This has been the season of the rains. The rivers are moderately high across the river system but also fishing pretty well. The higher water opened the door to our first fall streamer fishing of the year and some really nice trout were caught. Lance and Chuck had a spectacular streamer day. They caught more big trout than you can count on two hands. That was a right place, right time kind of thing. Still, it was a pretty good across the Au Sable River system as well as the Manistee.
Female wood duck in…a puddle!
This has also been a great week of night fishing! Even in the high water, we’ve had some dandies get caught. 
The ant fishing has slowed recently but we expect (or at least hope) for another big week of ants, maybe after this rain? Or maybe after Saturday’s rain. In the meantime, it’s been streamers, dries and droppers, and bigger dries. The trout are fat, cold, and healthy.
Wading will be difficult in spots and okay in others. Depending on how much rain we receive on Saturday it could push certain river stretches past safe wading levels. The Holy Waters are in very good shape. The Upper North Branch is falling. The South Branch is at 250 cfs which is perfect fishing levels but does mean care must be taken in traditionally deeper areas (Daisy Bend, Castle, below Lower High Banks, above Canoe Harbor). We have seen some fall Isos, and so blind fishing a larger Adams or Hare’s Ear parachute have been productive, as well as the good ol’ Borchers parachute.
Thanks to everyone who attended this past weekend’s river cleanup. We found more trash than usual and we had a great time. Mark your calendar for next year: September 11, 2027.
