It’s a fishing day

Gunpowder Falls — Big Falls fishing conditions · Maryland

Now until 8 pmBrown trout

The bite peaks at 100. Water is 53°, close to the 55° brown trout like best, and a solunar period lands on the window.

Log a trip here
Right now: 100 for brown trout, go · inside the best windowTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Brown trout, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

  1. 1004 pm
  2. 100
  3. 100
  4. 1007 pm
  5. 92
  6. 92
  7. 9210 pm
  8. 92
  9. 92Sun
  10. 921 am
  11. 92
  12. 92
  13. 924 am
  14. 92
  15. 92
  16. 927 am
  17. 92
  18. 92
  19. 9210 am
  20. 92
  21. 92
  22. 921 pm
  23. 92
  24. 92
  25. 924 pm
  26. 92
  27. 92
  28. 927 pm
  29. 92
  30. 92
  31. 9210 pm
  32. 92
  33. 92Mon
  34. 921 am
  35. 92
  36. 92
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now · best window

Water
53°F

Brown trout range 45–68°

Wind
15 mph

From the west

Flow
29.7 cfs

steady · +0% in 24 h

Light
Daylight

Sunset 4:58 pm

Sky
Partly Sunny

2% chance of rain

Air
56°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Falling

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
5% lit

Waning crescent

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are Maryland non-tidal regulations for these waters.

Brown Trout

Brown trout

Salmo trutta

100GoNow until 8 pm

Water

53°
35°45–68° · ideal 55°78°

Why

Right in brown trout's ideal range. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 3–25 ft down.

Keep

no harvest

Catch and release only today. Prettyboy Dam to Bluemount Road: no trout may be kept; artificial lures and flies only, barbless hooks, no bait.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Gunpowder Falls catch-and-return area

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov. More on brown trout

The water

  • Water temperature53°F
  • River29.7 cfs · steady · +0% in 24 h
  • Barometer29.88 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today4:58 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow6:42 am
  • MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 3:30 pm–4:30 pm
  • Major solunarTonight 10:00 pm–12:00 am
  • Minor solunarTomorrow 5:50 am–6:50 am

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

Maryland DNR, Nov 4

Freshwater Fishing. Although the fall trout stocking program has reached its end, there are still plenty of opportunities for put-and-take anglers in the many community ponds and reservoirs that were stocked. If anglers try switching from Powerbait and work the waters distant from the usual stocking locations with spinners, they might be surprised with the trout that are still there. The delayed harvest and catch-and-return trout management waters will provide catch-and-release fishing from now until June. At that time there will be dates when they revert to put-and-take for the summer months. More information about the special trout management areas is on the DNR website.

Quoted from the Maryland DNR weekly fishing report. Reports are what anglers and biologists saw that week, not a forecast.

Licenses and rules: MD DNR · trout stocking · fish-consumption advisory

About this spot

The Big Falls section of the Gunpowder River is one of Maryland's premier wild trout streams — a designated Catch-and-Return, artificial-lures-only fishery. Wild brown trout are the main draw; access via Gunpowder Falls State Park.

Catch-and-return, artificial lures only in the Quality Fishery section. No bait. Parking at Big Falls Road or Masemore Road. Popular — arrive early on weekends.

Nearby

Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Loch Raven Reservoir6 mi · MarylandBest now until Monday 4 am
68Marginal
Mariner Point Park12 mi · MarylandBest now until Monday 4 am
100Go
Dundee Creek Marina (Gunpowder Falls SP)15 mi · MarylandBest now until Monday 4 am
100Go
Miami Beach Park16 mi · MarylandBest now until Monday 4 am
92Go
Flying Point Park16 mi · MarylandBest now until 8 pmSmall Craft Advisory
85Go
Prettyboy Reservoir16 mi · MarylandBest tonight 6 pm–8 pm
84Worth the trip

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Gunpowder Falls — Big Falls?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Gunpowder Falls — Big Falls you need a Maryland non-tidal fishing license issued by MD DNR (and a separate Maryland trout stamp if targeting trout in non-tidal waters). See the agency's current rules: https://dnr.maryland.gov/pages/service_fishing_license.aspx

What fish are commonly targeted at Gunpowder Falls — Big Falls?

Gunpowder Falls — Big Falls is listed on this site for 1 commonly-targeted species: Brown Trout. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Gunpowder Falls — Big Falls?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Gunpowder Falls — Big Falls against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Gunpowder Falls — Big Falls have?

Gunpowder Falls — Big Falls has shoreline / wading access. There is no pier or boat ramp at this location. Catch-and-return, artificial lures only in the Quality Fishery section. No bait. Parking at Big Falls Road or Masemore Road. Popular — arrive early on weekends.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Gunpowder Falls — Big Falls?

Maryland DNR non-tidal (inland) regulations apply at Gunpowder Falls — Big Falls. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Gunpowder Falls — Big Falls tidal water?

No. Gunpowder Falls — Big Falls is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.