Heading out to the Gunpowder River? Check out the most recent report of the stream from Mike Slepesky
If you want to put some of the skills I mention in this blog to the test, reach out to mike@tightliningmd.com to schedule a trip. Also, I have a few hats left over, on a discount/flash sale. Head over to the store to check them out! Thanks to all who supported! Tight lines and I hope you gain something from reading this.
Current Stream Temps- 35-42 degrees! COLD, but fishable.
Current Stream Levels- 32cfs; levels are low and we need water. Central MD is in a 10" deficit over the last 14 months!
Current Bugs- BWO, Midges, Stoneflies emerging as well!
Use the advice below to help you net a few more fish the next time you step out on the water!
Tip #1 - K.I.S.S.
I sell flies on my website. Each pattern I sell is important to me. I fish them all and have caught countless fish on each pattern. However, have you ever heard the phrase:
"Pretty flies catch fisherman, not fish"
I don't fully agree with this, as one of our fish yesterday was taken on a Blow Torch nymph, which is one of my favorite attractors from now until summer. However, the mantra "Keep It Simple Stupid", or K.I.S.S., will always be something I consider. The very first fish of the year for the guide service, pictured below, was taken on a sz. 16 Walt's Worm.
If you ask experienced anglers, they will flat out tell you the Walt's Worm is a staple in their box. Fellow guide, author, and friend of mine, Josh Miller, of Trout Yeah Guide Service and coach of the USA Youth Fly Fishing team, swears by this fly! He personally fished and guided with just Walt's Worm variations for an ENTIRE YEAR! The reason this works is the fly looks like so many different bugs, specifically a cress or sow bug. These bugs are found in ALL types of watersheds and therefore fish are always eating them.
The key to success, profile, color, and weight. If you present the fly well, they will eat. Thankfully an above average Gunpowder Brown fell prey to the Walt's Worm to kick off the guide season. Cheers to many more!
Hot Flies for yesterday's trip:
Tip #2 - Don't just look for wintering holes.....
Typically, many anglers will tell you fish the deep slow stuff in the winter, and they would be right. However, please do not fall prey to "groupthink". I do believe fish are in those holes, and you can catch them. However, many other people are probably fishing the same way.
On yesterday's trip, ALL of our 5 fish landed, which is an above average day in these conditions, were all caught in one to one and half feet of moving water in riffles/runs. Although these are usually where I target fish in the spring-fall, it doesn't mean they won't sit in this type of water, even this time of year.
The biggest fish we nymphed up, around 11-12", a long thing fish, was found in about one and half feet of water and a really choppy section. We needed to adjust our weight/bead size in order to get down to this fish. However, once we did, we pulled out a quality fish to kick off the guide season.
To end the trip we caught 3 fish in the same riffle that was only about a foot deep. There was a fish rising, fish actively moving around on the bottom. Our takes/eats were aggressive and fish were happy to play along as water temps had risen about 4-5 degrees through the day. Something to consider, when out on the water in the winter, is even the slightest bump in water temps, only a degree or two, can trigger small hatches and thus the fish to "wake up".
Tip #3 - BEEF IT UP!
While on a recent guide trip, I was able to wet a line. As we were working up stream, toward the next riffle/run, I put on a White Jig Streamer. Well, as fate would have it, a nice 13" brown came out and devoured my presentation. It was an aggressive eat, he moved a decent way for the, and was fully committed. I love the white color in the fall-winter because it imitates a baitfish and they can take advantage of swooping in on what looks like injured prey. Moreover, I include a red hot spot, near the bead, just in case it appears like blood to them and entices them that much more.
Bugs have not really started to become a staple yet in their diet. Winter is a great time to experiment with your streamer game. I would suggest white and olive this time of year. You are looking for something natural looking and worth their time to chase down. The Sculp Snack is the perfect profile to potentially get yourself an above average fish!
Tip #4 - Spring is right around the corner......
March should be a transition month. I suspect, given the ice, cold, and difficult conditions, fish will gorge themselves in the coming weeks. If we can get rain, see consistent temps rising, I would bet we are in for a very active spring. What we need to avoid is added drought conditions. If we see even the smallest bump in flows and elevated temps it will be GAME ON! These fish had to eat to survive this winter. However, they didn't get to freely act as they normally would. Therefore, they should be in calorie deficit mode and ready to catch up! By April, we should be in full swing. Just don't miss out on chances if March, if you can get out there.
Get your boots wet and chase down some fish!
I hope this report, with tips included, helps you the next time you head out to the Gunpowder River. Be sure to head over to my Youtube Channel and see the latest adventure, head over to the store for euro nymphs for your next outing, and consider booking a trip for the spring/summer through the website.
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