Gunpowder Falls Re-Attack

The adrenaline hit of a strike is addictive, so it wasn't long after the Idaho trip I started planning a return to the water and a chat with Henry led to a re-attack of GunPowder Falls. Last trip to the Gunpowder, one of the top tail waters on the East Coast was challenging with high water and little knowledge leading to a frustrating day -- today would be different.   

Gunpowder Falls at low flow 



Note: tight contour lines = deep gorge

With the Falls at late summer low-flow (32 fps) and at a trout-happy 52 degree from Pretty Boy Dam we met at the upper section at 0645 to begin our adventure.   The character of the Falls changes dramatically with the release volume and at low flow we found that a 3-wt was perfect for as we planned on throwing both small Trico's and double dropper rigs  into the deeper holes.  Gene, who we met last trip, from Backwater Angler reported that the Trico Hatch was bringing some trout to the surface to feed in the morning.   Henry geared up similarly and we made out way into the water as the first rays of sun began to drip their way into deep hardwood forest gorge.

After trying several different combinations we found that the best producer was a size 20 zebra midge under a strike indicator.  The bite wasn't fast but it was there as small wild rainbows and browns sipped those midges.   The gorgeous rainbow above sipped my midge and from a deep hole, the only sign of the strike was the indicator not returning to the surface after exiting a whirlpool, a loud shout brought Henry and his net and two smiling faces.

Time and again I wonder if the next hole can get prettier than the last, and the upper Gunpowder does not disappoint.

Henry works a brown at the end of a long run.

The Upper Gunpowder, defined as above Falls Road is not stocked like the trophy section below Falls road and at this flow looks remarkably like the lower Rapidan.

Henry and I both caught a half dozen of these wild, eager little jewels.

Brown trout = salmo trutta

When it became too crowded on the the upper Gunpowder we decided to take advantage of the warmer and (i thought) wider water on the lower gunpowder.   I'd eyed it greedily from 95 often enough and Henry and I agreed that it would be a good opportunity to scout it for smallies.  Some googling later we decided on a rock-strewn stretch just east of 95 off Distillery Road.



Unfortunately Maryland must have been filling up Loch Haven Reservoir West of Baltimore as the flow on the lower gunpowder was only a fraction of the already low flow on the upper GP.  The pool below where you can see Henry working in a smallie was the only significant water we found.

This Striper, trapped in Henry's pool fell victim to a golden retriever as so many do.