Maryland ·
Gunpowder River Fly Fishing Report - September 6, 2026
GUNPOWDER RIVER
ReportSEP 6 — 13, 2026
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Flow
13CFS
WINTERS RUN NEAR BENSON, MD
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Water Temp
—
Updated 2026-09-06
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Weather
58–79°F
Mostly Clear
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Clarity
Clear
Check post-storm
Flow is a skinny 13.1 CFS at 1.25 ft gauge height on Winters Run, keeping the river crystal clear and demanding long leaders and fine tippet. Water temperature is reported around 57°F — prime trout territory — with sunny skies and a high of 79°F on tap today.
What's Working — Hot Flies
Juju Baetis Tungsten #22
22
Parachute - Blue Wing Olive #22
22
Olsen's Peacock Blowtorch Barbless #22 - 24
22-24
Olsen's Hare's Ear Blowtorch Barbless #20 - 28
20-22
Bionic Ant 2.0 - Black #16
16
Top Secret Baetis #16
16
Egan's CDC Rainbow Warrior #22
22
Black Zebra Midge(TBH) #20
20
Corn-fed Caddis (CDC) Tan #20
20
Tungsten Jig Bugger - Olive - Barbless #14
14
Egan's Silver Bullet - Baetis #14
14
Olsen's Quilldigon - Olive - Barbless #22 - 24
22-24
Hatch Chart
| Insect | Size | Activity | Prime Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue-Winged Olive (Baetis) | 20-22 | Moderate | 10 AM - 1 PM |
| Midge | 20-24 | Heavy | 7 AM - 10 AM |
| Caddis | 18-20 | Light | 5 PM - 7 PM |
| Terrestrials (Ants) | 16 | Moderate | 11 AM - 3 PM |
| Little Black Stonefly | 16-18 | Light | 9 AM - 11 AM |
Best Time Window
- 6:30 AM - 9:30 AM: Early midge activity in the flat pools — fish small dark patterns in the film before the sun hits the water and trout go deep.
- 10 AM - 1 PM: Prime BWO hatch window as temperatures climb — watch for rising fish in the slow tailouts and match with a #22 parachute or emerger.
- 5:30 PM - Dusk: Evening caddis activity picks up along the riffles — swing a CDC caddis through the runs and be ready for aggressive takes as light fades.
Guide's Tip
From the benchWith the Gunpowder at 13.1 CFS and running gin-clear, your approach matters as much as your fly selection. Stay low, wade slowly, and fish upstream — any disturbance telegraphs instantly to wary trout in these conditions. Rig a 12-foot leader with 6X tippet minimum, and if you're targeting the flat tailouts during the BWO window, step up to 7X. Be aware that Didymo (rock snot) is present on larger rocks in the upper C&R section above Masemore, so focus your nymphing in the smaller cobble runs and pocket water where the algae is less of a factor.
Main Species
Brown Trout
Rainbow Trout
Brook Trout
