The April 1st new "Michigan Trout Opener"  was a great success.  Friday kept mostly sunny but the AuSable River Brown Trout came out to play anyway.  The water clarity was just stained enough to get the trout biting.  It seems like every boat landed at least one nice fish.


And check out the weather for this weekend.

http://www.intellicast.com/Local/Forecast.aspx?location=USMI0349

Early Spring Stoneflies

Every year we get two different black stones that show up with the warmer weather.  One is small--like a sixteen.  But the other is big.  I like it on a 2XL #14 or a standard 12.  That's probably over sizing it, but the trout don't seem to care.

When you're fishing the stonefly, be sure to twicha nd skitter it.  Work it in all the same places you would a streamer.  Fish the wood piles and the bubble lines.  Drop a nymph off this beefy critter.  It makes a fine bobber.

I like fishing  the stone best upstream as a single fly.  Really focusing on the secondary and tertiary bubble line behind logs. 

However you use it, it can be a great way to get your first dry fly fish of the year.

Have Fun.

New Open Water

Here's the skinny on the New Michigan Trout Fishing Regulations as they pertain to Catch and Release Fly Fishing in our waters.

Starting April 1, 2011 we can fish flies on the Au Sable River from Burton's Landing all the way down to the power lines by Rainbow Resort (remember Rainbow Resort is a private launch).  And we can fish from Mio to McKinley below the damn.  Now a lot of this water is also open to Catch and Release fishing in the off-season with artificial lures as well, but I'm just talking about what we can do with flies for this entry.

The Manistee has some cool off-season opportuntiy, too.  You can catch and release fish there from the bridge at County Rd 612 all the way M-115.  Again, quite a bit of this is also open to artificial lures, so if that's your game, just check the reg's.

That's just so much water.  What a great trout fishing opportunity the Michigan DNR has created for all the Michigan trout fishermen and women.

Hackle Hair Extensions

Well, here's the scoop on the Hackle Hair Extension crisis.  Looks like we'll be fishing Comparaduns from now on. 

Fine by me.  I'm actually not so concerned, fads are just fads.  I've got lots in stock and it looks, to me, like these girls are just using saddle hackle.  If it comes to it, I guess I'll just have to go back to necks and dig out my hackle pliers.  

I'm more concerned about guys in rubber pants and a crazed look in their eyes chasing young girls down the street and pulling at their hair.  Fly tyers are a strange group.

But you know, being a good retailer, I'm not opposed to new opportunities and the Old AuSable has  come up with a similar product to better fit our main demographic.

Check it out . . . before the feather extension.

And After!!!  Just makes a guy feel good. 

I can see why this is catching on.  I'm gonna start looking around for more dead stuff to weave into my hair.

Winter Warm-ups Mean Fishing Fun

Thermometer hit 46 and we hit the river yesterday.  The guys streamer pulling didn't do all that well from what I understand, but we caught a bunch of fish nymphing.  Brown trout seemed to the most active but we caught a good number of good rainbows as well.  This was a real typical trout yesterday. 

Just a great day to be out.

Cincinatti Fly Show

We're in Ohio right now at the BUFF Fly Fishing Expo.  Lots of folks stopped by dispite the freezing rain we woke up to.  You'll hear no complaints from me . . . freezing rain means temperatures right around 32 degrees.  It felt like Spring to us Grayling boys.

Fly Contest

The tyers have certainly been busy.  It's amazing what some real winter weather does for fly production.  Two weeks ago I was in a bit of a panic about the tyers' lack of progress.  All that changed with about 16 inches of snow and subzero temperatures.  Here's a pile of  flies Sam wrapped up in only five days last week.

These are size ten drakes.  Any idea how many?  I'll give you each 3 guesses and the contest will stop on March 1st or when someone gets the correct answer.    We'll toss in a hint here or there if you need it.  I tell you now that the number doesn't land on an even dozen.  It's more that 100 and less than 1000.

Please post your guesses as a comment.  Winner gets an Old AuSable Fly Shop gift certificate.  Good Luck!

Original Painting of Your Hunting Dog

Here's something pretty cool.  I've got an artist that will do original, unframed, paintings of your favorite gundog for only $175.  This is real, local, folk art.  I'm certainly going to commission a piece with my old Red Setter.  I challenge you to find a better price for an original, commissioned piece of artwork.

Arkansas?

Well Alex is down there in Arkansas  . . . says he's trout fishing and getting 'em pretty good.  I don't know.  Doesn't look like a trout or a drift boat to me.  But it does look pretty fun.

New Rental Cabin

I'm pretty excited.  The Old AuSable Fly Shop is currently able to offer a premium rental on the Au Sable River's "Holy Waters".  Located only 8 miles from town the cabin rests 25 feet from the river and sleeps up to four anglers (two bedrooms with a double bed each and a futon for your mother-in-law)

This cabin sits on a completely wadable stretch of river that is situated among some of the best pools in the Holy Waters.  Check out the link http://www.oldausable.com/services-86.html .