Rainy fall days

I love rainy fall days, and even if they don’t lead to the streamer fishing I think they should, the spirit of them — of change, migration, and the shadowy chase of a darkening brown trout  — is enough to propel me onward.  The morning Lance and I went we should have fished nymphs below dries (a fact that was reinforced when we did switch to the dry dropper for a half hour) but then there was that fish, just shy of 20 inches (or so it appeared) that shot from cover to eat a black streamer in crystal clear water, that kept the fall streamer juices flowing.  Fall streamers are fun.  They are small and easy to throw and fished on floating line in clear water demand the most of the streamer angler.  We caught a nice brown but didn’t take a picture.  The first maples were equally stunning:

And now, today, the sun has poked through and the first ants — which REALLY like to fly after a rain — are starting to hit the water.  The odd Fall Iso and Cahill are teaming up with the ants, small olives and tricos to provide some decent afternoon dry fly fishing that should carry, in fits and starts, through mid-October.  September is a reflection of May.  It’s not May, but it has many of the same demands on the angler.  To do the absolute best, you must be versatile.  Dawn streamers, nymphs, morning dry flies, small streamers, wet flies, dry dropper…the list goes on.  Yesterday was tough, but in general there have been some very good days of fishing over the last week.   The next week, which looks warmer, should provide a nice stretch of afternoon dry fly fishing and the first real fall colors of the year.

Finally, thank you to everyone that helped clean the river.  We had an awesome turnout and perfect weather.  Couldn’t make it?  See you next year:  first Saturday after Labor Day weekend.

Cedar Tree Planting below Mio:  Volunteers Needed!

Anglers of the Au Sable will be planting and protecting 50 cedars below Mio along the Au Sable National Scenic River on September 23rd; National Public Lands Day.  As in the past, we will be partnering with the Huron Manistee National Forests.  Here is the information you’ll need:

Meeting Place:  Comins Flats Boat Launch (6 miles east of Mio)

When:  September 23rd at 10 AM

Suggestions:  Bring work gloves and wear sturdy shoes

Lunch and refreshments will be provided afterwards

Please RSVP to [email protected] or text Tess at 989-254-8522 so she has a head count.