July NE report w/pics....

[brookid]

http://www.uppermidwestflyfishing.com/photos/data/590/medium/Ausable2.jpg

Global warming? Where is it when you need it? We just got back from eight days up at the cabin and it was definately the coldest i can remember it in quite some time. Yes, we had a couple days that kissed 80 but by and large it stayed in the low 70's during the day and mid 40's to low 50's at night.

Though the report will make it seem like i fished alot, i really didn't. I typically got out for a few hours in the morning and a few again at night...of course there was also the odd hour here and there during the day out in the lake.

I also tried to mix it up this trip. I think its fair to say i did more warm water fishing than cold water. Here's how it went down in no particular order.

The Lake

http://www.uppermidwestflyfishing.com/photos/data/590/medium/IMG_1170.JPG

I'm not much of a warm water fisherman, i think thats a fair statement. It's not because i don't enjoy it, its just something i don't do alot of. The lake out front of the cabin is really a pretty good fishery, a fishery i don't take advantage of. I figured i would try and change that this year.
The lake is a spring feed, very clear, fairly cold and has a healthy population of smallmouth. There isn't a whole lot of structure so the bass tend to cruise. I've sunk quite a few trees the past few years, as have others around the lake. It's a given there will be fish hanging around those
but you can also expect to find them under most every raft, dock, boat or anything else floating.

I had hoped to site fish them and throw streamers...needless to say that didn't pan out to well. I got a lot of interest and a few follows but that was that.

I did real well wading out to some of the boats docked out in the water and stripping mice, gurglers, HLS's...your typical night fare.

http://www.uppermidwestflyfishing.com/photos/data/590/medium/boat.jpg

This particular boat became my favorite, probably as much for proximity than anything else...it's the neighbors. Its sitting in water only about thigh deep. I could snorkle out every day and see what was sitting under it, grab my rod and fire away. I pulled some really nice fish, one going about 18 inches and just a pig. I really was hoping to get a daytime pic of a fish but carrying a camera was a pain. I wasn't exactly "dressed" for fishing...shorts, t-shirt, rod & reel. It was murphys law, if i put the camera around my neck...no fish. If i didn't...you guessed it. Its a shame because these fish are really pretty. The lake is so clean that the fish have bright green bodies, white bellys and blaze orange eyes.

The highlight of the lake fishing was the evening fish...which i didn't expect. I was standing on the dock at dusk the first night when i noticed these rather large may flies coming off...followed shortly by rising fish.

I quickly gathered some stuff, hopped in the boat and got out in the water.
I scooped a few up, didn't matter to me what it was...i had something that would imitate it. I'm not much of a bug guy, we're guessing a cousin to the hex. We looked it up in a mayfly book but couldn't come up with an exact match...close but not spot on.

http://www.uppermidwestflyfishing.com/photos/data/590/medium/hex2.jpg

http://www.uppermidwestflyfishing.com/photos/data/590/medium/hex.jpg

http://www.uppermidwestflyfishing.com/photos/data/590/medium/IMG_12411.JPG

I know you bug guys love this kind of #hit so have at it...what it be?

Anyway, these bugs didn't get the big guys out but it was alot of fun slaming the smaller fish with a 4wt. They ranged in size from this...

http://www.uppermidwestflyfishing.com/photos/data/590/medium/IMG_1152.JPG

to this...

http://www.uppermidwestflyfishing.com/photos/data/590/medium/IMG_1195.JPG

It was also a learning experience. They were cruising and gently sucking down the naturals so it was hard to get a bead on which direction they were heading. It was a bit hit and miss but if you got your fly out there and twiched it around enough eventually it got attention. The bats were ridiculous. They generally don't bother me but when there is almost as many bats as bugs it gets a little uncomfortable. The bugs popped everynight, some better than others but it was enough that it kept me off the streams and on the lake most nights.

[brookid]

The Pond

In keeping with the warm water theme i decided to check out a place i hadn't been to in at least 15 to 20 years. Its only about a 15 minute walk from the cottage but its one of those places that if you don't know it exists
you more than likely won't stumble upon it. We used to fish it a fair amount as kids but we stashed a boat...pretty much the only way to fish it, but i thought i'd try anyway.
Its fairly easy to get to...walk down the back road to the two track..then up the hill along the power lines...

http://www.uppermidwestflyfishing.com/photos/data/590/medium/IMG_1153.JPG

...at the top a left turn along the ridge line and down the other side...

http://www.uppermidwestflyfishing.com/photos/data/590/medium/IMG_1154.JPG

Then a short walk through the woods...

http://www.uppermidwestflyfishing.com/photos/data/590/medium/IMG_1155.JPG

and you come to Perch Pond...

http://www.uppermidwestflyfishing.com/photos/data/590/medium/IMG_1156.JPG

Its fairly small, deep in the middle and a pain in the ass to fish from shore.

http://www.uppermidwestflyfishing.com/photos/data/590/medium/ppond.jpg

Its essentially marsh land all along the edge and if you find a spot to get near the water there is usually 20 or 30 feet of moss and weeds until you get open water. The same three spots around the pond are still open and allow some limited bank fishing. It didn't matter, i got spanked. It contains your usual pond quarry; largemouth, pan fish and pike. I saw some tremendous bass cruising around but i couldn't find a player. I threw everything i had both above and below. I got a few pumpkin seed but thats the best i could do.
I was determined to get one of those largemouths but after three mornings of aggrevation i gave up. I need a cruising vessel...i'll be back.

The Ausable

http://www.uppermidwestflyfishing.com/photos/data/590/medium/Ausable5.jpg

We stayed on the river the first day and half on the way up to the cottage.
The weather didn't cooperate very well. I had a nice Friday night fish out in front of the lodge but rain came overnight and screwed up any after dark activity...actually i just didn't feel like fishing in the dark and in the rain. The rain continued in the AM, actually quite heavy at times but i did have a nice morning throwing streamers. The slate wings came off real well and provided a fair amount of action...

http://www.uppermidwestflyfishing.com/photos/data/590/medium/creek_brown.jpg

...but i really wanted tricos...so much for that. I didn't fish Sunday morning because the better half wanted to get to the cottage so i did sneak back on Wed to join a couple fishing buddies.

http://www.uppermidwestflyfishing.com/photos/data/590/medium/Ausable4.jpg

It was a beautiful morning and our hopes were high of hitting a cloud of tricos. They have been going strong on the north branch for some time and are really just getting cranked up on the main. In hind site we probably should have made the drive but we stuck to our guns and stayed on the main.

It was marginal at best. We got a few tricos on the water and found the odd player but over all it was slow.

[brookid]

http://www.uppermidwestflyfishing.com/photos/data/590/medium/brookie21.jpg

The fishing wasn't great but its hard to beat the company. These guys have been fishing the river for a long time...cane rods and soft hackles. Its fun to watch these guys go to work.

http://www.uppermidwestflyfishing.com/photos/data/590/medium/Mark.jpg

We waded a section of the South Branch later in the afternoon but it was more of the same...the laughs continued but the fish were scarse. I'll see you boys again in the fall.

My creek

Truth be told, i don't fish this little gem much anymore. The other streams in the area provide to much temptation. The last three years i've spent alot of time standing in her waters...but with work gloves on. I continued the work this trip as well...not alot, but i did get dirty.
This go around i actually spent more time fishing. I only got to her twice and for not much more than a handful of hours at a time, but it was great.

http://www.uppermidwestflyfishing.com/photos/data/590/medium/Creek1.jpg

If i was to be completely honest, fishing this little creek is about as good as it gets for me and i should probably do it more often. The average size fish isn't terribly big but they are all beautiful, all wild and my little 3wt cane rod was built for this place.

http://www.uppermidwestflyfishing.com/photos/data/590/medium/brookie2.jpg

I decided to have a look at a few sections i haven't been to in a few years.
In the short stretch of stream i fished it was no surprise to come across both old and new beaver dams...many dams.

http://www.uppermidwestflyfishing.com/photos/data/590/medium/bcreek21.jpg

This one is still active. I popped it more out of spite. I know he came back behind me that night and repatched it...guess i just wanted him to know i'm around. I'll have a look again in August. I guess the pic will be a good reference.

Unfortunately the end result is alot of silted dead water in stretches but i suppose over time it will come around. I've resigned myself to the fact that i can't possibly tiddy up every mess i come across.

I also come across another section where the quads are crossing.

http://www.uppermidwestflyfishing.com/photos/data/590/medium/IMG_1220.JPG

I had a hunch i would find this. I'll bet if i follow the trail for a half mile or so i'll come to the other spot where they cross...near where my project is, the spot i've been bugging the DNR about. The same spot that was slated to have work done on it but got shelved due to the massive budget cuts this year.

However, there is still some beautiful little stretches that contain a pretty healthy population of brookies...not what it once was but i suppose it could be worse.

http://www.uppermidwestflyfishing.com/photos/data/590/medium/IMG_1224.JPG

I did get a nice surprise on one of the morning fishes. I was working a section i call the "meadows" when i start noticing a bunch of bugs in the air...

http://www.uppermidwestflyfishing.com/photos/data/590/medium/bcreek2.jpg

...clouds of bugs...i look up towards the sun behind me and i've got tricos. I couldn't believe it. I've never gone looking for them on the creek so i was pumped. I ran further up stream to a spot i though would be a good place to sit and wait for them to come down but it was already going. The water was so clear and with the fish suspended just below the surface you could see every trout. It was one of the funner couple of hours i've had on a stream. I'm hoping the tricos are still going in August...i'll definately be back.

[brookid]

The Evening Fish

I only got out twice on the local creeks for night fishing. The evening rise on the lake took care of that. The first trip was to be more of an early evening fish than hard core mousing.

I was pretty beat after getting up at 5AM to meet the boys at the Ausable. I had a section in mind that i had to drive right past on the way home so i though i'd work a short stretch and see what would happen.

http://www.uppermidwestflyfishing.com/photos/data/590/medium/IMG_1226.JPG

This creek does get a Hex hatch but nothing crazy. I did fairly well here a couple years ago and i was hopping for more of the same. This place will typically be a week or two behind the Ausable so i was counting on the hatch just finshing up or possibly still be trickling. I sat on a log till dark but neither saw or heard anything. I threw on a thin bodied hex, the same i used in the lake, and started wading up stream blind casting. I could just make out the shape of my fly, when i hear a slurp and see a disturbance
...raise rod tip, fish on!

http://www.uppermidwestflyfishing.com/photos/data/590/medium/IMG_1216.JPG

He eventually dove under some structure and i thought he tangled himself enough to pop the hook. I was delighted when a short time later he came scooting out the downstream side. I eventually got a net under him, a quick pic and off he went. I strung up my rod and waded out. It was a long day.
A few nights later a met up with a friend who lives on another creek and we went out late mousing. Eventually we finally put a decent fish in the net but overall it was pretty slow.

http://www.uppermidwestflyfishing.com/photos/data/590/medium/IMG_1105.JPG

All in all it was a great eight days. We head back up in another three weeks and i'm looking for more of the same...I doubt i'll have the bugs on the lake but i can add the "white flys" to the mix.

http://www.uppermidwestflyfishing.com/photos/data/590/medium/august_rods.jpg

The July sticks

[WILDCATWICK]

Great post as always. It'ts been awhile since we've been to our camp on the East Branch. I think we were there at the very beggining of the Hex. We have tennis tournaments back in Michigan starting this weekend and ending the following so fishing is out of the question for a couple of weekends. :sad:

Then we'll head up to the western U.P. or over to Grayling. We still need to catch up in heart of Michigan.

I think I'm finnally going to give in and purchase a digital camera (your posts have helped in the decision). What do you have for a camera, what some of the features, and if you were to do it again would you look for any different features?

Thanks again for shareing your trip!

[Shupac]

Great trip. Fishing a variety of water is great...but afterward I find myself wanting to fish each kind of water more. New challenges bring new perplexities.

When are you going up for white flies?

[sweet tree]

Great pictures and nice report...I ecspecially liked the brookie picture.

[brookid]

WCW,

I use a pretty cheap camera. I was afraid of dunking it...and i have. I almost trashed it again the begining of the trip. We got dumped on a couple times. I tried to shield it as best i could but the viewfinder fritzed and took a day to come back. I thought i was back to the drawing board...:dizzy:

Anyway, its a Cannon Powershot A430...middle of the road, only 4mgx and when i got it a few years ago it was $150.00.

If/when i do it again feature wise i'd probably want a longer lens, i think mines a 4x. I'd also probably go water proof...takes the anxiety out of it.

Its got quite a few features...most of which i haven't messed with but Thats the only two things that really jump out at me.

The biggest thing for me is i don't want to get bogged down with a camera or have it become the focus of my outings...i'm there to fish, i just snap pics along the way.


Shupac,(& WCW)

I'm back at the cottage from 11th of Aug to the 19th...i'm sure i'll slide down to Mio a few evenings...its only about 40 minutes away. If you guys are around....

[quackmaster]

Great report...........now Im really anxious for the upcoming flyfishing weekend up north and I still have to wait four more days:dizzy: I have been reading your stream repair reports for the past yr or so now and to see how much you have done to improve the habitat it is really amazing to see what hardwork and dedication can do. Excellent job, I hope that your posts have inspired others to do the same, I know that they have been very motivational to me! Keep up the good work and thank you for the great report.

[Shupac]

I'll be up about a week later.

But I'll be hitting the tricos this fri/sat.

[SurfDog]

Awesome as always...thanks for taking all of us with you

[back2spool]

Super report dude! (as always)

Nice flyrods, that's about 4 more than I have!

You should consider a career in photojournalism!

[RIVER LADY]

Great report. Thanks for taking us along. Pictures are great.

[SPITFIRE]

I love reports like that makes me feel like i was rite next to you the whole time, thanx brookid.

[TheDuke33]

Thanks for the report, great pictures. That creek looks amazing. Love the way you tell your stories too; they got me way too anxious at work to take off, grab my fly-rod, and head north!

[esp17]

Thanks For sharing. I hope someday when i can drive i can be there all of the time.:lol:

[msunolimit]

very nice report. great pictures and story! :)

[kingfisher2]

Thanks for the read Brookid. That's one monster Brown you got there. Have you had a chance to fish that SW Michigan creek we've conversed about? I moved out west and haven't fished it for the last couple years. Seeing your Brown makes me want to spend the $900 and get on a plane.

Marc

[brookid]

Marc,

He lives! Good to see ya still hanging around from time to time. I have made it to the river but unfortunately not to where we discussed. I still have the info saved and it will not go un-used...

Hope your health is good and all is well in your world...

[kingfisher2]

Health is good, scenery here is good, and the fishing is great. I've been killing the jack salmon every weekend floating skein under bobber in the rivers here. This Saturday I'll be at the mouth of the great Columbia river fishing silvers (coho here) and salmon. Should be interesting as they anchor the boat when the tide is going out and put spoons out and let the current work the baits. On Friday afternoon, Sunday, and Monday I'll be fishing the Skykomish for the Humbacks as they run every other year. I'm sure I'll hook a few kings and jacks as well. The overall fishing here is fantastic. It just took me a bit to figure it all out. It's interesting how my Michigan methods are not used by others out here, and put more fish to the net.

Good luck to your adventures and I look forward to your next report.

Marc

[brookid]

Good to here. It is some beautiful country out there. We fished one state south of you in June. Most of our time was spent up in the Cascade Mountains. I won't soon forget fishing in settings like this....

http://www.uppermidwestflyfishing.com/photos/data/589/medium/IMG_1083.JPG

[kingfisher2]

We have several lakes that look like that. I fished the Salmon Fly hatch on the Boise River below Anderson damn in July. The average rainbow was 20" and you'd catch several in the lower 20's. A lot of the lakes here are stocked with triploids and they average 3 pounds. What's nice about it out here, there's always a place to catch fish year round.

[lytemup]

Great story, love the creek section. I seem to pour over maps (with Google & Windows Live Local nice ariel photos & dynamic maps!) before I head up to the Au Sable, looking for creeks like that. I can't ever seem to convice myself to drive & hike around 1/2 a day to check them out though! I would rather be on the water! Your cabin seems close to everything, excellent location. :coolgleam