AuSable River Float???

[Boyd]

I am heading up to the AuSable this weekend and looking for advice on where and when I should float. I usually wade and fish the South Branch or up by Burton's Landing but have access to a drift boat this weekend and want to try something new. Any advice on when and where would be GREATLY APPRECIATED. I was thinking Stephan Bridge down to Parmalee but think that may be too long. I've never fished that stretch before and figured with the bigger water came bigger fish. We would be using a drift boat. We also really wanted to do some dry fly fishing.

[CatchASteel]

You have a drifter or a river boat?

[dam 4 drift]

your right stephan to parmalee is a long long ride.second anything other than a river boat in the holy waters your looking at a lot of upset anglers cursing you out.my advise is try Mc Masters to Parmalee or Parmalee to the whirlpool.If you want pm me i ll see if i can help you out further

[ZooCougar]

Full sized drift boats are usually frowned upon on the Holy Waters -- especially now that the trout season "opener" has come. There is some new timber in the water there as well that would make it difficult to navigate (along with the number of wading anglers there). The South Branch has a lot of water flowing now making it a good option if you have some skill on the oars. As formentioned, something like the water downstream on the main stream would be a great option -- fewer anglers, bigger water. Parmalee - Whirlpool is a good float.

[Boyd]

How would McMasters to Parmalee or Parmalee to Whirlpool be as far as dry fly fishing? Thanks again for all of the input.

[CatchASteel]

We floated Connors Flat to McMasters this weekend - be ready to really man up on the oars if the water is still up, but it was a good float. Thought about going through the holy waters, but opted not to and waded instead. Probably best to leave well enough alone ya know.

As a side note, if anyone is looking into getting a guide for a float on the holy waters - pm me. My dad and I found the best one ever in my opinion.

[ZooCougar]

Should be plenty of dry fly action on that water this weekend with the daytime warm ups right now. Fish have been looking up for about 2 weeks and should only get better from hear on out.

[Banditto]

I agree, nice spot to dry fly for sure. Seen a lot of extrordinary size fish there too...

[rick]

I have a cabin about 4 miles upriver from the paralee and was up there for the opener. The river was high and fast with lots of debris in the water. Sat. was a beautiful day and we had about 40 or 50 boats go by.I did my fishing from shore and had a hard time keeping my hook out of the timber. Every boat that goes by asks how I'm doing and most said that they where catching fish. The catch included suckers, pike, walleye, browns, brook, and rainbows. I never did see a hatch worth talking about but this weekend should produce some strong ones. McMasters to Parmalee should take you about 4 hours give or take a few minutes. Hope to be up for the weekend but my turkey season starts monday so will be there then for sure. If you come by say Hi.

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/539/P1010145.jpg

[dam 4 drift]

only four hours to fish that area.Thats moving fast usually takes me 8hrs to float that area and thats only one guy fishing up front in the drift boat.LOL hate to think if i was all by myself.Hey think i ve seen your place before.Is it on the south side of the river nice bend right after your place

[rick]

Iv'e never fished the whole stretch but have kayaked it. About 2 hours from McMasters to my place and the same from cabin to parmalee. Just going by that so not sure what it will acually take. Keep in mind we are partying at the time so who knows. I guess you would say that I am on the east side. River runs north and south where i'm at then 90 degree turn about 200 yards after me. This is right out front.

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/551/100_0793.jpg
and this is just up river from me.

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/551/844112.jpg
Next time stop by for a brew.

[beer and nuts]

Rick, dang that has to be very close to our cabin we have. where are you located? By the pics I can not remember that stretch. We are on the north side of the river exactly between McMasters/Parm too, And the river runs a n/s direction too, onthe left side of the "V" where it dips down. We are off Cherry Creek road, down Tucker Trail. Looked again at your description and it seems your down stream from me, but onthe south side of the river.

[dam 4 drift]

Beer and nuts how far are you from Lincolin lodge(sp?)on cherry creek rd. I am always down that way.

[rick]

Beer and nuts, Tucker trail is right across from me. I'm on Haskell drive. Check it out on gps or google earth. I am the second to last place on Haskell dr. Ther is a beautiful new log cabin about a 1/2 mile down river from me on your side. I think it's on cherry creek rd. Hell, we must be nieghbors.Swim on over 1 day, just not in November! Burr! Do you know where foleys place was? Are you any where around there.? I've driven down tucker trail but am not to familiar with it. Check out google earth and let me know where you are from me.
Small world.

[beer and nuts]

Yes, that new cabin is a couple bends upstream from us or we're the second cabin down from that new cabin. We own 1200 feet and our cabin sits right on the river. Were there sometimes on the weekend and there on weyerhasuer canoe race weekend--stop by if your floating down if you see some activity.

Dam 4 drift-Lincoln Lodge is about 3/4 mile to the east of our turn on Cherry creek, and then another 1.5 miles back to the river.http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/548/medium/DSC01580.JPG

[woodie slayer]

don't you mean west of your turn to lincoln lodge??
i can see tucker trail out my back door ..
how far are you in from the private property sign on tucker trail

[dam 4 drift]

I didn t realise how many members there are on here that arn t to far from me LOL.If any of you guys are ever up in the Lovells area stop in and say hi

[beer and nuts]

Lincoln Lodge is west of tucker Trail-yes. Might be further than 3/4 mile though. Woodie-you have the big clearcut out your back door-right?

[cadillacjethro]

You guys are confusing me. Who had the beer??:lol: :lol: :lol:

[Bulletproof]

I like the McMaster's to Parmalee float, but beware....There is a fairly lengthy section of 'frog water' that gobbles up a better part of the middle section.

[moonphase]

Just paddle the whole thing.Thats what I did last summer in the Ausable River Canoe Marathon Just under 18 Hrs is all it took.Ill be out there again on July 28th.I am doing it with my son this year it will be his first attempt so this one will be extra special.We are not trying to set any records,just complete the 120 mile paddle in under the cut off time of 19 hrs.Maybe I could get a Michigan Sportsman sponsorship sticker to put on the side of our race canoe for all you guys on the river could no who we are and root us on.Ill remind ya'll a week or 2 before.Later Brian

[Splitshot]

While the water from Stephans to Wakely Bridge is smaller it is prime water and you shouldn't have to buy a special boat to float it.

It is about 4 miles and the only way to access the best parts is to float it. If the people give you any guff, ask them if they will allow you access and a place to park your car.

[woodie slayer]

Lincoln Lodge is west of tucker Trail-yes. Might be further than 3/4 mile though. Woodie-you have the big clearcut out your back door-right?

yup they cut 130 acres for them damn warblers:rant:

[Boyd]

While the water from Stephans to Wakely Bridge is smaller it is prime water and you shouldn't have to buy a special boat to float it.

It is about 4 miles and the only way to access the best parts is to float it. If the people give you any guff, ask them if they will allow you access and a place to park your car.

Yep we floated from McMaster's to Parmalee and had the wind in our faces all day long, it sucked. Bob Linsenman told us to go up there and there would be "less pressure", shooooooot not another fisherman on the whole stretch. Gates was not much help either because they could have told us that it was too early for anything to happen as far as hatches down there but they didn't and the older guy that was working there told us "ABSOLUTELY NOT" when we suggested floating the "Holy Waters". Like he was the river police, I have fished the PM many times in the flys only water and have dealt with the drift boats going through skinny water. Maybe if there was some access to the river it wouldn't be that bad but I don't know how to get access from below Keystone down to Stephan bridge. I still may try it another time and just say F off to the other fisherman out there that give me a hassle, I shouldn't have to pay a guide to be able to use that stretch.

Thanks again to all of the advice that everyone has given.

Rusty was in the shop on Sunday and I asked him where to fish from Burton's to Stephan or Stephan to Wakley and he told me the upper stretch should warm up faster and you would see more action. He was right and we had a great afternoon with me catching two over 12 inches and a couple of smaller ones. I was happy to finally catch the first fish of the year. Sorry no pics