Flies only on the ausable question?

[stelmon]

I will be making my first attempt at fly fishing for trout a couple of days before july fourth weekend. I have not yet started fly tying but what flies should I pick up from the store. I really have no idea what I am doing. Any idea on how I should fish, let me know. I have some sort of sinking line with a cheap fly rod.

Also, any access information would be nice. I will be in the grayling area near the fly factory(I think). I would like to put my float boat in and have my dad pick me up later in the day.

Any info would be very much appreciated.

[Ladykiller]

best bet is to go to gates lodge and/or the fly factory and ask those guys what's happening. since you only have sinking line, dries are out of the question. personally i would not bother with streamers right now unless it was raining, and if i was throwing nymphs it would also be with a floating line.

my personal opinion if you are not gonna buy a floating flyline is to go throw bait or hardware somewhere else, or maybe hit wakely lake for pike/bass.

personally, i would spend the money on the floating line.

[WEEZER]

Stelmon, you will be fishing during the Hex. By then they should be most everywhere on the mainstream and south Branch.
As it stands right now the flyfishing is almost strictly a night game.....9pm-10:30 is the hottest fishing of the day. When the hex hits harder then it will extend out to 11:30ish for good spinnerfall action.
As it stand right now the nightyl schedule has been gooing like this.
8:00pm .....midges on the water, dinks are rising
9:00pm ..... a couple stones on the water, isonychia and a few gray drakes starting to emerge.
9:30pm.....first decent fish starts to feed....stones are increasing
9:45...... drakes in the air, stones in the air several nice fish atart rising
10:00..... can see too good. swine are feeding on stones and spinners., Time to start fishing
10:30....mist good fish have been caught , ticked or are back down for the night

Anyways, by the 4th you will pretty much only need 3 flies, #12 adams, #6 roberts drake, attractor pattern like a wulf.
Generally I'll run a more realistic pattern for the isonychia, but the #12 adams does a good job imitating an iso, plus it can double as a gray drake too.

As far as access points, on the holy waters you have tons of access off from 72. Burtons, thendera, keystone,stephan rd. on the south branch just go up chase bridge rd. and follow the mason tract back in you'll find access points. I'd give you some better access on the South branch but I'm worried that you'd get turned around in the swamp on the way out at night.

Whatever you do DON'T do a lot of wading at night! It's hex season, and pretty much the way it's done is to stake out a run and fish it all night!!! people that decide to do a lot of traveling end up messing up others fishing!!

[stelmon]

Thanks guys for the info. How much would a floating line cost me. As you know I am putting some work into my truck and don't have lots to spend.

Thanks

[WEEZER]

Stelmon, How in the hell have you been able to fish flies without floating line up to this point?
floating line can cost 9.99-70.00 depending on what you want to spend. You get what you pay for. Check out your local Meijers and walmart for those lower end fly lines.
anyways, If you need some flies for the weekend let me know, I'd donate a few.

[beer and nuts]

Stelmon, may I suggest you abandon the fly fishing untill you can go with somebody that will teach you the basics, I mean at least fly fishing AuSable. You might get to frustrated trying this by yourself especially at the beginning stages. I would suggest taking your fly rod(and spinning rod) to Wakely Lake, incredible lake to start your casting skills and catch fish. Its a walkin lake about 500 yards out M-72 east from Grayling I think about 15 miles just past Wakely Bridge Road. Bass and bluegills. Take hoppers and anything that makes motion on the water, great fishing if its hot and calm winds. Smaller stuff for gills and large stuff for bass. Spinning rod use buzz baits or worm presentations(slugo). Go to the excess at the lake and fish everything to the left, don't be afraid to get right in the think weeds and fish the small pockets. All catch and relase and artificial single hook lures ONLY fishing.

If you only can fish the AuSable River, stop by the Fly Factory and they can set you up for the basics. Just don';t let them talk you into anything more than floating line, a couple small daytime flies, and some spray to keep that fly floating. Take your spinnning rod too and throw a small agilia mepps spinner(sliver if sunny and gold if cloudy, #1 or #2) if the fly fishing gets frustrating. Good Luck!