AuSable Camping near Mio

[abstract_72]

Hey fellas,
Looking for a decent campsite relatively close to Mio. We are planning on floating Mio to Comins on Friday - the Comins to McKinley on Saturday.

I have been looking at camp sites online - but it is hard to tell where to go. I am taking my girlfriend and want a place that is cool and somewhat rustic but has bathrooms and such. We stayed at the Tippy dam campsite on the boat launch side and we thought that was great if that is any indication of the type of place I am referring to. A place that is first come first serve is a plus as well...

Any info would be greatly appreciated. We are headed up Thursday night and will be on the water Fri.

On a side note - how has the river been fishing anyways? We had a really productive float a few weeks ago... the canoes were insane but we still did pretty good. We stayed a my friends cabin near Rifle River Rec. area - but this trip we are camping out.

Thanks!
Jason

[turtlehead]

Floated Mio to Comins on Monday and Tuesday nights and had good fishing. Monday there was a nice hatch of white flies starting about 7:00 or so. Fish were rising all afternoon and taking a white fly emerger eagerly. Released a bunch of browns and suprisingly only a few rainbows up to about 14". Tuesday the hatch started later and never really got going. I still caught my fair share of fish though. I was off the water at about 9:00 both nights.

I haven't fished much lately and was pleasantly suprised at the daytime activity going on without much of a hatch to speak of.

We have a place near there so I am no expert on camping, but maybe the Oscoda County Park on Mio pond. Not exactly rustic, but has all the amenities. For a more rustic experience (pit toilets only) the Loop Campground off of McKinley road is worth a look. Au Sable Map (http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/hmnf/pages/Recreation/Mio/mio_ausableriver_canoeing_map.pdf)

[abstract_72]

Thanks Turtlehead... I think we are going to see if the "Loop" is open, if not we are going to hit the "McKinley Trail Camp". We are going to float and fish tomorrow and Saturday... I will let you know how we do.

Thanks!
Jason

[abstract_72]

We did good.

[abstract_72]

Oh yeah and I meant to mention that we met a couple cool guys from this forum at the Comins launch. I cannot for the life of me recall your screen names. If you read this remind me - my memory is sucking lately! haha

Jason

[Silverexpress]

So which camp site did you stay at? I often stay at Canoe Harbor off of M-72, since it places me in the middle of Grayling and MIO.

See any White mayflies and caddis'?

[abstract_72]

We stayed at McKinley Trail Camp...
We were fortunate enough to hit a pretty epic white fly hatch as well... last 200 feet of our float. It was sweet.

[turtlehead]

It's great to have the white flies to fish a big hatch near the end of the season. Sounds like you had a good time. Seems like the fish are doing pretty well this year with the cooler temps.

How was the Trail Camp? I've never really checked that out.

[abstract_72]

Trail Camp was legit... pretty spread out and we had the place mostly to ourselves due to the weather...