My Cart: 0 item(s)
River Report - March 10, 2016
The Old Au Sable Fly Shop Fishing Report.
It’s one of those years. Or, at least, so it seems. We’re gonna see a lot of days in the fifties and even approaching sixty in the next ten days. I’ve heard of sandhill cranes in Southern Michigan and even a robin sighting. The steelhead are already pushing into the coastal streams and black stoneflies are hatching in our southern waters. Signs of Spring all and we’ll have no snow very soon.
It’s time to trout fish here in Northern Michigan. The shrinking snow will have the waters of the Manistee and Au Sable Rivers rising and the accesses will be much more passable than they were even a week ago. Rising water and warming temperatures should have trout on the bite. Streamers and nymphs will likely be the order of the day, but be wary of rising trout. I doubt you’ll see one and I wouldn’t recommend abandoning the wet techniques and tactics for the entire day, but there’s something very cool about catching the first dry fly trout of the year.
If you go, be ready for anything. Bring all of your streamers and nymphs. Conditions will certainly be dynamic. Be sure to have natural imitations in both small and larger sizes and be sure to have bright, attractor flies dressed in obnoxious furs and feathers. You’ll know better what to tie on once you step streamside. My rule is to try to match the color of the bottom of the river if you can see it. If you can’t see it tie on either something very bright or very black.
The shop will be closed on March 11, 12, and 13 in order to go to the Big Show in Warren Michigan. The Midwest Fly Fishing Show is one of the finest in the country and we’ll be there with our biggest display to date. We’ve emptied the shop and now that we’re moving into our ninth season, we’ve found all sorts of odds and ends that need to go. We’ll have more great deals at the show then we’ve ever had. There’s stuff marked 60%, great deals on some beautiful used rods (like Winston’s), and even some brand new Sage Rods for 50% off. Hope to see you there, but if I don’t, I hope you’re fishing.
And then we’ll be back, stronger than ever, for the greatest trout fishing season in a couple of years.
I plan on being on the River more than I have been since Jack was born. He’s in preschool now and I have more time and I’m hungry.
See you soon,
Andy
It’s time to trout fish here in Northern Michigan. The shrinking snow will have the waters of the Manistee and Au Sable Rivers rising and the accesses will be much more passable than they were even a week ago. Rising water and warming temperatures should have trout on the bite. Streamers and nymphs will likely be the order of the day, but be wary of rising trout. I doubt you’ll see one and I wouldn’t recommend abandoning the wet techniques and tactics for the entire day, but there’s something very cool about catching the first dry fly trout of the year.
If you go, be ready for anything. Bring all of your streamers and nymphs. Conditions will certainly be dynamic. Be sure to have natural imitations in both small and larger sizes and be sure to have bright, attractor flies dressed in obnoxious furs and feathers. You’ll know better what to tie on once you step streamside. My rule is to try to match the color of the bottom of the river if you can see it. If you can’t see it tie on either something very bright or very black.
The shop will be closed on March 11, 12, and 13 in order to go to the Big Show in Warren Michigan. The Midwest Fly Fishing Show is one of the finest in the country and we’ll be there with our biggest display to date. We’ve emptied the shop and now that we’re moving into our ninth season, we’ve found all sorts of odds and ends that need to go. We’ll have more great deals at the show then we’ve ever had. There’s stuff marked 60%, great deals on some beautiful used rods (like Winston’s), and even some brand new Sage Rods for 50% off. Hope to see you there, but if I don’t, I hope you’re fishing.
And then we’ll be back, stronger than ever, for the greatest trout fishing season in a couple of years.
I plan on being on the River more than I have been since Jack was born. He’s in preschool now and I have more time and I’m hungry.
See you soon,
Andy