Already the Brook Trout on the Au Sable River are beautifully colored up and staging for the spawn.  They are brightly suited with their orange and red bellies and white tipped fins. The deer are thick and healthy. This year’s fawn’s spots have faded.  And the bucks have shed their light brown velvet and show bone white antlers.

By: Aaron Dexter   Category: River Reports Tags: Brown Trout, Fall Colors, Bird Hunting, River Clean Up, Mousing

What a week!  The Michigan Grouse and Woodcock season is underway.   Now, I love fishing . . . no doubt.  I fish enough that a reasonable judge would grant my wife a heavy-handed but well deserved and clean divorce.  And the fact that I rev up even more for grouse season must mean she either loves me or flat realizes the settlement wouldn’t be worth the trouble. The night before season, September 14th, is like Christmas Eve for grown men with bird dogs.  There ought ...

By: Aaron Dexter   Category: River Reports Tags: White Flies, Bird Hunting, Streamers, River Clean Up, Au Sable, Olive Spinners, Manistee

The fall is upon us here in Northern Michigan, but the fishing isn't near over. You'll hear plenty more about how to spend your fly time on the Au Sable and Manistee in the river report later this week, but for now I'm going to hold it down with a few links to some interesting pieces and news that we've seen around the internet this week. Big Gulp: How Often Do Trout and Grayling Eat Mammals?  Small spoiler: it's more than you think. Learn...

By: Aaron Dexter   Category: Fly Fishing Community Tags: Fall, Mouse, Grayling, Rouge River, River Clean Up, Trout, Au Sable, Manistee

There’s been plenty of water all year here in Northern Michigan and the rain this past week continued that trend.  This has been a great water year and our rivers have had strong flows all Summer long.  The trout have had a nice season and are fat and happy. Area Rivers Area streams are in...

By: Aaron Dexter   Category: River Reports Tags: South Branch, Wet Fly, Dry Fly, Grouse, Night Fishing, Au Sable, Manistee

It’s here.  September has always been and will forever be one of my favorite months.  And it’s finally here. The virtues are many.  There’s really nothing not to like, and the schedule is jam-packed, so the wilds are not. The weather is generally perfect.  We’ll have Summer-like days and cool, comforting nights.  And we’ll see Fall-like days late in the month that will allow for fine daytime fishing and all day grouse hunting.  September will give a nod to Summer...

By: Aaron Dexter   Category: River Reports Tags: River Clean Up, Grouse Hunting, Streamer Fishing, Au Sable, Manistee