Au Sable River Fishing Report RSS

This has been, hands down, the strangest dry fly season in recent memory. The hatch charts and meticulously kept fishing journals can be thrown right out the window. Its late June and there are still no solid reports of hex. Dry fly windows have been short, but when the stars have aligned, there has been some great fishing.  Brown Drakes are still around on many rivers, even gray drakes, but it seems they're there one night and gone the next. Iso fishing during the day and in the evening has been productive and should continue to be for some time....

It's Wednesday, and the weekend is looming. Plans are forming, and reforming, by the hour. Strategizing for the hex hatch can be stressful. Seems like everyone scrambles to form a plan designed to outwit everyone else. It can be an endless loop of pivotal decisions.  "Where are we going!? What stretch are we floating!? Are the bugs happening yet!? Are we too early?! What if we try downstream farther!? But are we gonna be too far downstream!? Should we be higher up!? Where will the crowds be!? AGGHHHH!!"   "Why don’t we go way upstream, to the headwaters, and hope for...

We are still getting absolutely blasted with rain. Every few days, there's a sizable rainstorm. And there's more on the way. It has made things fairly tough, especially for the wade angler. Nonetheless, fishing has been pretty damn good, with hatches becoming steadier by the day. Grey Drakes, Brown Drakes, and Sulphers have been the main show as of late. As far as the Hex goes, they are probably another 2 weeks out. Can't predict what will happen (obviously), but they will most likely be late, just as all the bugs have been this season. The combination of heavy rains...

If you haven't noticed, we have been getting plenty of rain. A little too much. Most rivers are unseasonably high, with levels reminiscent of spring runoff rather than early summer. Despite this, fishing has been good, and hatches have been decent. Water temps are finally getting into the upper 50s pretty much everywhere, which will only improve the hatch reliability.  Hennies are basically done, with the lingering spinner fall here and there. Sulphers are going strong, and grey drakes are starting nearly everywhere. Caddis are still prevalent and provide some action during the day. Once 5pm rolls around, look for...

Grab your hand warmers and your Patagonia fleece winter has officially arrived.  January and February are lining up to be great months in our steelhead rivers.  While many anglers are starting to transition to the fly tying vice others are still chasing chrome and other species like MUSKY and Atlantic Salmon around the state!  Cole with a swung Atlantic Salmon from the Au Sable River! It's awesome seeing this river become a fishery. Graeme with a bobber Steelhead from a recent trip to the Pere Marquette River.  Focus your efforts on deeper slower runs and pound the water with small egg...