PPTU One Fly Contest 2023
Where - Gunpowder Falls
When - September 30, 2023
2023 One-Fly Contest Winner: Scott Cernick
1st Place Winner has bragging rights for 1 Year and the name posted on the Honor Roll of Winners!
Scott, a two time winner in a row, had a total of 47 inches, with 10 trout, using a #16 Blow Torch, a Euro Nymphing fly. Fished in the Big Falls Road area.
Please feel free to ask him all about his winning fish stories.
Participants (in no particular order):
Bob O’Donnell – soft hackle, BWO, sparkle green body, black hackle, #16-18
Randy Dwyer – Pistol Pete streamer, # 6-8 (fly was officially contested but not banned in List of Rules)
Ron Kerrick – Hot Spot Pheasant Tail nymph (another euro nymph), #16
Peter Anderson – X-Caddis, olive, #16
Lou Reichel – Blow Torch, # 16
Honorable mentions for Peter, 40 inches, 10 trout, followed by Lou with 29”, 8 trout.
Since I am a compassionate Judge, we will not say what the others caught.
Gunpowder River areas fished were Bunker Hill, York Road, Big Falls and further downstream near Sparks, MD.
The weather was pleasant 60-70 degrees, cloudy, and sun coming out by late morning. The water flow 40 cfs, was low at 1-1.5 ft but not terrible, cold, not gin clear, it had very light off color. Did not measure water temperature with thermometer, but my toes measured cold water due to the hole in my wader boot. Did see flying a few BWO, a very light mayfly – Cahill or Pale Morning Dun, small caddis and a large orange flying bug (October caddis or something else?)
There was some danger as walnut pods were falling into the water with a large, exploding splash and some came very close to my head. It seemed most of the trout were caught in low riffle water. Most pools were inactive. Lou may have caught the smallest trout, 1 inch (maybe not that big). I thought it was a piece of leaf or stick, but wouldn’t come off with shaking the rod/line. I did count that trout. Most trout were in the 2-4 inches range. Lou did hook up onto two 7 inch brown trout. Maybe the largest of the trout caught.
Now, let's talk about the Pistol Pete, fly or lurer?. It has a separate front propeller like a spin casting lurer. Pistol Pete is sold in fly shops as a fly fishing FLY, but can be used as a spin casting lurer. As pointed out, many nymphs and streamers have front cones and metal beads, but they do not move. We will have to evaluate this type of fly for next year. What do other PPTU members think?
I thank all who participated. See you next year.
Lou Reichel
2013 PPTU One Fly Contest Winner
Outings Coordinator
