Maryland ·
Gunpowder River Fly Fishing Report - June 21, 2026
GUNPOWDER RIVER
ReportJUN 21 — 28, 2026
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Flow
13CFS
WINTERS RUN NEAR BENSON, MD
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Water Temp
—
Updated 2026-06-21
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Weather
61–89°F
Mostly Clear
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Clarity
Clear
Check post-storm
Flow is very low at 13.1 CFS with a gauge height of 1.25 ft at Winters Run, meaning gin-clear water and spooky fish — long leaders, fine tippet, and stealthy approaches are non-negotiable today. Expect warm afternoon air temps near 84°F under mostly sunny skies, which should trigger midday BWO and caddis activity in the riffles.
What's Working — Hot Flies
Corn-fed Caddis (CDC) Tan #20
20
Corn-fed Caddis (CDC) Olive #20
20
Parachute - Blue Wing Olive #22
22
Black Zebra Midge(TBH) #20
20
BWO WD-40 #22
22
Olsen's Hare's Ear Blowtorch Barbless #20 - 28
20
Guides Choice Hare's Ear #18
18
Pheasant Tail Tungsten #20
20
Egan's Thread Frenchie Jig - Olive #12
12
Bionic Ant 2.0 - Black #16
16
Tungsten Jig Bugger - Olive - Barbless #14
14
Barr's Flashback Emerger - BWO #22
22
Hatch Chart
| Insect | Size | Activity | Prime Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue-Winged Olive (Baetis) | 20-22 | Moderate | 10 AM - 1 PM |
| Little Black Stonefly | 16-18 | Light | 8 AM - 11 AM |
| Caddis (Tan/Olive) | 18-20 | Moderate | 11 AM - 2 PM |
| Midge | 20-22 | Light | 7 AM - 9 AM |
| Terrestrials (Ants) | 16 | Light | 1 PM - 5 PM |
Best Time Window
- 7 AM - 9 AM: Early midge and stonefly activity in the riffles before sun hits the water; tight-line nymphing with zebra midges in the slower pools.
- 10 AM - 1 PM: Prime BWO and caddis hatch window as air temps warm; watch for rising fish in riffle seams and present dry flies or emergers upstream.
- 5 PM - 7 PM: Evening cool-down brings renewed surface activity; swing a Jig Bugger through tail-outs or work ant patterns along shaded banks before dark.
Guide's Tip
From the benchWith flows at 13.1 CFS the Gunpowder is running very low and clear — your biggest challenge today is not fly selection, it's stealth. Stay low, wade slowly, and approach rising fish from downstream at a 45-degree angle. Use a 12-14 ft leader tapered to 6X or 7X fluorocarbon for your dry and emerger presentations. During the midday BWO and caddis window, focus on the mid-stream riffle seams where oxygenated water concentrates feeding fish; tight-line nymphing with a small Frenchie or Pheasant Tail just off the bottom in the deeper slots between riffles will be your most consistent producer when fish aren't visibly rising.
Main Species
Brown Trout
Rainbow Trout
Brook Trout
