Au Sable

TimBuckTwo said:

Can steelies get above the dams? Sorry if that’s a dumb question. Those are some big dams.

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Anadromous fish like steelhead will swim above the dams once the dams are removed. Until then, the dams block fish migration.

I've witnessed steelhead on other rivers with low head dams that were in the headwaters of the watershed. My guess is that someone literally hand-passed those fish over the dam, giving the fish a free pass upstream.

sounds unlikely but I've actually witnessed it firsthand. Not on the Ausable but on other streams.

Not much happening on the Au Sable

Had a good couple days on the river. The pics above were Sunday and we hooked 25+ pike, 4 walleye(missed more), 4 steelhead and 1 coho. Most fish, including one steelhead, were on husky jerks. The other steel and the coho were on spawn

Got to the river earlier yesterday to try more for walleye and I got 4, missed one. My buddy couldn’t buy a walleye, but got a nice steelhead after first light. I missed a great steelhead bite because my bag was still frozen lmao. It was much colder yesterday morning and it seemed to have an affect on the bite a bit. We didn’t fish as long and the only pike encounter was me getting my clown bit off

Wow, 25+ Pike is pretty amazing. I know one spot on the river I call the Pike Sanctuary. You could hike there, and fish it from shore, if you have permission to park. Not sure you'd catch that many Pike in that place. Great fishing, and great report. That is a real good couple days, and cashed in on some Eyes before the closure.

ausable_steelhead said:

Not much happening on the Au Sable

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That looks like a friggin blast! Maybe I should drag my ass up to the ausable soon