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

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.

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.

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.

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 .

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.

 

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.

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.



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.

Deer Season in Northern Michigan

The orange army is about to descend.  Deer hunting in Northern Michigan is a right of passage and a passion passed down through generations.  Of course, many folks hit the woods more out of tradition than anything else.  It's a time when old friends and family crowd into one room hunting cabins, each chili, and throw logs at the woodstove. 

I grew up with that.  And it has a strong pull even still.  I don't have a deer camp to go to anymore, but I make sure to visit my friends that do on deer season eve.  It's pretty much a holiday up here.  The schools even close for opening day.   We'll play cards and tell lies and just generally forget about everything that's not deer hunting.

I still like to hunt, though.  And I usually get a buck.  Which is nearly a neccessity for me cause I love eating game I've harvested. 

I spent one of these beautiful afternoons we're experiencing in the Au Sable valley scouting my area for buck activity and found this nice 9 point skull.  To me, skulls are cool.  I'd like to think it's because there's still a boy in me.  But maybe skulls are just cool.  Finding one like this means that you've missed an opportunity, but at least you know the potential exists for another one just as good to walk by on opening day.  Like a lot of things I do, the possibilties are all that really matters.  And success is just knowing you gave it a good go. 

With that in mind, I'll spend the last days before deer season looking for one more grouse and fishing for one more trout.  Hopefully, I'll tag out quick and spend all the rainy days of November fishing the Au Sable alone.   

Snow on the Boardman River

Spent the day in Traverse City with my friend Dave.  We went to see Bob Summers about some old bamboo rods . . . it's always a good day when you spend part of it with Bob.  He's built some of the finest contemporary rods on the market.Bob started his career working for the famous Michigan rod builder Paul Young but went on to make himself a legend in the bamboo world.  But you wouldn't know it from talking to Bob.  There's no pretentiousness in Mr. Summers and that's what makes him great in my book.  He's a true Michigan treasure.  Check out his website @ http://www.rwsummers.com/ 

On the way to Bob's we drove along the Boardman River and found snow.  It's a prelude to the inevitable.  The sign says "No Camping".  I say no problem.

Wieners on the Porch

Is there anything better than a Coney Dog by Michigan's,  Au Sable River on a bright, sunny fall afternoon.  Probably, yes.  Probably lots.  Like fishing, kayaking, hunting, etc . . . But hey we've got a week full of beautiful weather and you just gotta enjoy it anyway you can.  Soon there'll be snow.  I'm gonna do my best to get plenty of outside time in while the gettin's good.  Even if it means sitting on the shop's porch eating a hot dog. 

If you let it, life gets in it's own way. 

Turn off the big screen and go outside.

And other such sayings . . .

Man, I'm thinking I should have used "hot dogs" in the the title . . . could get some sketchy followers.  Yikes.