Ausable out of Roscommon

[dieguy]

Going to houghton lake this coming weekend with the wife, we are going to go canoeing on the ausable out of roscomon. The better half has said to bring along the fishing pole, my question is is this the flies only area?

[WEEZER]

Depends where you go ! I assume that you'll be on the South branch.....It's the closest the Houghton lake. You can throw whatever you want until you hit Chase bridge then it's all flies only until you hi the mainstream.
The canoe livery in the town of Roscommon(Paddle brave I think) is a good choice if you want to toss bait or hardware. That stretch of river is a bit slower than the rest of the south branch but the fishing is pretty good from what I hear. Town to stekert bridge has many nice trout and a lot of pike. This spring I saw a guy at stekert that just finished that stretch with hardware and he had a limit of browns that were all over 15 inches(2 around 20).
On the mainstream you can start in grayling and fish down to burtons landing with any gear, then you can start back up at Wakley bridge and fish all the way to Mio with any gear.

[dieguy]

Thanks weezer:)

[beer and nuts]

Dieguy,

The best canoe livery is Hiawatha, located right at the bridge in Roscommon. If your going on Saturday you must make a reservation (989)275-5213.

Fishing is good from town to Chase, during the morning go with a black and gold rapala #9, afternoon, black and gold #9 and the evening b/g #9. Also you can try a mepps agilia #1 for the fast water, during the sunny daylight. If the wife doesn't mind start before 10am, as by 11:00 the river is busy. Chase to Smith is the Mason tract stretch and most popular by canoeists, but is flies only fishing. Its tough fishing once the sun rises, those trout tend to dig-in under the jams and underbank. Good Luck.

[dieguy]

canoed out of hiawathwa, Great bunch of guys. Fished up to chase bridge with only small fish striking. Saw lots of trout in the river of subsantial size but the wife refused to stop every time i saw a fish, saw some kids fishing a hole and pull up a very large northern pike easily over 30" and all on a little zebco combo!! Otters were out eating frogs, and one deer was standing in the river having aquatic vegitation for lunch. Then we got to see the "Holy Waters" as out by the canoe rental place. Again lots of fish seen but could only look. Great day on the water next time i need to remember my camera.

[quix20]

weezer,

isnt it illegal to keep more than 3 trout over 15 inches???

just a question not slamming anyone or anything. i just thought that it was.

[WEEZER]

I couldn't tell ya. I don't read the regs as far as creel limits.I know you can keep 3 steelhead or 3 chins.

I believe you can keep 5 trout on some stretches of the SB. browns 15 and brrokies 10. It is possible to get your 3 browns + 2 brooks to get your 5.

[quix20]

i forgot, you dont usually keep that many trout in a year. i believe the regs are that you can keep 5 in any combination, but not more than 3 that are 15+ inches. i might be wrong, i will have to double check the reg book.

i might be up in your neck of the woods in a couple of weeks for a weekend trip with a friend to his private stretch of water on a smaller creek. we should hook up if you are not busy. i know i would love to meet you and pick your brain