Lew’s Fishing Update

Ocean City Update May 20

 It’s that time of year again, and I have made my annual migration to Ocean City, MD for a summer of fishing trips on the Maryland coast.  Each year we fish for a variety of species along in the coastal bays and inshore waters of the Atlantic Ocean.  Some of our common target species are stripers , bluefish, sea trout, flounder, tautog, and sea bass among others.   

We began fishing over the weekend with hopes to catch some stripers, blues, and shad on the fly.  These fish are common fly rod targets in the back bays  each spring. But, as is fishing, the weather put a damper on those plans as we were dealt 20 to 30 kt winds which have continued blowing all week.   We adapted our techiniques an went fishing for flounder in the South Bay for flounder where we the water remained clear and fishable despite the wind.  We managed to land some nice flounder fishing jigs and fishfinder rigs along channel edges.  The flounder fishing has continued to be pretty good all week. 

The weather is set to improve as the week moves on into the holiday weekend as should he fishing conditions.  The tautog bite has been great on the near shore wrecks and I hope to take advantage of this on some of the next few trips.  Cleaner water and less wind will offer some fly rod fishing also.  I’ll keep you posted.

Gunpowder River Fly Fishing Update

Finally, we have some good water flows in the Gunpowder due to spillover at the Prettyboy Reservoir Dam.  And imagine that, the trout fishing has been awesome.  We have seen good hatches of caddis for the last week along the river.  The fish have been anxious to take the bugs, most of which are olive bodied in a size 16.  They work on the dead drift or on the skitter.  Here are a few shots of some fish we took on Friday while fishing caddis near the dam.

Sulfurs have started hatching also and offered even more good dry fly fishing.  Look for both the sulfurs and caddis in and near the riffles throughout the stream.  Pick up some of our favorite local fly patterns at the Backwater Angler fly shop in Monkton.

Get out there and fish!  Now is the time. Leave work and worry behind for the day.  I fished the my last 2 trips on the Gunpowder above Falls Rd. during the week her in May.  We caught fish steady both days and never saw another angler.  Thats nuts!  Stream flows are at 120 as of today, perfect for fishing.

April 6 

We started fishing on the Susquehanna Flats this week.  Despite being open since March 1, the fishing is just now getting under way due to turbid water and cool water temps. Each year we deal with the same condition issues on the flats so you get pretty used to the unpredictable nature of the fishery. This week surface water temps hung in the mid 40’s to just over 50 degrees in a few spots yesterday afternoon.  The water clarity ranged from one foot of visibility to an easy 2 feet in other areas. 

The fishing was spotty to say the least.  As typical the folks who choose to fish with cut or live baits are managing to catch some fish.  The bait fishing was pretty consistent  from all reports I recieved and from what I saw this week.  Catching them on lures and flies, however, was another story.  I had to cover lots of water to catch some fish.  Most of our success was in shallow water, from 3 to 8 feet.  We caught all of our fish this week on lures, large lures.  The biggest swimming plugs we could throw brought the most success.  All of the fish we landed were large, 34 inches+.  We landed one Friday close to 35 lbs.  Bites were few and far between.  Hopefully this is just the beggining of some good fishing to come.

 This nice 20 lber fell for a 7″Bomber  swimming plug in chrome/blue.  We have yet to land one on a fly yet this week, but I’m sure it’s only a day away.  Water conditions are improving daily, and with a little luck we’ll have some awesome fishing this coming week. 

 Gunpowder River Quick Update

I have guided several trips on the Gunpowder River in the past week or two.  Though ater flows are still low, the fishig in areas has been great.  We saw some awesome midge fishing on the upper river last week and were able to land good numbers of fish on each outing while fishing a variety of midge patterns.  Dark midge patterns in gray and black fished dry on a 7x leader worked well on risers, as did pupae patterns fished short under an indicator.  A bead head zebra midge in a 22 gray worked great. 

I ‘ll keep you posted.  Jeff

Last week’s unseasonal temps made for some unusual January fishing opportunities. I ventured out to western Maryland one morning to the Savage River to fish on a day with near 70 degree temps. Western Maryland seldom sees temps like this through the winter months. Though water temps were chilly in the low 40s the sun and warm air woke some trout up just enough. I started fishing nymphs in the fly fishing only stretch of the Trophy Trout Area. In the first half hour or so I managed 2 nice brookies and about a 10 inch brown. I fished a pair of black bead head phesant tails in a size 18. Not long after I dropped a really nice brown on the same rig. Here’s a couple that I caught.

The fishing was spotty, but I managed several more trout through the day, mostly brook trout.  I took a couple of fish on small dries as I saw some risers where the sun was hitting the water and a few midges were present.  Altogether a great way to spend a Winter day.  I got a good report from an angler who fished the upper Savage and also managed to catch some nice brook trout.   Flows were about 140-150 and wading, as always on the Savage, a real trick.  Keep an eye on the weather and you will be suprised at some of the great winter trout fishing when the temps are 50 and above for a few days with a high sun.

Happy 2008!

Gunpowder River January Fly-Fishing

The Gunpowder River typically offers some great winter fly-fishing opportunities.  This new year has been a little tough, however, due mostly to really low water lows. The river is currently running at a mere 20 cfs, near our minimum flow.  The trout are holding in the deepest pools and tightest spots and are a bit spooky. 

If you go, plan to fish stretches of stream with deeper lies, and fish slow and deep.  Of course, fishing can change in an instant so it’s always worth a shot.  With any luck, and a bunch of rain or snow, we’ll see some rising water flows towards late winter and have some improved fishing and conditions.

Typical winter hatches include stoneflies and blackflies, so keep an eye out for them in coming weeks on warmer sunny days.

Winter Fly Tying Videos

This season on the update I will include some short video clips which highlight some of our favorite local fly patterns.  I hope you enjoy the clips, and I plan to continue posting videos throughout the year as we get fishing. Check back often for a first hand look at the fishing. The video posts willl be some of my first efforts, so bear with me as I learn the ropes.

This week’s featured video clip showcases one of my favorite winter nymphs to fish on the Gunpowder, the red butt.

Click To Play

For those of you who would like to learn how to tie flies, check in with our local fly shop Backwater Angler for their winter Fly Tying Class schedule. Expert tyers will instruct you in the techniques necessary to tie some of the most popular flies and saltwater fly patterns. They also have a full selecion of fly tying tools and materials.

Hope everyone had a great New Year! Thanks for checking in. Feel free to comment below on any post or with any questions. Hope to see you out fishing soon. Jeff

We’ll if you have waited all year to get out fishing, now is the time.  The fall brings us some of the best fly fishing of the season around Maryland and the Delmarva Coast.  By far my favorite time of year to fish, I spend lots of time both on the trout streams around the state, and on the Chesapeake Bay chasing Stripers on their way south for the winter season.  The fishing stays great well into the late fall and early winter, so don’t put your fly rods away yet.  Now is the time to fish.

Cheasapeake Bay Fall Fly Fishing Update

The fishing in and around some of my favorite spots on the Bay has been slow getting started for the fall.  Water temps have been really warm for this time of the year, and the normal push of baitfish and fall stripers have been slow to arrive.  Up until the last day or two water temps were still 72 -75 degrees.  I’m sure the last few cool nights have dropped temps a bit, and I hope to see some better fishing any day now.  To be fair, I have spent much more time fishing trips on the Gunpowder than on the bay, but my last few times out the fishing has been lackluster targeting mostly the Middle Chesapeake.   I know the folks fishing live bait have been catching some decent fish, but the typical bunches of bait and breaking fish we like to fish on the fly are just showing up.  I postponed a few trips this past week, but will fishing hard here the next few days.  I will keep you posted with some pics and updates on the fishing.  I hope to contact those of you who fish with me often as things get hot.  Hope to see you out this fall.

Gunpowder River Update

Stream flows on the Gunpowder remain high due to the need for water in Loch Raven Reservoir.  300 as of yesterday. With high flows , however, comes some good fishing so get out there while you can.  I have seen some of the biggest fish I have seen in years get caught the last few weeks on the Gunpowder.  Several over 20 inches ( check some out at www.backwaterangler.com )  Streamers and nymphs are still working well as I reported recently.  The fall is always good fishing as our steambred browns get aggresive and are adorned with their spawning colors. Here are a few shots of some pretty Gunpowder browns. 

Also pictured is a kamloops strain rainbow trout that you might come across while ishing the upper river. The rainbows were stocked as fingerlings with hopes of starting some new rainbow trout reproduction in the river.  We already have some limited rainbow reproduction. Good Luck Fishing.

Great Flows ,Trout Fishing on the G.P.

As I have reported the last month or so, the fishing on the G.P. has been great, again due mostly to excellent stream flows.  Flows have been steady due to the lack of rain and the need for water in Loch Raven Reservoir.  For now, a good thing as we still have a good clip of water in Prettyboy, athough losing capacity each day.  Some good rain would really help our cause heading into the fall. Unfortunately for the last few days, flows have been way up around 350 cfs, making wading a tough chore.  However, the fishing remains good, just be careful if you go. 

I’ve spent most of the last three weeks taking trips on the Gunpowder.  We have had ssteady morning hatches of tricos and caddis all through September, offering lots of dry fly action.  The fish taking the tricos are tough, as they tend to the glassy water making them tough to fool.  You can find fish rising to caddis in most of the riffles making for a bit easier fishing.   I like a size 16 x caddis overall in tan or olive as a go to fly.  Keep it floating high.  Had some success last week during a hatch of flying ants.  A snowshoe winged ant pattren w/ a brown body took fish during this episode which I see from time to time. 

Overall , though, I stick to nymphing for the most consistent fishing.  Day in day out nymphs will catch you ots of fish on the Gunpowder.   I like a size 16 pheasant tail fished in a dropper rig along with another larger attractor type nymph, you pick.  Don’t be afraid to use some weight.  Most of the time you need more, not less weight.  I always use an indicator too, and strike at anything.  Most of the sports I have had fishing in the last few weeks have been able to catch using the high stick nymphing method. 

I have spent much of the last week fishing trips with folks on the Gunpowder.   We have been real lucky this August, and so far this month, to have great stream flow levels.  The moderate flows ranging from about 100 to 140cfs have been cause for some great trout fishing.  I have argued for years that if we only had these moderate stream flows all season, our already awesome trout fishery would become even better.  I have guided fisherman on the Gunpowder for 13 years, and can say for sure that the fish feed more actively, and the fishing is ten fold better during these periods.  We always seem to catch more and larger trout , and I don’t even mind flows up to 200.  That said, the fishing  has been great, when you fish early and late and stay away from traffic.  We saw great hatches of both tricos and caddis all of the last 2 weeks especially in the early morning hours.  For those naysayers who don’t think we have tricos on the Gunpowder, you obviously aren’t morning people.  We had swarms of tricos from 7:30 to 9:30 am all last week.  The caddis were hatching right in the mix, tans and olives in size 16.  The fish usually take the tricos in the slacker water, caddis in the riffles. 

We caught lots of trout, browns from 6 to 16 inches, and lots of the newest stocked fingerling Kamloops rainbows while fishing above Falls Rd.  Our best flies were a sixe 16 x caddis in tan, and a 20 reverse hackle trico.  Mid day a pair of pheasant tail nymphs in a dropper rig worked fine.  Get out there and fish while it is good.  Go during the week, if you can’t, go early am on the weekends . 

We had some more good fishing this week on the Maryland coast when the weather gave us a chance to get out fishing.  Lots of the same as last week.  We are still catching lots of schoolie stripers with a few blues in the mix too.  Didn’t do a whole lot of fly rodding this week though.  Caught a bunch of stripes up to 24 or so inches on jerkbaits.  We have been slamming them on the Rapala xraps in 5 inch.  I really like these baits in depths to 8 feet or on structure.  

Wreck fishing has been great for me all spring.  The tautog bite has been steady, and were catching great sea bass to when the weather has let me get to some deeper water.  Got a great look at a  100 + lb spinner shark free jumping yesterday only 75 yards from the boat.  We came back with a good catch of togs. Flounder fishing has been hit or miss, but we have had a couple great days.

Will Messett and Nick Bane are pictured above left with a nice 6 lb tautog caught on a sand flea on a near shore wreck. Nick took this one home whole because he said his Mom never beleives he catches anything when he goes fishing. They are pictured again on the right with their buddies Greg Sund and Dan Anderson with a some more of their catch from the morning. Nice job fellas.

Dan Levan caught this 22 inch striper while fishing a jerkbbait near the rt. 50 bridge.  He caught several more near the jetties too.

Gunpowder River Update

I spent several days early this week fly fishing the Gunpowder River. Fishing has been consistent all Spring on the Gunpowder. Flows were near 80 cfs until mid week. We had some good dry fly action on the Upper River using Sulfurs and terrestrials. We also had some great success on streamers.  Sculpin patterns in olive and balck, and purple and black were producing loads of strikes and some good fish.  Water levels are down near 35 cfs now, but the fish are still looking up.  Terrestrials a great bet.

Ron Tutrone landed several browns on sculpins including he one below.                                   

Here’s Mom with her first trout on the fly. She caught 5 her first time out. Love you Mom!

  We’ll, since we can’t seem to get started striper fishing due to weather, we’ve been spending lots of time fishing the Gunpowder.  As I reported last week, the blackfly hatch on the upper reaches of the river has provided much of the action.  The fish are particularly  selective during this hatch, so you have to get creative with things.  I generally start with small dries in the size 20-22 range, and sometimes go as small as 24.  A pattern gray with black ribbing works good with a cdc or sparse antron wing.  sometimes I fish a pair of them, one bigger so I can see them.  At other times I will put the slightest amount of indicator putty about 6 inches above the fly if I have a hard time seeing it. 

I got these pics of Charles Cooper and Jason Du Pont while they were fishing above Falls Rd.

If the dries just don’t work, you can always add a little bit of weight and fish your dries as nymphs/emergers under  a short indicator.  This technique was responsible for many of the trout these fellows caught this day.  Typical of the Gunpowder, not always monster trout, but unique in that they are streambred.  10-12 inchers are the norm, but always some big ones around. The blackflies will start to taper off with warmer weather, but we will look forward to our early Spring mayfly hatches.  Quill Gordons, and Hendricksons  will bw the first to appear.  For any of your Gunpowder River Fly-Fishing needs, be sure to stop by the Backwater Angler in Monkton MD.  Our riends there have the latest stream info. and best local fly patterns.