The Old Au Sable Fly Shop Fishing Report The chives and garlic are sprouting in my garden, turkeys are strutting, and the fish are biting more aggressively all the time.  The Ides of March are past and April is upon us.  Of course, we woke up on April Fool’s day to a light covering of snow—fitting.  T.S. Elliot wrote, “April is the cruelest month, breeding lilacs out of the dead land, mixing memory and desire, stirring dull roots with spring rain”.  Well, that doesn’t sou...

By: Jeff Gardner   Category: Brook Trout, Brown Drakes, BWO, Dry Fly Fishing, Fishing Tips, Fly Fishing Community, Fly Tying, Grouse Hunting, Hex, ISO, Michigan Reports, River Reports, Rusty Gates, Streamer Fishing, Tourism, Weather

The Old Au Sable Fly Shop Fishing Report What a wonderful, mild beginning to March.  Temperatures have given us highs in the forties and even a beautiful stretch of fifties.  The trend has begun a slow melt of ice and snow that is much welcomed as winter winds down. Who knows what the coming weeks will hold? We could very well see snowstorms and big rains, but for now the promise of a gradual run-off is very much exciting.  We’ve had a nearly five year run of long, sustaine...

By: Jeff Gardner   Category: Blue Gills, Brook Trout, Brown Drakes, BWO, Dry Fly Fishing, Fishing Tips, Fly Fishing Community, Fly Fishing School, Fly Tying, Grouse Hunting, Hex, ISO, Michigan Reports, River Reports, Steelhead, Thunderstorms, Tourism, Trico, Weather

The Old Au Sable Fly Shop Fishing Report Wild weather swings are about to bend to more seasonable trends.  We went from an early season snowstorm to an incredibly warm Indian Summer. The summer-like stretch made fishing and hunting difficult.  Grouse hunting fell apart with the heat.  Whipped dogs lolled tongues over water dishes in the bird covers by mid-morning.  It felt more like September than November. Fishing changed starkly.  Most of the post spawn brown trout...

By: Jeff Gardner   Category: Bow Hunting, Brook Trout, Deer Hunting, Dry Fly Fishing, Fishing Tips, Fly Fishing Community, Fly Tying, Grouse Hunting, Michigan Reports, Michigan Winter Fishing, River Reports, Streamer Fishing, Tourism, Weather

The Old Au Sable Fly Shop Fishing Report Fall color is upon us.  We’re getting close to peak change in Northern Michigan.  This is easily my favorite season of the year.  Splashes of red and orange and gold pop against evergreen ridges.  And over every rise and in buried in every swale, drumming grouse and whistling woodcock and white-tailed deer hunker down. It’s hunting season and fishing season still, and the two merge together to make the Au Sable river valley a wond...

By: Jeff Gardner   Category: Blue Gills, Bow Hunting, Brook Trout, Deer Hunting, Dry Fly Fishing, Fishing Tips, Fly Fishing Community, Fly Tying, Grouse Hunting, Michigan Reports, Michigan Winter Fishing, River Reports, Tourism, Weather

The Old Au Sable Fly Shop Fishing Report It’s actually Fall in Northern Michigan. Seems like it’s all too early. But the weather keeps reminding me that we have to put up our winter wood. And the maple trees are already turning red. Plus, it’s grouse season. Happy bird day, I say! The best thing about living in Northern Michigan is the season change. I couldn’t live somewhere that doesn’t have these stark moves. Our air conditioners are packed back into garages ...

By: Jeff Gardner   Category: Brook Trout, BWO, Dry Fly Fishing, Fishing Tips, Fly Fishing Community, Fly Fishing School, Fly Tying, Grouse Hunting, Michigan Reports, River Reports, Tourism, Weather

October 31, 2018 The Old Au Sable Fly Shop Fishing Report.   New Canoe Launch   We’re moving...

By: Andy Partlo   Category: Deer Hunting, Fishing Tips, Grouse Hunting, Michigan Reports, River Reports, Streamer Fishing Tags: Manistee River, Au Sable River

October 17, 2018 The Old Au Sable Fly Shop Fishing Report.   Fall at Wakely   It is time for bi...

By: Andy Partlo   Category: Deer Hunting, Fishing Tips, Fly Fishing Community, Grouse Hunting, Michigan Reports Tags: Grouse, Au Sable

September 27, 2018 The Old Au Sable Fly Shop Fishing Report.     The first whiffs of Fall are finally in the breeze.  The mornings are crisp and cool.  It feels good to p...

By: Andy Partlo   Category: Bow Hunting, Brook Trout, Deer Hunting, Dry Fly Fishing, Fishing Tips, Grouse Hunting Tags: Au Sable River

November 21, 2017

By: Jeff Gardner   Category: Bow Hunting, Deer Hunting, Fishing Tips, Fly Fishing Community, Fly Tying, Grouse Hunting, Michigan Reports, River Reports, Tourism

November 7, 2017 The Old Au Sable Fly Shop Fishing Report Anglers are moving those brown trout around in fair numbers.  The bigger streamers seem to be garnering attention but smaller flies in the three inch range are the best bet—you simply target more fish.  The rivers are in much better shape than the deluge last week left them and the clarity is such that black, olive and copper are all great color choices.  Wading is still an issue but the strong of heart and weak of m...

By: Andy Partlo   Category: Deer Hunting, Fly Fishing Community, Grouse Hunting, Michigan Reports, River Reports, Steelhead, Streamer Fishing Tags: Michigan Deer Hunting Camp