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"The next ten days will provide some of the very best streamer opportunity of the year on all three branches, and on the big water below Mio. Fishing smaller streamers in the 2-4" range will be best. This upper river is perfect for a floating streamer line or a sink tip. Downstream further, you'll want a 200-250 grain sinking line. We've been doing well with olive, copper and black."
"The fall olives are hatching on all three branches of river but they are best on the North Branch, the upper Holy Waters, and the big water below Mio. We still have three good weeks of the season. In fact, the best streamer fishing of the year (in my opinion) is yet to come."
"We had a great day. The olives never got going where we were (though they have been great in the upper river) but the fish were on the prowl. Neutral or natural colors worked almost exclusively."
"We had a strong afternoon hatch of olives yesterday, with pods of fish rising on all three branches. But we need rain. And not just some rain. We need a flood. The kind of epic fall deluge that turns overnight into a mushy sleet and spurns hundreds of northern residents to hurriedly fire up chainsaws and make oak piles. Because the fishing, while pleasant, was very tough two days ago (though better yesterday), and with seven more days of blissful, mid-sixty degree days with only a few puff clouds in the afternoon forecasted, the prospects of fishing size #20 droppers on 7x fluorocarbon seem rather strong."
"The fish are on the move, arriving at their typical pre-spawn haunts. The upper rivers are in great shape. No time of year so distinguishes between the three branches as does fall. The South with its low water and active brook trout and its surprising number of big browns. The North with its afternoon olives that will last from now until November. The Main with its clear water and technical trout. The big water, with less fish, but some real dandies that will test your persistence."
"Already the fish have begun chasing a variety of fall streamers. Small and bright will interest brook trout, while dark flies seem to be brown trout fodder. While fish are still looking up, and will continue to do so throughout the fall, subsurface presentations are beginning to outproduce. A day of swinging soft hackles is an easy cure for the blues."
"The best time of day has been the first few morning hours, and then the afternoon hours in and around dinner time. With cooler temperatures forecasted, the afternoons will just get better, with 1-7pm being prime. Small streamers are really beginning to move fish -- especially brook trout."
"daytime/evening fishing has been okay. We've had good-to-excellent trico fishing every morning on the mainstream. We've also had a strong rise and agreeable fish from 3 pm - 7pm on most days."
"The cooler air each morning reminds me that fall is near. With the cooler air come lower water temps and happy trout. The fishing has been good lately. Night fishing is holding on with the best fishing coming between dark and midnight on most evenings. The late, late night bite has been good too if you can stay up and hit it."
"The tricos are going strong on the mainstream and will continue to do so through the first half of September." "white flies are showing up below Mio and the next ten days look like a good time to be a Michigan Trout angler."
"Our rivers are cooler, and they have water. The fishing has been good at all hours, from morning tricos to lingering olives, to the good mix of olive spinners at dusk, and so on. A smorgasbord of fishing."
"Much better. That's the report up here, where the temperatures have dropped from sweltering to tolerable. We've had huge trico spinnerfalls in front of the lodge the past four mornings. Clouds of bugs over the riffles. Pods of rising fish in the pools. With better water temperatures, the trout are rising more freely and seemingly less warily."
"Tricos and olives are still the story of the day. If you see fish rising consistently, that’s what they are eating."
" we’ve really changed over to morning and evening fishing." "the tricos have been good in the mornings on all three branches of river."
"You’ve gotta watch the water temperatures this time of year. Fish early and fish at dusk when the temperatures are cool enough not only to protect the trout, but to find your best opportunities. Really watch the Mio temperatures. Those trout could use some leaving alone until we start seeing water temperatures below 70. They’ve got it tough enough. Seek small waters for the time being and go early. Seek solitude in the early morning hours on some shaded little stream. If you make yours the North Branch or the Holy Waters, you’ll be doing no harm at 6 a.m. and you’ll be rewarded with #16 olives and the dependable trico."
"Hex have pretty much played out for this season. There are still a very few above Mio Pond but that is about it for the Au Sable. Bugs are still on the Manistee, however. Isonychia nymphs and dries are producing well below Mio. We also have Light Cahills, olives, ants, some stones, and a few 'hoppers."
"Hex hatch remains very good on most of the Au Sable River! Some of the early waters that receive good Hex are winding down but many areas are still in peak bugs right now. Forecast is for lots of heat this week which should be ideal for another good week of the big bugs and late night dry fly fishing."
"Hatches continue to come early and so do the HEX! Been a good first week on the hex hatch in a couple of warmer sections of the Au Sable River."
"Brown Drakes are everywhere, we are past the peak but they will be around for a week or longer and play an important role in the evening rise. Iso's have started and are going strong throughout the AuSable River system."
Au Sable River Fly Shops and Guides | Fly Shop | Guide Service | Lodging | |
Au Sable AngerMio, MI | Phone: 989-826-8500 |
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Gates Au Sable LodgeGrayling, MI | Phone: 989-348-8462 |
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Guilt Trip ChartersGrayling, MI | Phone: 517-348-3203 |
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Jims Canoe LiveryGrayling, MI | Phone: 517-348-3203 |
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Jons Guide ServiceSouth Boardman, MI | Phone: 877-636-5603 |
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Lessway FlyfishingGrayling,, I | Phone: 248-255-2054 |
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Nordic Sports218 West Bay Street East Tawas, MI | Phone: 989-362-2001 |
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North East Guide ServiceOnaway, MI | Phone: 989-733-6050 |
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Old Au Sable Fly ShopGrayling, MI | Phone: 989-348-3330 |
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Riverview Lodge & CabinsGrayling, MI | Phone: 810-732-8500 |
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Skips Sport ShopGrayling,, I | Phone: 517-348-7111 |
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Streamside Guide ServiceFairview, MI | Phone: 989-848-5983 |
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Trophy WatersMio, MI | Phone: 989-826-3411 |