The Old Au Sable Fly Shop Fishing Report

September 27, 2018

The Old Au Sable Fly Shop Fishing Report.

 

Dog antler

 

The first whiffs of Fall are finally in the breeze.  The mornings are crisp and cool.  It feels good to put on socks and boots and heavy brush pants.  Bird season is well underway and the dogs are earning their kibble.

It’s been a good start to the cast and blast season.  The trout are just starting their transitions in to Fall patterns.  The brook trout will be staging up to spawn soon enough and the browns will be looking for big meals in preparation for the battle over prime spawning gravel.  Any cloudy, rainy day should be a great time to chuck big, meaty streamers.  Until then, the night fly bite will be your best chance at fooling a heavy brown trout.

It would be wise, with the current weather trends to fish at dawn and dusk and after dark and to hike the grouse woods before lunch until just after dinner.  The grouse will be in the thick, thorny stuff early, will move to food for a late breakfast and will be pecking at fruit until it’s time to swallow some crop gravel during the heat of the day.  Look for them to move back into impenetrable, ground roosting cover near taller trees just about the time you should be pulling back on your waders.

This is my favorite time to live in Northern Michigan.  Well, in another week or two anyway.  The season change in Fall is magic.  The waters empty of anglers and woods that have been devoid of people for many months cool enough to welcome hunters.  The ferns tip over and the leaves begin to thin.  The animals are robust, healthy and strong.

October may just be the finest month of our Michigan year.  It’s deer and trout and grouse and fires in the woodstove and it’s wool and waxed cotton.  The leaves change and you breathe earth.  And, again, the leaves change.  If you have any chance at all this year stop by the shop when the leaves are turning and I’ll show you how to get your four-wheeled truck to the top of Bald Hill.  It is simply the best color view in Crawford County.

Plus, the new Fall clothing and gear line up is in the shop and there are some great new pieces to check out.

We’ve got plenty of openings for guided fishing trips and a couple of days open for grouse—just give the shop a shout if you’re interested and we’ll do our best to get you in the books.

Get out and enjoy the Fall!

Andy

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