Hex
It’s that time of year again. Hex flies have appeared in their usual places throughout the Au Sable, although they are sparse on the Trophy Waters until you get past McKinley Bridge. They should stay abundant over the next week or so. Call for updates.
Isos are still plentiful and should stay that way for awhile, and are the best choice right now for the Trophy Waters.
Weekend Update
Brown Drakes are pretty much done, although there may still be a few here and there. The dominant fly will now be the Isonychia, which should be appearing anytime. Blue Wing Olives should also get results. We have some new streamer patterns that are good choices on these overcast days, so stop in and check them out.
The water temperatures have returned to a safe level below Mio, and should stay that way through the weekend. As always, treat the fish carefully.
The start of the Hex hatch is probably very close, and there have already been scattered reports of Hex on the upper Au Sable. Keep your eyes and ears open.
Water Temps High — Exercise Caution
Just a word of caution — anyone fishing the Trophy Waters should use great caution when releasing fish. The water temperature below Mio dam hit 72.
Sulphurs are still active, but Brown Drakes have started and should be numerous below Mio by the end of the weekend. With the hot temperatures, a little more patience is required….
May Update
There is still some light hendrickson action, mostly in the afternoons, but the better action is with the sulphurs, which started a few days ago. We have a good selection of a couple of different styles of sulphurs at the shop. Also, hares ear and pheasant tail nymphs, prince nymphs, and zug bugs will produce good results.
The weather is expected to stay dry and hot this week, so that should produce good dry fly action right into June.
Opener Update
It's hard to believe another winter has passed and opening day is upon us. Seemed like a short winter — maybe it was the lack of heavy snow.
The Au Sable River is in fine shape for the opener. Good dry fly choices for tomorrow are the perennial hendricksons, and also olives. Streamers will be a good choice as well if it's overcast and rainy as predicted, which seems to be the standard opener weather the last few years.
The steelhead are pretty much gone from the Rifle River, in case anyone is interested. They're usually there through April, but the warm weather led to an early run.
The shop will be open today and at 7:30 am tomorrow, and we'll have donuts and hot coffee. Hope to see you even if you don't need anything.
Here's to another great season!
Rusty Gates, R.I.P.
Rusty Gates, owner of Gates Au Sable Lodge in Grayling and President of Anglers of the Au Sable, passed away on December 19 at the too-young age of 54. Except for possibly George Mason, it is doubtful that there has ever been anyone who devoted as much time, energy and vision to protecting and preserving our wonderful Au Sable River, and probably no one in the midwest who promoted fly fishing as well and as long as he did. He will definitely be missed by everyone who loves this river.
Anyone who wants to make a memorial donation can visit www.gateslodge.com or www.ausableanglers.org .
Update for August
The next week or so, if not sooner, should bring one of the most productive hatches to the Trophy Waters: epherons, also known as White Flies. This hatch will last for several weeks and will bring a lot of trout to the surface. We have a good selection of every stage of this fly. There are still light Cahills coming off, and hoppers and other terrestrials are good selections. With warmer termperatures expected next week, look for a lot of bugs. There are still isonychias, and for the last couple of weeks orange stimulators and stonefly patterns have produced good results.
Stop in for an update, as the action can change frequently this time of year.
River update, July 11
We are still getting questions about hex flies, but that train has pretty much left the station. There could be a flare-up or two with the warmer weather, but heading out in search of hex is probably a fool's errand at this point (although, of course, it doesn't hurt to have a few in your fly box).
A better choice would be the ever-present isonychia, light cahills, olives, and stoneflies. A Michigan skunk will be a good choice also, as the temperatures rise. For nymph action, try a zug bug or prince nymph.
As always, be mindful of the water temperatures. Extreme caution should be exercised with our Trophy Water fish when the water temperature exceeds seventy.
Hex are here
Hex flies have finally made their long awaited appearance on the river. Most of them are concentrated on the lower Au Sable downstream from McKinley Bridge, on Mio Pond, and on the South Branch and parts of the upper mainstream. With the hot weather we're getting expect the hatch to last longer this year than it did last year. We have a good selection of hex flies this year, so stop in for a sample.
Hex Update
There have been a few hex sightings in the lower Au Sable and a few on Mio Pond, but for the most part the big hatch has not happened yet. It could happen any day, though. Call the shop for more timely updates or check this site.
Brown Drakes
It's now officially my favorite time of year when it comes to bug hatches. Both brown drakes and isonychias have made their appearance on the river, and the fish are happily feeding on them. The drakes will be most active in the evening, as will the isos. Duns and spinners will get the best results, but it will be worth trying the emergers earlier in the day as well.
Another good fly to use right now is the Roberts Yellow Drake. It's not exactly a brown drake or iso, but it seems to get good results during these hatches.
The river is in good shape right now with decent water levels and good temperatures for trout, and the canoeing pressure on Saturdays has not peaked yet. If you're thinking about fishing the Au Sable or taking a guided trip, there isn't a better time than right now.
Memorial Day Update
As we head into the Memorial Day weekend, conditions on the Trophy Waters look very nice. The water level is within the normal range, and water temperatures are ideal. Dark Hendricksons are pretty well done, although there are still light Hendrickson spinner falls. Last night the fish were looking for sulphurs, and it should stay that way for at least a week or two. Other good fly choices are mahoganies and Borchers Specials. For nymph fishing, stick with hares ears and pheasant tails, with the occasional prince nymph.
Don't forget to remember our fallen troops on Monday. It's easy to forget what this holiday is supposed to be all about.
Hendricksons
Hendricksons have been coming off steadily for about a week now and are producing good fish. Our guide Dennis went out the other day and pulled in about 20 fish, all on Hennies.
The water level is a little high but the Trophy Waters are very fishable right now. Don't miss the Henny hatch, it's maybe the most fun you'll have on the stream all season.
May Update
Opening weekend was a little wet, but we've come almost come to expect that the last few years. The rain took the water levels up, so most opening weekend folks were using nymphs and streamers, and quite a few of them caught nice fish. Dry fly action is still a little slow, but look for the hennies and olives to reappear, then the fish should start looking up. Black and tan caddis is also evident, as are black stoneflies. This weekend looks to be cool but fairly dry, so there should be more bugs.
I'm getting calls from a few people asking if we're renting drift boats again. The answer is yes … for now. You may recall that I stopped renting them last year after several unpleasant incidents, but I've relented, at least for now. However, if anyone's interested, one of the drift boats is for sale for $2,500, which is a very good deal for a boat that's still in fine shape. Call the shop at 989-826-3411 for details.
Opening Day…Finally
Well, the 25th is finally here. Look for light and dark hendricksons on the river, along with larger blue wing olives. Streamers should be a good choice too, since the hatchery fish just got planted this week. The water temperature is about fifty degrees.
Be sure to stop in for all the flies you'll need, plus free coffee and donuts…
Regulations
A lot of people have asked about new regulations on the Trophy Waters this year. Unfortunately, there are no new regulations. It's still 12 inches for rainbows, 15 inches for browns, limit 2 per day. However, we are hopeful that the DNR will change the regulations for 2010 so that the river will be open all year, and will be either a no-kill zone or will have very strict rules about keeping fish. Stay tuned.
White Flies Are Here
The white fly (epheron) hatch has started. Heavy hatches have been reported in the Trophy Waters between Mio and Comins as well as near McKinley Bridge. Action starts before dusk. Daytime choices are still terrestrials — hoppers, ants, gnats. Small olives and olive emergers are also getting good results, as are hare’s ear and pheasant tail nymphs.
Call the shop for a guided trip. Water temps are below normal for this time of year, and white flies are a lot of fun to fish.
July Update
The hex hatch is still going on the mainstream above Camp 10 Bridge, but pretty well done below McKinley Bridge. There is a good chance it will be done by the end of this week. Isonychias, light cahills, and pheasant tail nymphs are all good choices on the river now. This is also a good time for standards like Adams, Borchers, and Wulffs.
Keep an eye on the water temperature, as it is rising.
River update
The Au Sable below Mio Dam is still a little high, but is quickly returning to normal levels. Conditions are considerably better than last weekend, when the water was too high and fast to do much of anything. Isonychias will be dominant. There are still sulphurs on the river, along with numerous caddis, but fish don’t seem to be feeding on them. Light cahills are just starting, and there are reports of Hex on the South Branch and Mio Pond. With warmer weather coming, look for more Hex and cahills.
June update
Brown drakes are now heavy on the upper Au Sable as well as the Trophy Waters section. This week the water is high and a little dirty due to the recent rains, so exercise caution when wading the deeper stretches. Isonychias and iso nymphs are also prevalent. You may have better luck with brown drake emergers than with the duns. Still plenty of sulphurs around, and a good choice might be yellow or black stoneflies. No Hex have been reported yet, but they should be coming soon, as long as these rains don’t keep them away. Hex will show up on the upper Au Sable as well as the lower waters east of McKinley Bridge. There’s a lot to choose from, so have fun!
Hennies and more
Water temperature in the Trophy Waters is getting warmer and the bugs are becoming abundant. Last time out a few days ago there were literally clouds of dark Hendricksons, with a decent spinnerfall toward dusk. Also plenty of lighter caddis have been seen, and the beginnings of sulphurs. Our guide and two clients caught over fifty fish between Mio and Comins yesterday. It’s a bug smorgasboard!
River update
The river below Mio is closer to normal conditions but the water levels are still a little high, so be careful in strong current areas. I tried fishing not far from the scenic overlook the other night and almost got swept away! Hennies, olives, black caddis, and Griffith’s gnats will be good choices in the afternoons if you see the fish looking up. Otherwise try olive or black woolly buggers or small trout patterns in the deeper pools. Nymph suggestions: pheasant tail or hennie nymph. The weather’s looking better…..
Spring is coming…
Opening day is now less than two weeks away. The river is high, higher than it usually is this time of year as the winter’s heavy snowfalls that soaked into the ground are emptying themselves into the current. The water levels should stabilize within a week or so. Early spring fly selections should include blue wing olives, light and dark hendricksons, black stoneflies, and maybe a few other surprises. Check back for updates.
Trophy Waters Fly Shop opens on April 19, and will be open at 8:00 a.m. on April 26, the trout opener. We’ll have a free cookout and give-aways — hope to see you!
Hexamania
The hex hatch officially started a few days ago, so have your flashlights ready. There is not much of a hex, if any, between Mio and Comins, but farther toward McKinley and beyond they should be in abundance. They’ll also be thick upstream above Mio on the South and Main branches. The action doesn’t start until about 10 pm and could go all night.
