June 2026 One Fly Contest
Where - Gunpowder Falls
When – Saturday June 13, 2026.
2026 One-Fly Contest Winner: Robert Shatrowsky
Robert, this year’s 1st Place Winner, has bragging rights for 1 Year and his name will be posted on the PPTU Honor Roll of Winners!
Under difficult water conditions, Robert brought 2 trout to hand, with a total of 12.5 inches. He used a size 14 Beaded Pheasant Tail for the contest and caught his fish while fishing about a 1/4 mile downstream from the Masemore parking area.
The Winning Fly:
Second place goes to Andrew Angelino, with a one fish in the net and 6.5 inches. Andrew was using a size 16 Walt’s Worm.
We had a good turn-out this year with 10 members competing. Conor Ryan, a new member and also new to fly fishing, caught one 4-inch fish. That was better than half of the participants who have a lot more experience. Conor was being mentored the day before by Bob Kaiser. I’m thinking that maybe I should take the mentoring course. Kudos to our mentors.
Participants and their weapons of choice:
- Andrew Angelino – Walt’s Worm, #16
- Bob Bokulic – Partridge & Orange, #14
- Randy Dwyer – Super Nova, #16
- Andy Grosko – Perdigon, #14
- Ron Kerrick – Wet Fly, #16
- Lou Reichel – Partridge & Orange, #14
- Conor Ryan – Partridge Soft Hackle, #16
- Allan Rutzen – Partridge Soft Hackle, #16
- Robert Shatrowsky – Beaded Pheasant Tail, #14
- Alan Williams – Walt’s Worm, #16
This year’s One Fly Contest was a little different. At the start of the outing, as members registered, they received a reuseable mesh bag to be used for some light trash collection. Lou and I are implementing Randy Dwyer’s suggestion and will be encouraging members to do a little stream cleanup while fishing during the outings. I’ve noticed that Alan Williams has already been doing this on his own for the past few outings. So now Lou and I are going to try to make it easier for other members to do the same. We are after all, a conservation group.
Conditions on the Gunpower were tough this year. Despite rain the previous couple of days the water level was low and clear, with flows at about 29 cfs and water temperature at 51 F. The sky was clear and sunny. The air temperature was 75 at the start but warmed up quite a bit by lunch time with no wind.
Half of our group fished the Bunker Hill area, spreading out upstream and downstream. Members also fished at Falls Road, Masemore, and York Road, so most of the catch and release area was covered.
At 12:00 we rendezvoused back at the parking lot to register our catch totals, have lunch, and drop off our trash. It was encouraging to see that even though we kept an eye out for trash while fishing, there wasn’t much to collect. The gunpowder is a lot cleaner than most of our outing streams.
Thanks to all who participated, and special thanks to those who helped in our conservation efforts and to those who brought food to share.
I hope to see you all and more of our members competing again next year.
Lou Reichel & Ron Kerrick
Outing Coordinators
