About Us

Gates Au Sable Lodge has a half-century of serving up trout flies and river eats along the Au Sable.  

Founded as an angler’s destination by Cal and Mary Gates, Gates Lodge remains just that: A simple fishing lodge on the river.  Cal and Mary’s son Rusty Gates became a northern Michigan icon not because of his fishing and fly-tying prowess, which was substantial, but because of irreplaceable contributions to the health of the Au Sable.  

For decades, Rusty and his wife Julie ran the lodge, growing it into national prominence, and sending handfuls of kids along the fly-fishing — and conservation — path.  Several of those kids remain on the Gates Lodge team, including Josh and his wife Katy, who purchased the lodge in 2010.  Decades go by fast!