The "Be Kind to the River" jar raised enough money to buy 10 new lines for the local chapter of Trout Unlimited for use in their kids camp.   Thanks to all who tossed in. 

You can check ou the Mason-Griffith Chapter's website @ http://www.masongriffithtu.org/ .  If you aren't a member of a chapter and would like to join ours, just go to the Board of Directors page and click the link for Mark Hendricks.

Keep an eye on this chapter's website.  They've really stepped up with some great projects.  The chapter will be launching a brand new site soon . . .

Kindred Spirits

Here's a great e-mail I recieved the other day from one of our favorite clients. 
To: andy@oldausable.com
Subject: Kindred Spirits
Hey-
There I was this morning, making my daily run along I-69 between my home in

Lapeer and my office in Flint, when a good looking lady in a small SUV

pulled up alongside my truck, smiled & waved, then headed on down the road.


For a minute I thought that it was just my inherent good looks that had

struck her silly, but then I saw the OAFS sticker on her back window that

matched the one on mine, and a license plate that read SAGE----. It was like

belonging to a secret society that's not such a big secret anymore. OAFS is

everywhere!


Anyhow, imo you folks have the best shop in the state. I always enjoy my

time in there, and wish I could spend more. Have a Merry Christmas & a Happy

New Year. Good Lord willing, I'll see you in April!


Burt Kellogg

Thanks Burt, we do our best to be the best and it's nice to have a little pat on the back from time to time.  We may not be there yet, but I promise it's our goal.  For the rest of you folks, sticker up and who knows where you'll get a wave.
Andy

Needle Nail Knot

Learn this knot.  The needle nail knot is easily my favorite fly line to leader connection.  It's stronger and it slips through the guides better than the standard nail knot connection.  The needle nail and the double nail knot are the only knots I use on my personal  trout fishing gear for attaching fly lines to butt sections.  

It takes a little longer to tie and you need to be OSHA approved for the use of pointed tools (you will poke yourself once or twice when you're learning), but it's worth the extra effort.  Not only do you get a stronger, smoother connection, you also plug the end of the fly line with the mono and eliminate any chance of wicking water.  So, less problem with sinking line tips.  

Plus, it just looks cool.  When you buy new lines give us a shout and ask for this knot--we'll set you up just right.  Guarantee the box stores can't tie this one. 

Knots are literally "tied" to the sport of fly fishing, so do yourself a favor and spend some time this winter becoming a knotsmith.  Here's a couple of good links. Have fun.

http://www.animatedknots.com/indexfishing.php

http://www.rioproducts.com/photos/file/c2974c9203c91d170f3fffe97733597.pdf

Old AuSable Christmas Tree

Old Au Sable Fly Shop won the annual Christmas Tree competition here in Grayling, MI.  The secret was these cool Christmas Tree bulbs with flies inside.  They're here for sale if you need a little of yourself on the family tree. 

Never Too Cold to get in Waders

Who says it's too cold to get in waders?  Well, me for one.  But not the USGS.  These folks pulled on yellow jackets and camo waders and jumped right on in the Au Sable River behind the shop.  Don't worry there wern't any problems, these workers were just measuring the river flow, etc . . .   The USGS is a pretty cool organization and I use their info all the time.  If you want to know more about the USGS just click here.  

 

Take Advantage of Relative Warm-ups in the Winter

Here's a nice fish Alex caught while nymphing earlier today on one of our Northern Michigan steelhead streams.

Good fly fishermen (all outdoorsfolk really) become psuedo scientist in a number of different fields.  Of course, you should know as much about your quarry as possible.  But that snowballs quickly into what the critters eat, where they live, when they move etc . . .  It's all important.  For winter fishing and hunting, we study the weather.  It's the most dominant force for the the next few months and the key to everything.

Pushing 32 degrees, today was the second day of a relatively warm spell with bad weather rolling in over the next 24 hours.  Those are good days.

 

Switch Blades and Bamboo Rods

Want a really cool gift idea for Christmas?  We just brought in Benchmade Knives.  All the knives we carry are open assist and have Benchmade's LifeSharp guarantee.  Well not all the knives . . . some are automatic but we can only sell those to police officers, paramedics, military personnel, etc . . .  But are those cool.  Stop by and check 'em out.  And just because, they're in the case next to the fine, vintage bamboo.

Getting Ready for Christmas

Christmas is in the air at the Old AuSable Fly Shop.  We've put up the tree and everything!  There's a little snow on the ground and we're looking forward to a white Christmas.  If you need any last minute stocking stuffers for a fly fisherman in your life, give us a shout and we'll ship your goodies for free.  Hope all is well and everyone has a great holiday.

A Little Fun From Trout Unlimited

Here's a neat little quiz from Trout Unlimited.  Careful . . . I got it wrong.  Good Luck.  Follow the link.

Tying Season . . . Who Can Admit They've Done This?

Hard to pass on a good squirrel tail--plus it's kinda fun having other drivers think your crazy.

I guess attending the FFF Fly Tying Expo in Holt last weekend really put me in the mood for tying season.  That show always serves as a sort of unofficial kick-off.  Lots of fly tyers from around the region were in attendance and it was great to talk everyone.  It's a very social show and that's why I go.

Anyway, it got the juices flowing in my tying fingers.  I dusted off the vice and tied Quigleys until 3am last night.  I'm a little rusty after the long break, so I didn't get many tied for the amount of time I spent behind the wheel.  But, hey, winter has started and I've already started passing the time.  We've also posted the schedule for tying classes @ http://www.oldausable.com/services-154.html 

Here's Something Cool

Living up North is definitely cool.  Joey and I were pretending to work about ten minutes ago when I looked out the window and spotted this.

You see it?  Just above the grass in the bottom left hand corner.

Look closer.

That's a gray fox that came out of the culvert just across the river from the shop.  I haven't seen many in my life.  Pretty cool.  Pretty good place to work.



First Snow

Woke up yesterday to the first snow of the year.  It's absolutely beautiful when we get that intitial, thin covering.  That all becomes less true in January . . . but, anyway, here we go.  It's winter in Northern Michigan's AuSable River Valley.

Au Sable South Branch Hunting Trip

Well, that wraps up another deer season in Northern Michigan.  I've never hunted harder.  I hunted every day of the season.  It was tough up here.  I saw deer every time but the cards just didn't fall for me.  I passed on a small buck opening day and saw a whopper on the third day that just didn't want to get eaten.  Saw a six point chase does across the river--wasn't ready.

Probably the highlight of my season, besides the whopper, was a hunting trip down the Mason Tract on the Au Sable River's South Branch.  It was like stepping back in time.  Grouse flushed across the river, eagles followed us downstream, ducks jumped around every few bends and mink, herons, and muskrats kept us alert to all movements.  We kicked up 4 deer in the thick stuff and never fired a shot.  But it was a perfect afternoon on the river and the thought of sliding into the landing with a racked buck kept us quiet and moving slowly . . . kept us eager.

Certainly time well spent.  I suppose hunting is a lot like fishing; the results aren't always the reward.  I'll take the memories.



Name that Spot Winner

Alright, enough with the suspense already.  It's time to announce the winner of the "Name that Spot" contest.

We had just a ton of great entries and one in particular that really had me second guessing my initial, gut reaction.  But after careful deliberation with a fly fishing forensics team (guides, trout bums, and other various ne'er-do-wells), I believe we've reached a solid decision.

There were six different locations proposed but two had nearly equal entries and so, were clear standouts.

One location well mentioned was the pseudo boathouse just below Stephan Bridge Landing and above the Tractor Seat Pool at Camp McGill.  The second most often suggested location was the boathouse below Spite Rd. at Shoppenagon's.  They both seem right. Both structures touch the water's surface and both have a high water mark against a light background.  But if you look closely at the picture, you can see that the branches on the upstream side of the boathouse overhang the structure.  So we're calling this the boathouse at Camp McGill.

The first person to correctly name Camp McGill was Chris Brecht.  So I'm declaring Chris the winner.  Now, since I'm still slightly wavering, I'd also like to award Jeff Turner for being the first to name Shoppenogans boathouse.

For their efforts each of the winning, Au Sable River aficionados will receive two spools of two year old 9x, one fly fishing magazine with the cover cut off, a free fly line with purchase of any $800 rod, and all the flies stuck in the shop carpet.  Stop by the shop to claim your prizes.

Seriously though, both winners will have a free gift certificate waiting behind the counter courtesy of The Old AuSable Fly Shop.  Congratulations!

If you can prove our decision wrong with conclusive evidence, you'll can have the flies in the carpet.     

Whew!  This was a tough one.  I thought I had it pegged.  Thanks to all who entered.

It was fun and we'll do it again.

Holy Flash

Well we just opened huge boxes of fly tying materials . . . we've got piles.  Although, it might take the rest of the winter to get everything on the wall. 

Let me know if you need anything--please.  I don't know where we'll put everything.  It's that time of year again.

Tie, tie, tie . . .

Name this Spot

Okay, if you are the first person that can tell me where Jesse is fishing, I'll put a free gift behind the counter for you.  Now, I'm going to need a specific name here . . . not just "oh that bend just above" sorta deal. Send your comments to me directly at andy@oldausable.com .  Good luck and have fun.

Alex & Marv

Alex and Marv have been good friends for a long time.  Afterall, they have something undeniable in common--an insatiable love of streamer fishing.  Along with a handful of other top Michigan anglers, these guys have been at the forefront of streamer fishing for big browns on the AuSable river for years.  Few people do it better.

Same trout . . . the boga grip is great for photos.

Nice hen

Thanks Marv and Alex for the pic's

Shiver

Lovell's Riverside Tavern located on the North Branch of the Au Sable river hosted their first annual "Shiver on the River" on Sunday November 14th.  Over 30 folks plunged, ran, tumbled into the Au Sable's North Branch in the spirit of good fun, camaraderie, and silliness.  The event was a huge success.  Cars filled the parking lot and lined both sides of the road.

Young, old, and costumed get their shiver on 

The rules required that all participants dipped at least neck deep.  Not an easy feat in the upper North Branch.  Understand that this guy is definitely sitting on the bottom.  Those boys that cut a swath in the ice of some frozen lake and quickly jump in and hop out have nothing on the "Shiver" folks.  These hardy souls have to wade out to the middle of the rocky river and ease into knee deep water.  Takes discipline drinks.



Lots of onlookers marvel at the spectacle



This thermometer on the tree next to the river says much.

No ducks were harmed in this picture.

Corner of Wakely and N. Down River

There's a old, little, long since out-of-business convenience store near the AuSable river that the owners keep interesting.  With the changing of each season, the folks change the "man in the window".  Over the years it's become a fun, comfortable, strange part of being a Crawford County local.  My wife and I sort of look forward to the new displays and even tend to compain a little if we feel the change is running late.  I expect we'll see a hunter soon.

Fly Fishing License Plates

Good friend of the shop, Tim, gave us this cool license plate to hang on the wall.  If you've got an expired fly fishing themed plate, we'd love to have it for the shop wall.  And for your efforts we'll swap you a FREE Old AuSable hat.  If it's really cool, don't be afraid to barter with us . . . who knows what you can talk us into.