Gunpowder River Report: 7/14/25
- Tight Lining MD
- 1 day ago
- 5 min read
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. I have ONE available date left in August! Also, I have a few hats left over, on a discount/flash sale. Also, all flies are 10% OFF with code "Summer10". 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- 50-62 degrees. PERFECT temps!
Current Stream Levels- 76-225 CFS; levels are inconsistent, to say the least. There has been a lot of necessary back and forth with the levels of the Gunpowder. However, it is holding steady at 140 CFS, which is an AWESOME level for July!
Current Bugs- BWO, Midges, Sulphur's, and Caddis and now Terrestrials are out!
Use the advice below to help you net a few more fish the next time you step out on the water!
Tip #1 - Flows are up, gotta get those bugs down!
Well, I didn't have 200 CFS as a consistent flow for July on my bingo card, did you? That is just okay with me though. I would much rather 200 CFS than 30 CFS we usually have in July. As a result, I am fishing a lot of two fly rigs. Some examples of what I have been using:
Tandem Nymph rigs with.....
-Sz 14 CDC France and Sz 14 Mustard Walts
-Sz 14 Sexy Walts and Sz 14 Blow Torch
-Sz 14 Green Weenie and Sz 16 Standard Walts
The difference between a good angler and a great one is one split shot, according to Joe Humphreys. My interpretation, in flows like we current have, your day can be made or broken by just getting the weight of your flies right. Some days, it is going up or down just one size, on your fly/bead, or fishing two flies instead of one. That has been the difference in a couple fish on trips, as compared to dozens.
Tip #2 - Terrestrial Season is upon us
July is the start of terrestrial season. Just recently, a fellow guide, Todd Bosley, noticed an inchworm falling from a tree during a lunch break. Therefore, it is Green Weenie season, and boy can it be a good time to fish them. I typically like them in a sz 16. However, if the flows are up, try a sz 14 and hang on!
Also, I just wrapped up the first ever Dry Dropper Clinic for my business. It was a blast sharing a stream with 3 great anglers, all of whom caught trout on our journey on the water. We tagged a NICE 15-16" fish as well that came off right at the net. However, we learned some valuable lessons and will be back to get him next time! During our time on the water, two patterns worked great. One was the Clueless Caddis, by Josh Miller. I got two during demo and one was while I was releasing the first fish! Also, the Bionic Ant, by Lance Egan was another killer pattern that fish were rising too. I can vouch that ants are out and about and our trout are looking up for the summer selections! Looking forward to another session this weekend on the 20th with 4 more anglers! If interested, check back next summer and join in our 6 hours course with portions on the river and in the classroom.
Tip #3 - Check your gauges (and weather!)
If you aren't checking the river before you leave, you are missing out. Try it!
I go to this site before every trip. For example, I had a Kids Youth Camp, which we are running for five weeks this summer. When I called the director, the flows had gone from 80 CFS up to 130 CFS. It had me quite concerned we may have to cancel. Just two hours later the river spiked up to 200 CFS. I saw a previous guest, Corey, in the parking lot that day, just before the kids arrived. He spoke of how great the fishing was at 130 CFS, but the river went radio silent after the bigger bump in flows and the water was now "chocolate milk". We were patient, fished the slow edges and seems, to no avail. However, within two hours, and a well timed lunch break, the river had stabilized and clarity was improving. We stuck with the original plan, but made tweaks to fly selection. We went with Squirmy Worms, CDC France Flies and Sexy Walts Worm and fish responded.
AWESOME fish, from one of our campers who persevered and overcame tough conditions to net an above average wild brown trout of the Gunpowder!
Tip #4 - A little off color never hurts
When we draw up a great day of fishing, we usually don't think stained water, but should we? I am confident these can be some of the best conditions to catch trout in. I believe they have less ability to inspect flies and as long as you are getting a dead drift, with a fairly easy to see fly, then you have an above average chance at fooling a trout. For example, earlier I mentioned quick spikes in the river. Catching the river on the drop, or the following day after a storm, can be a great time to chase conditions. In many cases, the river will be dropping and going from stained to clear. If you catch the river just right, in between dirty and clear, you can often catch good numbers of fish! I would just suggest bright beads, or attractor patterns! I learned this valuable lesson from Josh Miller, of Team USA and TroutYeah Guide service, and it has been off in dividends. Moreover, consider throwing larger than average flies. The Mini Meat Market, or Jig Streamer Box, boasts a lot of easy to find streamers. It has just enough of a profile to entice the larger fish, who will assuredly be on the prowl in this conditions.
New Product Alert and Summer Sale on Flies! Also, a few select boxes are in stock again.
Ever fished a Blow Torch? Well try a Blow Torch Perdigon! These flies get down in the fast riffles that fish are craving this time of year. It is an effective way to fish for the most active trout in the system. These are a proven pattern that will get you hooked into the fish gorging in the faster chutes of the river.
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 summer through the website.
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