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Big Gunpowder Falls River (Maryland)

Location: The Big Gunpowder Falls River is located in upper Baltimore County, Maryland, about 20 miles north of Baltimore. It is about a 30-minute drive from Baltimore and about 90 minutes from Washington D.C.

The river flows 20-plus miles from its headwaters in northern Baltimore County before entering the Chesapeake Bay. The 7.2-mile stretch of river downstream of Prettyboy Reservoir is recognized for some of the finest tailwater trout fishing in the country.

The Gunpowder, as most call it, is the primary water supply for the City of Baltimore. The city is responsible for controlling water flows in the river. A noble effort in the early 1980s on the part of a local Trout Unlimited chapter resulted in a minimum water flow agreement with the city, and the Gunpowder tailwater fishery as we now know it was born. Brown trout fingerlings raised from stock from surrounding creeks were placed in the Gunpowder. The trout were now guaranteed enough cold water through the warm summer months to survive and reproduce naturally. The 1¼-mile stretch of river immediately downstream of Prettyboy Reservoir was designated Special Regulation Trout Water by the state. Regulations demand catch-and-release fishing only, with artificial lures and flies.

Brown trout began to thrive in the regulated area of the stream, and annual surveys showed exceptional trout numbers and successful reproduction. Fisheries managers were prompted to expand the regulated area. Today we have 7.2 miles of water managed solely as catch-and-release fishing for stream-bred trout. Recent surveys have shown wild brown densities of more than 4,000 trout per mile in some areas.