Ausable 3/11/01

[WEEZER]

All I have to say is what happened to March?? If it wasn't for the cold weather and lack of fish I would swear it was April!!!! People everywhere!!!
I got down to the run that I have been working before I could effectively see my floats and it was already occupied! I figured I better backtrack to my second choice (Which was open and only 60yards upriver!) by the time I got there it was occupied! My third choice had a boat running plugs. My day was off to a wonderful start!!!
Anyway I decided to take a kinda stupid run where I could watch my first choice, Just in case they decided to leave. They landed a nice steelie which was cool because my spot produced a fish but I was getting sick of waiting + I had lost 3 of my good floats !! so I decided to leave for a different river.
I wasn't really in the mood to talk to a lot of people but I did talk to a couple of boat anglers who said they only saw 1 or two steelies! I didn't see any other fish on stringers.
Normally I don't have to rely on three runs on the Ausable, But right now most of my access points are still snowed in pretty bad! I think I'm done with weekend fishing on the Ausable until the backroads are cleared up(If they clear up!)

[kienbaumer]

I here ya on all the people, last weekend was just as bad. I had to get to that run where we got that atlantic 45 minutes before it got light. Good thing we got there when we did because there has a guy that showed up about 10 minutes after we did. My heart just sinks when a hole i want to fish is occupied Weekdays this time of year aren't that bad though.

I've had the best week and half of my short steelhead career on the Au Sable, 8 for 13. All were hold overs except for two. I talked to a couple of boaters and they said they only saw a couple.

Tightlines,
Mike Kienbaum
manistee_@hotmail.com

[WEEZER]

I'd say that out of the fish that I have been seeing are 50% fresh and 50%holdovers. When I say fresh I mean that they have been in the river maybe a week or so. Not dark but enough color to say that they aren't dime bright.
8 for 15 in outstanding! Especially for this time of year!!! My totals for the year so far are 1 for 5 on steel and an atlantic. Kinda lets you know what kind of season I am having!! Total trips 10 or so . I'm not too disappointed yet, things will get much much better when I can access other stretches of river.
One thing that I have noticed is the amount of rookie steelheaders on the river!! Usually they don't appear until April!! Just imagining what that place is going to look like in april is frustrating me!!!