How did I rig it?

[snowman11]

Haven't been to Foote since I was a kid, I am going this year.

What is the standard for spawn bags? We used to use nickel sized bags suspended with a pencil sinker I believe.

I *THINK* it was main line, three way swivel, 1 foot dropper with pencil sinker then the spawn bag on about a three foot leader.

But...I dont remember...all I remember was tying leader after leader after leader.

Anybody able to help me out??

[Chip]

AuSable Steel is the guy to talk to, he seems like he lives on that river. I fish it a little, so here's my way:

Salmon:

12-10lb Maxima UG mainline
Snapswivel slides up that line, so you can clip on different sized pencil weights or whatever
Bead slides up the line to protect your knot
Clinch knot to a barrel swivel
Clinch knot the leader of 8 lb Max UG to the other end of that swivel

*I'll use straight 6lb w/ splitshot about 3' up from the hook for steelhead sometimes if it seems they are spooky.

I like about a 3' leader, but whatever works for you. I'm just getting into the spawn thing, but I've heard dime-, nickel-, quarter- and "choker"-sized bags all work depending on the conditions. Waxworms definitely work for the steelhead, and so do crawlers. That's about all I can tell you. Good luck.

Chip

[Fishndude]

Here is how I have rigged to fish the A, for years. This will help you get off a few more snags than having a fixed weight.

Put a snap swivel (#10 or #12) on your mainline, so it can slide up and down. Add a small bead, to keep the swivel from hanging up on your knot. Tie a small (#10 or #12) barrel swivel to the end of your mainline. Add a 3 foot leader, and tie a hook on the end. Now add a pencil weight to your snap swivel, and cut it to the size you need to get a good drift.

Buy a bunch of weights, in a couple different sizes. You can always cut some off, but you can't add it back on. The Ausable will be warm, low, and clear right now. You will only need a very light weight to get a drift. You don't want to be dragging bottom, just ticking it every 4 seconds or so.

You will be a lot better at tying knots by the end of the weekend, if you don't remember where you can get a good drift. Good luck. Darn, I started typing this before Chip submitted his post, but took too long. He said the same thing. Seems to be the method that works.

[Reel_Screamer86]

I used to do it that way too, but i don't do it that way no more..
(A river captain showed me this) RIP Timmy!!!!!

This is how i do it:

From your main line (i use 10#) tie on a snap swivel, get the length of the leader you want to run tie it on the top of the swivel where your main line is and use the snap for you pencil weight....

By using it this way i found that you "attract less snags" as opposed to the dropper line where that can get hung up on the smallest snag !
Try this and let me know, if you have anymore questions feel free to ask... Good luck up there!!!!!!

BTW John if i forgot something or you have another way post it up!
Tim's way only took me 25+ yrs to get it right, and save on filling the river up with lead!!!!!!!!!

[ausable_steelhead]

Alright, I'll chime in. I actually prefer to bobber the dam. Just run your bag, atleast quarter-sized, about 4 foot under your bobber. Stagger a few BB shot or put one larger one 20 inches up from your bag, throw it out(start at the white-water) and walk your bobber down past the second sign, than repeat. I can help you on where to fish at the dam, as there are some areas that hold fish more than others, just PM me. If your gonna drift the dam, I assume your bombing the far edge, which isn't a bad idea. There was a ball of line there this spring, it may be gone now, but it caused alot of snags. It's just past the first sign out in the slow hole, other than that, the dam to me isn't very snaggy. If your snagging alot, than you have way to much weight, which is the most common mistake on the AS. The drift rigs described by the others are spot on. I'd just run straight 8lb, you'll hook more fish. There's some salmon in the river right now, they've been there since late August. Last I checked, the river was 71, but that was a few days ago.

As far as living on the Au Sab, that's one of my goals eventually, I'm moving to northern Lake Michigan this winter, but I wish it was Oscoda or somewhere close to it.

[snowman11]

Thanks a ton guys.

I might be going up this weekend, depending on whether or not my wife is sick. I was diagnosed with pneumonia earlier this week, but I figure I've been on the pills for four days now, should be damn near healthy right?

I got a question for ya John...you are up there dang near every weekend. Where do you stay? Cottage? Tent? Motel? Friends?

[snowman11]

There was a ball of line there this spring, it may be gone now, but it caused alot of snags. It's just past the first sign out in the slow hole, other than that, the dam to me isn't very snaggy.

It's still there. I added a hook to it today. I also added a hook to the one just below the spillway.

What size weights generally work best down there? I used to have a bunch that were about 1/8" in diameter and 4" long...you could trim them to what you wanted...all I have now are the ones that are 1/4" in diameter, so you dont get as much length.

I forgot my dikes, my smallest pencil sinker was just movin with the current, my next larger one was snagging.