Au Sable float fishing

[vampile]

I will be floating the Au Sable by canoe this weekend between Mio and McKinley. Any suggestions on what they are biting on? need to tie/buy some flies before we head up so we're prepared. Also, does anyone know of a good way to slow the drift on a canoe? We don't plan on paddling much anyways but it might be nice to slow the drift and fish a little more of the river. Thanks

[Silverexpress]

I was out there last weekend -

Saturday. I did real good with a size 18 and or 20 Blue Wing Olive (BWO) on a 9ft 4wt rod. It's real easy to tie these things. Basically, it's light bluish grey yarn on a hook with olive green thread for a body. Use a dry floatant to keep it high on the water.

The water was very clear, I had fish swim up from hip deep water to nab these BWO's. Also, I used a ten foot leader that went down to a 2.5 to 3 ft 7x tippet.

The fishing was real good. Water was cold, air temp just right, and it was right after a few storms. Went home after catching over 3 dozen fish ranging from 9 to 16 inches. Browns and rainbows.

Best part of the trip - a party of over 2 dozen tubers drunk on jello shots. The women started baring (flashing) everything at one of the canoe launches while I was in the river fishing. Lol.

Other flies that worked for me...Adams sz 16/18, Green Foam Hoppers sz 16/14, Cahills sz 16/18, and Tan/DK Brown bodied Caddis sz 18/20. I'd go with the BWO tho first.

For nymphing, sz 18/20 Pheasant Tails and caddis larvae (the right one is only sold at Gates - has dinky legs and black colored plates right behind the head) worked very well. I'd dead drift these right on the bottom with a split shot or two a foot and a half up the leader.

The pheasant tail also worked well as a dropper off a BWO - on 12 to 18 inches of very fine supple tippet. I was using 1.5 lb 10x tippet (got it from St. Louis fly shop). But as you know that stretch of the Ausable gets windy at times. On this day it was 10-15 mph winds. Tried the dropper thing, but got fed up with the wind knots.

As for your canoe, most people drag a big heavy chain on a rope.
Your best bet is to rent a drift boat. It has a flat bottom with a side profile of a banana, so it sits on top of the current. You can paddle it upstream, or stop it and rotate it on a dime. Plus it's far from tippy. The canoe livery down the street from Mcdonalds rents them out.

Tip: You've got to approach these fish quietly. If your successful in your approach you'll find pods feeding in broad daylight along riffles. Use the canoe to get you to point B, but then park it, and wadeout. Unless of course your working deep water with big fish that you've sighted.

Have fun! I gotta do the family thing this weekend, else; I'd be right there with ya.

[abstract_72]

Just be prepared for the canoe and tube madness... Go out early.
We did well between Comins and McKinley after 5pm there was much less traffic from the livery's. Seemed like most took out at Comins.

Good luck!

[vampile]

I tied up a couple adams in 12 last night. Hopefully they aren't too big. I'll have to pick up some hoppers and see if i can play them at the banks.

can't do much about the time we are going out. already have the canoes reserved in mio. camping in mckinley and canoeing from mio to there. We are going to try and get ours as early as possible and take as long as we can on the river. We'll probably just park a couple of times to hit some sections of river hard. maybe just sink some streamers or nymphs nice and deep from the boat. I think if we can get them far enough away from the canoe, we won't spook the fish as much and get a nice long drift.

Thanks for the info guys. Much appreciated

[Silverexpress]

I will be floating the Au Sable by canoe this weekend between Mio and McKinley. Any suggestions on what they are biting on? need to tie/buy some flies before we head up so we're prepared. Also, does anyone know of a good way to slow the drift on a canoe? We don't plan on paddling much anyways but it might be nice to slow the drift and fish a little more of the river. Thanks

How did you do?

[vampile]

the fishing and canoing were great!! catching wasn't so good. There were lots of people on the river so the fish were pretty timid. had several browns follow a hopper and a couple of takes but no hook-ups. Spotted several good sized fish that just weren't too keen on moving much. Lots of HUGE suckers all over the that stretch too. Wish i would have had some crawfish flies. Would have had a riot with those monsters.

All the fly tossers i saw were taking theirs on caddis. had some follows on inline spinners below the McKinley bridge sunday morning as well.

other people on that stretch were taking fish on crawlers (on a no live bait stretch of river...grrrr!!) Id rather catch no fish legally than get an illegal limit.

Overall, it was a beautiful weekend to be up there instead of being at work.

[Silverexpress]

Thanks for the report Vampile. I'll plan on heading up this weekend for a little R&R.