Michigan – Au Sable River June 2009

Sunday on the Holy Water:(Religious or not, there is something magical about this place that no one can deny)

Sunday found us up and out of the cabin around lunch. We were off to float a section of the Holy Water. I felt like a kid on Christmas morning. We had the shared knowledge from the fly shop, a couple boxes of new flies, the boats loaded up, and off we went. It took us a while, but we were both able to get the skunk off our backs. Dad more so than I, I love watching him fish dries, he swears by them. Here I am flying through my fly box it seems, and dad is relentless with just a few dry patterns. To me, there is no better model of patience. Near the end of our float, we passed the cabin where Trout Unlimited was formed. Thank god for that place and all the organization has done and continues to do for the sport. Our takeout was just downstream of Gates Lodge, and we closed the day having fooled some brookies and browns, nothing of size, but oh so rewarding for our first time on the Au Sable.

seams and cover, as well as big upstream mends, among a ton of other helpful info. This further solidified the importance of hiring a guide when you are fishing new waters. We stopped for an Au Sable Riverboat grilled chicken dinner, and then it was time to set up the heavier rods, for as the darkness approached, so did the potential for big browns. It was so exciting to float down the river at dusk and look at the Brown Drakes dancing at the tops of the cedars. Right before dark we came around a slight bend,with a nice log coming out of the water on the left side. Just before the log, a rise from a nice fish, and immediately, Joe chimed in:”right there Buzz, put it right above that rise!” Dad had one shot at this fish, and no sooner did the Drake hit the water on a perfect cast was it nailed by the fish. I almost jumped out of my seat and yelled “he’s got it!” Joe was of course on top of his game and quickly maneuvered the boat to the bank to get out and net the fish. Da d’s 5wt was pleading for mercy, and it was over 5 minutes before we could get a look at the fish. Once Joe had him in the light it wasn’t long before he was in the net, a beautiful brown that went about 20″. I was just as excited as dad, it was honestly better than catching the fish myself. It will take a lot to beat that as a Father’s Day gift, but we will see what next year brings. After

 some photos, the fish was released unharmed, minus a bruised ego. Not bad for 10:30 on a Monday night. About 25 Minutes later I had a shot at a fish, as we were fishing to the sound of risers now. My luck wasn’t the same, as I couldn’t get a take. We took out about an hour later, with no spinnerfall in the books tonight, and the last bit of the water we saw was quiet. We could not say enough about the experience of a trip down the river in an Au Sable Riverboat, and if you have not done so, you really are missing out. The whole experience was truly incredible.

The week that followed:

The rest of the week, we stuck with what we now knew worked. One thing for sure, we did not have to be on the water early. It was afternoons, evenings, and late nights of fishing from there on out. We spent a couple of nights over on the Manistee, and had a blast with Isonychia duns. Our vests grew lighter and lighter as the week went on. The flies we bought from gates were the only ones we carried plus some Para Adams that we had. The upper reaches we fished of both the Manistee and the Au Sable Rivers required lighter leaders in the 5x-6x range, with tippet from 6x-7x. I was using my newly acquired Cabelas 3wt, and dad with his TFO 2wt that he got for our trips to the Smoky Mts. These outfits make a 10 inch brookie feel like a baby tarpon. After our guide Trip, we did a few more floats in the Holy water section, and continued to do well each day. The last float trip we did, we started a little early in the day. We got on the water about noon, and right about 3, I was casting under

some overhanging limbs when a 15″ brown murdered my Drake. No monster, but a great fish to catch during the day, especially on a 3wt. It was an awesome way to close out our float trips. Our last day of fishing consisted of another evening / night on the Manistee. The fish sent us off with a bang as they tore up some Iso duns. Nothing of size, but good numbers and feisty fish. Now for the hardest part: leaving for home.

All in all:

It is impossible to put the whole week into words, but I can say that we fished more than we thought we would. (Great problem to have) I was able

to fish two storied rivers for a week with my dad. That in itself is the greatest gift I could ever ask for. We met some awesome people in our travels downstream, and especially in the Shop at Gates Au Sable Lodge. A lot of shops I visit have that one little drawback, but not this one. The staff is amazingly helpful, and the shop is very well stocked. Rusty and his crew do a fantastic job and will continue to do so for many years to come. Needless to say we cannot wait to get back up that way next year.

If/when you go:

If planning a trip to fish The Au Sable, make Gates Au Sable Lodge Priority one. And if you want to book a guide trip or lodging with them during the summer, do so as soon as you write the trip on your calendar. They fill up fast, and for good reason. They are great about getting back to you if you email them, or just call the shop. The rods we brought with us ranged from 2wt to 5wt, and bring some basic dry flies in the summer. Gates’ website has a good fishing report and hatch chart to help in that department. As far as the drake, Iso, and other local patterns, budget in your trip to buy them at the shop. The local patterns are much more productive than commercial ones, trust me. If you are reading this, write this down: bug spray-have plenty of it! Other than that, you should bring the rest of your fly fishing basics, and of course, a flashlight and headlamp of some sort. Plan on being out late. And last but not least, leave the resource cleaner than you found it people. Good luck!

-Braton