River Report August 7, 2023

It’s pin-drop quiet on Northern waters washed in orange sunrise. There’s no one here. There’s no one in your way. Anglers have the rivers to themselves at dawn and dusk. Savvy fishermen won’t pull two trucks deep into any parking spot—there’s no reason. All of our fields are green and all of our streams crystal. … Read more

Old AuSable River Report – May 3, 2023

Trout Opener was a great success. While not everyone got the trout they were looking for, many anglers saw Hendricksons bobbing along the surface and found fish rising to the bug. Some fine specimens were caught. Having trout rising on Opening Day is like having a birthday on Leap Year. So, that makes me about … Read more

River Report – April 20, 2023

Man, fishing has been great. We just haven’t been catching anything! There’s always an air of excitement around the Au Sable River in Spring. Everyday is filled with the anticipation of good angling and bug hatches even if your birdbath is filled with fresh snow. So, the fishing is always great, even if the trout … Read more

RIVER REPORT – November 11, 2022

The Old AuSable Fly Shop Fishing Report When the weather turns cold and the woods silent, my world slows and all thoughts turn to deer hunting. There is only one pursuit in Northern Michigan during the last two weeks of November—it’s white-tail season.  An event so important and steeped in tradition that many businesses shutter … Read more

River Report October 1, 2022

The best month of the year is here.  I wish October stretched into Spring.   The undisputed king of the calendar offers everything outdoors folk could want.   Winter has snow, Spring has showers, Summer has sunshine—October has all of that and more.  Sure, it might be short of wildflowers and swimming and snow skiing, but … Read more

River Report – May 13, 2022

I live by the Au Sable River mostly because of May and June.  Those two months are hatch match time – the time of the year when water-born insects like mayflies and caddis flies emerge and live out the adult part of their life cycles (even while sandal wearing fifty-year-old fly anglers with Peter Pan … Read more

River Report – May 5, 2022

The Old Au Sable Fly Shop Fishing Report. Windshield wiper smeared bug guts mean fishing is getting good.  We’ve been lurking on the top of the basement steps of water temperature – peeking through the door but, now, the forecast warm weather is about to karate-kick-splinter the opening of Hendricksons.  Things have been hovering just … Read more

River Report – April 4, 2022

I’m glad March came and glad it’s gone.  Streamer fishing has been solid on the best days and will just keep getting better with more of those best days to come.  I love pitching meatbugs and stripping flies from the bank and pausing them into the streambed contours, and jolt-strikes, and a leviathan, thick-sided brown … Read more

River Report March 14, 2022

This is the weather we’ve been waiting for – Spring is breaking.  We’ve moved the clocks and the kids will steal a week away from school.  There’s a change settling into Northern Michigan.  Spring creep is kindly welcomed.  Temperatures move from twenties to thirties and thirties move to forties and each marker sheds a layer … Read more

River Report – March 5, 2022

March toward Spring I say.  Even though this month often serves up some of our most ferocious winter weather, it’s nice to turn the calendar page.  Days are getting longer and the sun’s angle stronger.  There’s no more going to work in the dark and coming home in the dark.  We can look forward to … Read more