Au Sable Fishing Report

[foxangler]

Well, I went up to my uncle's cabin this weekend so i could do a little fishing...I didin't plan on doing much of anything but really scout around for more access points along the river, but in the early afternoon of Saturday I just happen to reel in some dinner...heheheh Nice steelhead that weighed in at a little over 8lbs, and 27 inchs long...This is my very first steelhead ever...At first i thought it was a salmon, and even tasted like it too...Then when i got home, i was thumbing through one of my books and read that the Steelhead is derived from the Rainbow Trout...hmmm...I always thought they were salmon...Any thoughts?
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/530/11855002_02-med.JPGhttp://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/530/11855001_01-med.JPG

[Erik]

Congatulations on your 1st steelhead ever. Good job!
I got my 1st steelhead ever on the ausable too. It was feb 25th 1980.
I'll be up there this coming friday to celebrate my b-day, and also my 25th aniversary of becoming a successful steelheader. 2 guesses where I'll start my day off fishing :) I can almost smell the sandy river already (heavy sigh)

BTW...steelhead taste much better than salmon :D

[bobcolenso]

Nice fish! Congrats. I'm still trying for my first Steelie, fish mostly the Clinton down from Yates, and the Huron below Flatrock.

But yea, steelhead derived from rainbows the migrated to the Great Lakes and grew big. I'm not too keen on their habits or anything, but I know there are lots of people here that are a lot more knowledgeable (sp) than myself. There was a thread not too long ago about someone asking about books on steelhead. I don't have the time right now (have to get to Michworks.org and Monster.com), but I'll see if I can find it and point you in that direction.

[foxangler]

yeah after moving around from spot to spot...I finially ended up back below foote dam...There was this nice little ripple half way out, and i was suprised that my Little Cleo did the job...other than that...it was good eaten...lol

[WHITE BEAR]

Steelhead are a type of Rainbow Trout that are native to the Pacific Northwest.They have been planted here in the Great Lakes.Steelhead are born in the river,then mature in the ocean/lake.Once mature they return to the river to spawn,however,unlike salmon Steelhead do not die after spawning.They will swim back out to the lake and return the next spawning season.I'm not sure how long a Steelhead lives but I think this process could be repeated for several years.

[foxangler]

I just put up a better picture...I'm still getting the hang up this uploading thing...heheheh

[MSUICEMAN]

good job foxangler, looks like a good steelie, especially to be your first of hopefully many.

steve