Gunpowder River Sulfur Mayfly Hatch Begins

Sulfur Mayflies have begun to show themselves on the Gunpowder River this week.  I have been fishing trips on the River the last 3 days and we have had some great fly fishing in the evenings. The sulfurs provide some of the best dry fly fishing of the year. The first mayflies to hatch are usually the biggest, around a size 14.  The fun part about fishing sulfurs is that they are easy to see too.

The best of the hatch has been later than usual with bugs starting to come off at about 4 pm or so. Our best pattern seemed to be a traditional dress sulfur dun in size 16.  We also caught some fish on soft hackles and sulfur emerger patterns.

We should continue to see the hatch strengthen through early June and hopefully the mayflies will hatch a little earlier in the day offering a good spinnerfall before dark. During mid day periods with no bug activity nymphs and swung wet flies took fish.  Partridge and yellow and partridge and orange wets are hard to beat.

Ocean City Maryland, Fishing Update, Flounder, Stripers, and Bluefish

Been fishing in Ocean City , MD the last couple of weeks.  We have had good fly fishing as is typical in the Spring down here.  We have been catching a bunch of bluefish on the fly up to 7 lbs. throughout the back bays.  Yesterday we caught several dozen rockfish on  the fly on the jetties and around the inlet up to 26". 

The 8 weight rods have been getting good use paired with deep sinking lines, our best flies have been olive and tan half and half styles in 3/0 . The water has been beautiful and as long as the wind has let us fish we have been catching.  A bunch of hickory shad are around too, and they have been eager to take the same flies. 

 Flounder fishing has also been heating up in the bays.  After fishing flies on the best tides we are often chasing around the flatties.  we have been catching some good ones on jigs and gulp baits in Assawoman and Sinepuxent bays.  Clean water is always the ticket when fishing flounder.  we should continue to see great flounder fishing all Summer.  New size limits this year are 16" and 4 per day.

Gunpowder River Fly Fishing Update. Caddis hatch heating up the fishing!

Fly fishing on the Gunpowder has been exceptional for the last week or so. The first caddis of the year have got the trout looking up and on the feed.  We have targeted various sections of the catch and release area on our trips during the last week.  Most of our efforts have been focused on the riffled areas of the stream.  The best of the hatch has been mid morning and fish can be seen rising actively downstream and within the riffles.

Most of the adult caddis we have seen hatching are size 16 and olive bodied.  We have had good success with a variety of dry flies the best being a 16 cdc caddis in olive.  Various small pupae patterns have worked well also tied on dropper rigs under a dry.

The first of our sulfur mayflies have also been spotted for the year also, and this hatch should keep the good dry fly fishing with us for awhile.  Will be on the stream again all weekend.  Keep you posted.  Jeff

 



Susquehanna Flats Report April 22

We have continued to fish hard each day on the flats though fishing has been tough the last week . Heavy wind seems to be a staple this Spring and has limited our fishing some days.  On days that are fit determined anglers have managed some decent fish. 

 

 

 

 

The last few mornings have been chilly with nighttime temps in the low 30's.  We landed a couple of fish on the fly yesterday our best one 34".  Still figure on some good fishing to come.  We managed a handful of fish today fishing swimbaits on light spinning tackle. The weather for the week looks decent so hopes are high.

Susquehanna Flats Report 2013

Good news to be had from the Susquehanna Flats.  We have been catching fish for almost 2 weeks  now with some exceptional fishing the last 5 days. Water conditions are the best I have seen in recent years.  Though the temps have taken a bit to warm up, we have great visibility of up to 3+ feet. Water clarity like that is unusual on the flats and makes for great fly and light tackle fishing.

We have been targeting fish with a variety of techniques.  We have caught best on flies and on swimbaits.  Fish are present on a variety of areas around the flats.  Most of our best fishing has been shallow, from 4 to 7 feet of water.  Best flies so far have been olive and white half and halfs with gold flash in a 3/0.  No topwater bite to speak of yet, but it is not far off.  I will be out every day that fit and will keep you posted.  Hope to see you out there.  Jeff

Geared up fo Spring!

Suppossedly it is Spring, but you sure wouldn't know it with the recent weather. Regardless, most of the behind the scenes work is finished with the boat and I am geared up to fish.  Was hoping to start fishing earlier this week, but got put off by that freak snowstorm and it has blown a gale ever since.

Finally splashed the boat yesterday and gave it a try.  Water conditons are good on the Susquehanna Flats, but temps are still real cold.   41.8 degrees was the warmest water I could find yesterday, though the 25 kt wind sure didn't help. The good news is that visibility is good and the long term weather forecast looks favorable.  I will be at it every day now that is fit, and hope to be catching fish in the next few days.  Last year we had the first good fishing on March 22, so we are at least a week behind this year.  I will keep you posted.

Tie Fest 2013, National capital TU Shows

Anxiously awaiting Spring!  Spent the last few weekends working fly fishing shows.  Helped showcase G.loomis gear in Lancaster at the Fly Fishig Show the first weekend this month.  Spent last weekend at the CCA sponsored Tie Fest even in Kent Island on Saturday, and the Natinal Capital Chapter of  Trout Unlimited Angling show on Sunday.

Spoke with many folks and casted lots of rods at the recent shows.  Hope to see some of you out on the river or boat this Spring.

The Susquehanna Flats Catch and Release Striped bass season is but a week or two away.  I have been busy rigging the boat and gear and wil be otu trying it sometime next week.  I will keep you posted on the fishing.  Jeff