be sure and have an up-to-date license and trout stamp. If you don’t have one yet, swing by Backwater Angler on the way and have them help you navigate the new Maryland DNR system.

Not sure about heading out on your own? Give us a call or e-mail and get on the calander!

Patuxent River Monday

Micahdammeyer fishing report, Uncategorized April 4, 2012Brighton Dam, CAtch and Release, DC Fishing, Fishing, Fly Fishing, Fly Fishing Patuxent River, flyfishing, Maryland DNR, Maryland Fly Fishing, Maryland trout fishing, Patuxent River trout, Streamer Fishing, Trout

…photos are at the bottom!

I took a ride around the north end of DC to Mongomery/Howard County to fish the Patuxent River. With the whole day to myself, I took the scenic route. This brought me past the Brighton Dam area, which I hadn’t fished since last season, so I decided to pull in and check it out. To my surprise, a stocking truck pulled up and a few volunteers helped toss buckets of fish into the river. It was nice to see fish going in there as it’s a great chunk of catch and release water for the new angler to cut their teeth on. It’s worth checking out after work on a weekday; just don’t stay too late and get locked in by the park staff!

A short run in the truck took me upriver to the Howard’s Chapel Rd crossing and I fished upstream almost to Hipsley Mill Rd. The early spring was giving the rose bushes a head start – I can’t wait to see how my waders hold up on the cold Gunpowder after this run – and the terrestrials too. I didn’t see many of the river’s crayfish but there were Japanese beetles and enough caddis to get me to prospect with an Elk Hair Caddis. I turned over a few rocks and found big mayflies, caddis and scuds in the riffles. I got a chance to watch from a high carved bank as two fish picked their lunch from the current below me and fed on the surface as well as sub-surface while I enjoyed a cigar from our pals over at W. Curtis Draper Tobacconists. Most of my hits and misses came on tan buggers and crayfish patterns despite the fish watch for smaller forage.

If you’re looking to explore this stream that’s right in our backyards, travel light with a few attractor patterns and streamers. If you’ve got some small hand pruners, save yourself some stress and a few scrapes, by tossing them in your wader pouch. Bring a camera to catch the birds and flowers that are popping up a couple weeks behind the city. Cast to the under-cut banks and downfalls and you’ll find lots of fish. Take your time and observe. You’ll be surprised what you discover. I left a few flies in the trees for you! – Micah

[Show as slideshow]

Ready For The Close Up

Micahdammeyer Big Gunpowder Falls, Spring, Uncategorized March 25, 2012Big Gunpowder Falls, DC Fishing, fly fishing big gunpowder falls, fly fishing gunpowder falls, flyfishing, Gunpowder Falls, Hendricksons, Maryland Fly Fishing, Trout

….’nuff said

March Comes in Like Lamb…..

Micahdammeyer Big Gunpowder Falls, Fall, fishing, Fly Tying, Spring, Trout March 22, 2012Big Gunpowder Falls, bugs, DC Fishing, Early Black Stoneflies, fly fishing big gunpowder falls, fly fishing gunpowder falls, flyfishing, Gunpowder, Gunpowder Falls, Gunpowder Falls Fly Fishing Guide, March Trout, Maryland Fly Fishing, Maryland trout fishing, Spring Stoneflies, Spring Stones, Stoneflies, Trout

Last Friday I got a chance to take out some folks for Backwater Angler and show them around on the Gunpowder. A few warm days got the fish excited before our outing and the stoneflies were keeping them busy in the slack-water and eddies. Friday was a little cooler and cloudier than it had been but any time I’m not shoveling snow in March, I’m not going to complain.

Theaux set us up with one of his 5pc Winston 4wts to try out (We brought it back in the original 5 pieces) and we had a great time putting it through its paces. With a few clouds overhead, the water temps flirted with 50 degrees, though it didn’t quite get there for us. Stoneflies and Blue Winged Olives provided the bulk of our action. The father and son duo were good company on the water and, as someone who treasures fishing-time with family, I had fun showing them around. They reminded me a lot of my brothers and I with some good laughs about casting and catching. We landed a few and, with the sunshine peeking out right at the end of the day, it felt like Spring was surely here. It reminds me that I need to put some days on the calender to fish with my own family.

(More below…)

: Tight Lines in March

If you’re headed out this week and weekend, check the weather and the gauges. This gauge has flows AND temps. When it heats up, fishing should be great. Pack some stoneflies, a few Hendricksons and a lunch – make a day of it! Don’t have flies or haven’t renewed your license yet this year? Swing by Backwater and talk to Theaux’s crew. There’s some gold out there (see photo below) and it’s hungry!

Tying your own flies? Knee Deep has some patterns for you. Check out our favorites for spring! Get signed up for the Knee Deep Fly Fishing Newsletter and keep up to date!

Keep your stick on the water!

-Micah