The rivers are crystal clear, the leaves are turning, the ants are flying…what a wonderful week on the Au Sable. I snuck in an hour yesterday and I realized, immediately, the following:
- the river was unbelievable gin clear
- there were BWOs hatching
- there were ants on the water
- the trout were on fire
It was a great hour of fishing. I hooked one bigger fish but the rest were small, vibrant, squirmy trout. Lance did better on his float, landing a 17″ on a flying ant. This has been a great stretch of fishing and it looks like it’s going to continue through the weekend and into next week. And while us bird hunters are lamenting the heat for our dogs, the fact is that the trout fishing is better because of it.
This clear
All branches of river are fishing well, tricky, and similarly clear. In the morning you will do best playing with the last of the tricos and then transitioning to a dry/dropper. Small tungsten headed beads have been best. 7x fluoro seems to be a must. But if you get it all correct, you will find trout, especially on the main. If you are fishing the branches, the trout will rise throughout the day. Again, fine tippet and accurate flies. Ants, BWOs, Patriots, and the smaller Adams parachutes. In the late afternoons the fish have been rising to a mixed bag of ants, BWOs, fall Isos, and Cahills. This cheery report is based on numerous guide reports. The trout are happy and so are we.
