[ausable_steelhead]

Well now I know why I couldn't catch any last week. They all had sore mouths

Definitely not because we caught them all. It’s been a struggle, but Atlantic’s have started getting bitey finally, and some steelhead are poking in. Atlantic’s require certain little nuances in presentation to bite.

 

[ausable_steelhead]

Bite has gotten tough with the traffic. If the DNR was hoping for more angler/boating hours planting Atlantic and coho salmon in the Au Sable, well they got it! A few nice fish were managed early the other day, but the bite tapered fast.

 

[Fishndude]

Sorry so late. But you won't be alone at Foote Dam at this time of year. If you can see this while your on the river, you can walk the bank, and wade, several 100 yards downstream of the dam. The King spawn should be peak right now. Atlantics should be starting to spawn, and Cohos should be there, as well. And then there are the Steelhead, who really just want to eat all the loose eggs rolling down the river from spawning Salmon. Such a great time of year.

If you're fishing at the dam, leaves won't be a problem. If you're fishing further downstream, there are probably a lot of leaves in the entire water column right now. It is often tough to get a bite when there are lots of leaves coming down. But once they wash down, and settle, it is game ON. 56* water, so Steelhead should be right at home.

 

[ausable_steelhead]

.

 

[Aidan Zubak]

What’s the best tackle/bait to use to catch Atlantic salmon? Im heading up tomorrow and really want to catch an Atlantic salmon

 

[TroutFishingBear]

How did it go aidan?

 

[Aidan Zubak]

How did it go aidan?

No luck. Went to oscoda dam and saw some king salmon. Fished down a ways but didn’t see any Atlantic’s. Was told by a volunteer with the fishery that another access point had better luck with Atlantic’s, but I was already about to leave, so I don’t get a chance to try it out. I’ll try to come back out in the winter again when I get another day off lol. Those are few and far between in medical school 😂

 

[Fishndude]

Sorry you didn't catch anything, Aidan. The Ausable is a different river after November, when the leaves are down, the sky is gray, the weather is cold, and hardly anyone is around. It seems so dreary, and you don't see any fish, and usually can't see into the water, due to flat light, and surface glare. So, you just wander around, and cast and drift, and muse about........hey!, that's a bite!

Anytime you can get out fishing is better than sitting indoors.

 

[Shoeman]

I've had friends (RIP) that never fished above 3 Pipes and mostly below the Trestle

 

[Aidan Zubak]

Sorry you didn't catch anything, Aidan. The Ausable is a different river after November, when the leaves are down, the sky is gray, the weather is cold, and hardly anyone is around. It seems so dreary, and you don't see any fish, and usually can't see into the water, due to flat light, and surface glare. So, you just wander around, and cast and drift, and muse about........hey!, that's a bite!

Anytime you can get out fishing is better than sitting indoors.

Thanks for the encouragement guys. I'll definitely be back. My goal is still the same. To catch one of every trout/salmon species out here in Michigan, while I'm still here for medical school. It was a beautiful day. And it was fun trying out different rigs and new tackle. A day on the river is always better than a day in the hospital.

 

[Fishndude]

I've had friends (RIP) that never fished above 3 Pipes and mostly below the Trestle

Funny, I only fished upstream of the Whirlpool, when fishing from a boat, for years. Downstream just seemed so.......slow. I would sometimes fish in town, or at the pier, or at the Trestle, before Riverbend Estates was developed, and the landowners prohibited people from parking and fishing there. Then, one year, we decided to try downstream, and we hammered fish. And the guys upstream had a dismal fall - probably because we (there were a lot of guys in boats) were catching so many fish before they made it up.

But the last few years the fishing downstream has been pretty bad, unless you were in the right spot, at exactly the right time. I know the river well enough that, if I see a picture with a background, I usually know exactly where it was taken. And I know the places where Steelhead will typically hold downstream (not going to name them, lol). And I hole-hop to see what I can come up with in a day of fishing.

The lake reports were pretty darned good last summer, so I am hoping for good river fishing this Fall, and Winter. Can't make it up for another week, but will be giving it an honest effort the week of Thanksgiving. I did see some real promising changes in the river in Sept, and looking forward to see if fish are holding in some new places. If they aren't in the Ausable, they'll be in some river not too far away, and I know them all. Haven't Steelhead fished Alpena in years, so that might get a look if the A is slow. I have a couple buddies who are fishing it this weekend, separately, and hoping to get some good reports from them.

I wonder when they'll draw-down Van Ettan this year?

 

[ausable_steelhead]

Fall is getting late now, and has had a different feel this year. It’s been a tough, fun fall season for me. Steelhead are very scattered, but nice fish and a handful when you find them. Atlantic’s have peaked with many still spawning. A few coho, including some clean fish, are still lingering. The river is low, clear, and hanging around 46-47*

 

[Erik]

Still to this day, when I fish from my boat I mostly fish from the pinch hole above beaver flats to river rd. I put in river rd , Run up, and float back. Been doing it for years.

Ausable Steelhead, you dont know what I'd give to be able to catch fish, steelhead and/or salmon, every time I fished the Ausable. I used to have so much confidence everytime I went. I just knew I was going to catch some. Now days I wonder sometimes if I've lost it. Maybe I'm getting old. Can't feel em anymore. Slow to react. IDK.

Things are going good for you. Dont ever take it for granted. Your definitely blessed

 

[Gabe T]

Fall is getting late now, and has had a different feel this year. It’s been a tough, fun fall season for me. Steelhead are very scattered, but nice fish and a handful when you find them. Atlantic’s have peaked with many still spawning. A few coho, including some clean fish, are still lingering. The river is low, clear, and hanging around 46-47*

View attachment 799371
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Friggin gorgeous brown in the 8th pic

 

[ausable_steelhead]

Still to this day, when I fish from my boat I mostly fish from the pinch hole above beaver flats to river rd. I put in river rd , Run up, and float back. Been doing it for years.

Ausable Steelhead, you dont know what I'd give to be able to catch fish, steelhead and/or salmon, every time I fished the Ausable. I used to have so much confidence everytime I went. I just knew I was going to catch some. Now days I wonder sometimes if I've lost it. Maybe I'm getting old. Can't feel em anymore. Slow to react. IDK.

Things are going good for you. Dont ever take it for granted. Your definitely blessed

I’ve certainly had shutouts this fall, and no numbers. The last 5 years have been really bad for fall steelhead, but it’s been awhile since we’ve had a good fall run. They just hold off until spring now it seems.

The mixed bag is a huge draw for me, as I love variety. It’s made me realize how boring a chinook/steelhead only fall is. I doubt you’ve lost anything Erik; we change, the river changes, it’s just how it is I guess. I don’t feel as savvy for steelhead on that river like I once did, that’s for sure.

 

[Fishndude]

When you could expect to get 10 - 15 bites/day in the fall, and to land 5-8 fish/day, it was indeed a blast. Some falls the fishing was slower, which just meant the spring run would be bigger than usual. But that isn't how the rivers is at this time. Hoping I can find some fish to play with over the next week. Gotta be at least a few around, right?

 

[ausable_steelhead]

When you could expect to get 10 - 15 bites/day in the fall, and to land 5-8 fish/day, it was indeed a blast. Some falls the fishing was slower, which just meant the spring run would be bigger than usual. But that isn't how the rivers is at this time. Hoping I can find some fish to play with over the next week. Gotta be at least a few around, right?

There is definitely a few around. I have honestly not tried very hard for steelhead. I mostly just fished spots where all three species were possible, and got what I could. It was fun getting dunked blind in a dark dip and never knowing what bit. You always knew real quick when you had a steelhead.

It’s tough to fish classic fall gravel dips and not barely hook any steelhead. Especially on a fall where there were late chinook, coho, and a few early spawning Atlantic’s on redds all at once. There was a nice egg buffet this fall, with very few steelies taking advantage.

 

[Fishndude]

Been fishing the A since Sunday, but working today. I caught a couple Steelhead every day, until Thanksgiving, when I got blanked. Not even a nibble. Nice chrome hens early in the week, and a couple nice bucks on Wed. Not fast fishing, and I didn't find fish in a lot of places. But I found a couple to play with every day, and missed a ton of light bites one day.

 

[Q-Co Outdoors]

I don't understand the whining about lack of fish. Here's my last 2 trips to the ausable.

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Awesome chromer. Can't wait to get one like that!!

 

[whitetailfreak2205]

Looking for advice on where to try for steelhead here in the next few weeks never fished the A and just looking for some advice where to go. Gonna be bank fishing looking for access point and areas to try with my fly rod thanks alot.