Anyone ever canoe'd down from the Foote to the AuSable river store

[wyldkat49766]

Looking at maybe doing that Mon or Tues depending on the weather. It says 4 hrs but I would assume that we dont need to be back IN those 4 hrs just back by the 6pm it says on their site?

looking for something different to do for us 3 as a family.

[greyghost]

Been there done that. It took us longer than 4 hours but we were fishing our way down. More like 6 hrs. Most of the time it doesnt matter how long you take just gotta be back before they close. Its a great float hope you guys enjoy it!!!!!

[Boardman Brookies]

I have done it but make sure you do it on a calm day with little wind or it will take a LONG time!

[wyldkat49766]

The 'plan' is to canoe and fish and take along a lunch. If we were to do the full trip starting around 9 am, would we have to paddle 'much' to make sure we were done by late afternoon or should we start with the shorter distance?

[greyghost]

Just need to steer. You should be fine with your plan. Make sure ya stop and see Lynn and get them nice crawlers. He has the best ive seen around.

[NepessingCain]

My kids and I are heading up to do the samething on labor day weekend. where is this place for the crawlers?

[Fishndude]

It is next to the bridge (northeast corner) where River Road crosses the Ausable River, in Oscoda.

[wyldkat49766]

Just need to steer. You should be fine with your plan. Make sure ya stop and see Lynn and get them nice crawlers. He has the best ive seen around.


Oh yeah we will be hitting up Lynn for our bait.

[wyldkat49766]

I wanted to go down more in the week but with the weather forecast, tomorrow looks the best for canoeing. I am wondering if we should start from the foote or take the shorter whirlpool one. I am thinking that the fishing is better between the foote and the whirlpool drop off but it is twice the route and I wont be able to help paddle too much.

Any suggestions? We are leaving there on the 9 am run. Trying to hopefully avoid too many 'noisy' river lovers.

[greyghost]

I would take the longer float. The only real paddeling is for steering mainly. The current does the rest. Get the boy in the back and let him learn to steer while you catch the fish. Isnt that what kids are for? lol jk Just my .02 Enjoy your float either way.

[kmoney14]

I wouldn't mind doing that eventually also... what kind of fish should I come prepared to fish for if I do? I would assume smallies? Anything else this time of year?

[wyldkat49766]

I would take the longer float. The only real paddeling is for steering mainly. The current does the rest. Get the boy in the back and let him learn to steer while you catch the fish. Isnt that what kids are for? lol jk Just my .02 Enjoy your float either way.


"I" had to get into the back because city boy hubby thot that I steered from the front. TOTALLY forgetting that his stroke with the oar is waaaay stronger than mine. And he seemed highly intent on flying down thru there. He kept getting us sideways in the water and insisting it was my fault we weren't going down straight. Once I got in the back and just basically steered with braking and a little help from son in the front, no more probs.... wonder why. :dizzy:

Not as many between foote and whirlpool but didnt really fish much. We saw a few nice ones tho. After whirlpool, we hit it about 1pm, there were a LOT of people. Too many to really try to fish. One spot that had a sandy dune was full of people and we stopped too. Pretty fast current and nice cool water. The water felt SOOOOOOOOO good. Son and I wanted to stay at that spot longer but someone else was getting grouchy.

However, remembered hat, but left sunscreen in van. A couple of ladies took pity on me and shared some sunscreen with me but Im still pretty well toasted..

It took us like 6 hrs and we are tired...

[greyghost]

once ya got it figured out it was fun huh!!! Sometimes its better to do things yourself. lol
Hope ya had a good time. This is the time of year when lots of canoes are on the river. Lots of smallies and a few browns hanging out this time of year. A shame you didnt get more time to fish.

[wyldkat49766]

We saw about a handful of nice sized smallies. And a LOT of decent sized minnows also. Some about the length of my hand. Son scared out something big out of some weeds that I just caught a glimpse of a large body flying down across the bottom.

http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/5624/mysunburnat10pm.jpg (http://img26.imageshack.us/i/mysunburnat10pm.jpg/)

^Thats what I looked like 6 hrs post river... lets just say sleeping was rather 'interesting' last night.

[greyghost]

at least you will have a tan!!!!!:D:D