Gunpowder Day Two: Guiding Shocker.

Late on Saturday night I made the drive to one of my best friends apartments outside of Aberdeen, Maryland. We ordered pizza, drank some Yuengling, and watched some South Park before hitting the lights in preparation for the next day. I was taking him out for his first time fly fishing on the Gunpowder River. Needless to say, he was pretty pumped to get out in the middle of the woods and try his hand at the sport.

Shocker Works A Run, As Light Makes Its Way Upstream.

Nymphing A Deep Run. 

Falling Leaves on the Gunpowder.

My buddy, Kevin Schoch, aka "Shocker," has very poor vision that is only somewhat correctable by glasses. This combined with the fact that I am not a guide, made for some interesting scenarios. I rigged up two rods for the day, one with a dry fly and the other with a nymph rig under a bright thingamabobber. We descended down into the ravine below Prettyboy Reservoir and began working the pocket-water there. This area of the river has some of the most scenic holes I have ever fished. I knew that it is also home to a plethora of small, eager trout. 

Prettyboy Dam.

 

A Little Brown Stone.

It Was A Good Thing Shocker Was on the Swim Team Too.

I began by instructing him how to cast the required 15-20 feet, mend the line, high stick, and set the hook. It only took a few casts to get a solid hook up. I yelled set,set,set! Shocker set the hook and played a small rainbow for a few moments before some slack line allowed the kamloops bow to shake the hook. It also only took a few casts to realize that I would have to be Shocker's eyes. He could see the thingamabobber but could not tell when it dipped, stopped, or moved from a trout's take. The added milliseconds between me yelling set, Shocker setting the hook, and for the line to become taunt on the fish created many missed fish & takes. It took quite some time before we got on the same page and had another chance at a take. 

However, we were both up for the challenge and when he finally got that brown, the experience was all the more fulfilling for the both of us. It was a total team effort. I was super pumped when we landed that first fish. I can vividly recall the first trout I ever caught on the fly and I hope he will too. 

All Smiles, Shocker's First Trout.

Close Up To Always Be Remembered.

The Fly Used & The Natural. 

We pressed on up stream and switched over to the dry fly. I instructed Shocker on how to roll cast down and across stream and mend the line to create a drag free downstream approach. This led to even more hits and strikes. Shocker then caught his first trout ever on a dry fly off of a roll cast. This was awesome! While we moved upstream, I had the chance to fish some tight lies and nab some browns myself. 

Attempting To Roll Cast.

First Trout on the Dry.

Butch Caddis Scores Once Again. 

All in all, it was beautiful day to be on the water. Low 70s, clear blue skies, a slight breeze, and falling leaves created an ideal setting for someone's first time fly fishing. I thoroughly enjoyed being there for Shocker's every cast and the highs and lows of missed fish and gnarly bird nest tangles. Next time, Shocker will land that 14 inch beauty along that shallow run. I guarantee it. 

Brown Amongst Leaves.

Prince Nymph Shocks A Brown.

Biggest Gunpowder Brown Yet.

Gunpowder Day Two: Guiding Shocker.

Late on Saturday night I made the drive to one of my best friends apartments outside of Aberdeen, Maryland. We ordered pizza, drank some Yuengling, and watched some South Park before hitting the lights in preparation for the next day. I was taking him out for his first time fly fishing on the Gunpowder River. Needless to say, he was pretty pumped to get out in the middle of the woods and try his hand at the sport.

Shocker Works A Run, As Light Makes Its Way Upstream.

Nymphing A Deep Run. 

Falling Leaves on the Gunpowder.

My buddy, Kevin Schoch, aka "Shocker," has very poor vision that is only somewhat correctable by glasses. This combined with the fact that I am not a guide, made for some interesting scenarios. I rigged up two rods for the day, one with a dry fly and the other with a nymph rig under a bright thingamabobber. We descended down into the ravine below Prettyboy Reservoir and began working the pocket-water there. This area of the river has some of the most scenic holes I have ever fished. I knew that it is also home to a plethora of small, eager trout. 

Prettyboy Dam.

 

A Little Brown Stone.

It Was A Good Thing Shocker Was on the Swim Team Too.

I began by instructing him how to cast the required 15-20 feet, mend the line, high stick, and set the hook. It only took a few casts to get a solid hook up. I yelled set,set,set! Shocker set the hook and played a small rainbow for a few moments before some slack line allowed the kamloops bow to shake the hook. It also only took a few casts to realize that I would have to be Shocker's eyes. He could see the thingamabobber but could not tell when it dipped, stopped, or moved from a trout's take. The added milliseconds between me yelling set, Shocker setting the hook, and for the line to become taunt on the fish created many missed fish & takes. It took quite some time before we got on the same page and had another chance at a take. 

However, we were both up for the challenge and when he finally got that brown, the experience was all the more fulfilling for the both of us. It was a total team effort. I was super pumped when we landed that first fish. I can vividly recall the first trout I ever caught on the fly and I hope he will too. 

All Smiles, Shocker's First Trout.

Close Up To Always Be Remembered.

The Fly Used & The Natural. 

We pressed on up stream and switched over to the dry fly. I instructed Shocker on how to roll cast down and across stream and mend the line to create a drag free downstream approach. This led to even more hits and strikes. Shocker then caught his first trout ever on a dry fly off of a roll cast. This was awesome! While we moved upstream, I had the chance to fish some tight lies and nab some browns myself. 

Attempting To Roll Cast.

First Trout on the Dry.

Butch Caddis Scores Once Again. 

All in all, it was beautiful day to be on the water. Low 70s, clear blue skies, a slight breeze, and falling leaves created an ideal setting for someone's first time fly fishing. I thoroughly enjoyed being there for Shocker's every cast and the highs and lows of missed fish and gnarly bird nest tangles. Next time, Shocker will land that 14 inch beauty along that shallow run. I guarantee it. 

Brown Amongst Leaves.

Prince Nymph Shocks A Brown.

Biggest Gunpowder Brown Yet.

Gunpowder Day One.

After another long week teaching, I spent my Friday night tying flies, drinking beer, and semi-watching A River Runs Through It in the background. I was gearing up for the Gunpowder River in Maryland and was pumped to get on the water for two days. The next morning, I made the hour and a half long trip north of Baltimore to do battle with some of the smallest & smartest trout I have ever fished for. 

Fall on the Gunpowder.

Typical Gunpowder Scenario.

They Were Stuck...

He Was Mad.

Typical Gunpowder Brown.

Butch Caddis Scores.

I arrived around 1:30 and the place was quite crowded. I made my way down to the stream and sight fished to several 7-8 inch browns in the low gin clear water. I was using a size 22 BWO dry fly on 7x that was probably too large to match the bugs on the water. Despite the size, I missed several fish. I was rusty because I didn't fish tiny dries on tiny tippet to trout all summer. Carp will do that to you. After awhile, I finally found a groove and landed some of the beautiful fish. I later transitioned to a butch caddis and a tiny midge dropper and continued to catch fish all along a nice run. I ran into about a dozen fisherman on my way upstream. Surprisingly, no one got mad at one another, which is a very good thing. 

Beadhead Soft Hackle Pheasant Tail.

Kamloops Rainbow Trout.

Thank You Kelly Galloup For Your Butch Caddis.

Descending Brown.

As the sun fell, I caught several more on tiny dries. It was rather hard to make out their subtle takes in the dark conditions. Around 8 o'clock, I realized I was by myself in the middle of the woods and had a long hike out. I attached the headlamp and scrambled  my way over boulders & logs before finding the path. I ascended the ravine and made the long hike back to my truck without incident. It was a good time. 

 In The Dark & On The Dry.

Gunpowder Day One.

After another long week teaching, I spent my Friday night tying flies, drinking beer, and semi-watching A River Runs Through It in the background. I was gearing up for the Gunpowder River in Maryland and was pumped to get on the water for two days. The next morning, I made the hour and a half long trip north of Baltimore to do battle with some of the smallest & smartest trout I have ever fished for. 

Fall on the Gunpowder.

Typical Gunpowder Scenario.

They Were Stuck...

He Was Mad.

Typical Gunpowder Brown.

Butch Caddis Scores.

I arrived around 1:30 and the place was quite crowded. I made my way down to the stream and sight fished to several 7-8 inch browns in the low gin clear water. I was using a size 22 BWO dry fly on 7x that was probably too large to match the bugs on the water. Despite the size, I missed several fish. I was rusty because I didn't fish tiny dries on tiny tippet to trout all summer. Carp will do that to you. After awhile, I finally found a groove and landed some of the beautiful fish. I later transitioned to a butch caddis and a tiny midge dropper and continued to catch fish all along a nice run. I ran into about a dozen fisherman on my way upstream. Surprisingly, no one got mad at one another, which is a very good thing. 

Beadhead Soft Hackle Pheasant Tail.

Kamloops Rainbow Trout.

Thank You Kelly Galloup For Your Butch Caddis.

Descending Brown.

As the sun fell, I caught several more on tiny dries. It was rather hard to make out their subtle takes in the dark conditions. Around 8 o'clock, I realized I was by myself in the middle of the woods and had a long hike out. I attached the headlamp and scrambled  my way over boulders & logs before finding the path. I ascended the ravine and made the long hike back to my truck without incident. It was a good time. 

 In The Dark & On The Dry.