Autumn on the AuSable

Me and my buddies spent a few days up North a few weeks ago. The regular trout season ends on the last Saturday in September and we wanted to visit a few of our favorite places one last time before we get out the shotguns and go chasing Grouse and Woodcocks around the northern woods. The fish were not huge, but they were willing to play, fairly often, and the scenery passing by was pretty OK - as you can see. Sit back, relax, "Slow your pace" as they suggest in the Mason Tract and enjoy your visit to the AuSable in autumn.


John and Richie discuss the strategery prior to launching the "AuSable Queen". I am taking this photo and conserving my energy, knowing that I will soon be back rowing fairly regularly to retrieve flies gaily cast into the Cedars, Pines and just about everything else capable of snagging an errant (typical) cast.

This is the view up river from our put in. This section of the mainstream is called "The Stillwaters" and is one of the hot spots during the Hex hatch. The river bottom in this area is mostly sand and the edges are typically the black silty muck that is the perfect breeding ground for the burrowing nymphs that hatch into the Hex and Brown Drake mayflies.
	Richie displays a sweet little brown trout that was fooled by one of his Hopper imitations.
Another little brown trout charging towards the boat - pay no attention to the tippet and ant attached to his lip.
	Your humble rodmaker showing a little love to the trout pictured above right.

Another beautiful spot, this time on the South Branch of the AuSable. This is the trail down to the "Lower High Banks" which is the downstream limit of the no-kill section. It's a bit of a walk - all up hill back to the Jeep but well worth the trip.

We spent the last day on the "Trophy Water" section below Mio dam downstream to Cummings Flats. It's about a 6 hour float with plenty of woody cover, plunges, riffles and sweepers along the way.

Richie tricks a little rainbow. We probably hit 50/50 between Hoppers, Skunks and Caddis on top and Prince and PT nymph droppers, with a couple of streamer eaters tossed in for good measure. Unfortunately, we couldn't convince any of the real serious carnivores to come out and play.

One of the Streamer Eaters. Johnny shows off this hot little brown trout that could not resist the Yellow Spuddler. Nice Hat, eh?

So that's it for this year - we will still get in now and then in the Flies only sections that are open year round, and maybe a few Steelhead adventures, but for the most part, it's time to build some rods and chase some grouse so rest well little trout - see you in April.