South to the Ausable (woot)

[fly fishing canada]

Went south to the Ausable River with yung_flyfisher3 and Simon for some world class trout. We started in Moira on the Salmon: nothing. Early (really early) the next morining we left our dumpy hotel for Wilmington, and fished some of the pools in the No- Kill area around 7.30, again nothing. We checked all the Creel Survey boxes on the spots we visited (handy tools for anglers where you submit cards with hours fished, number of anglers, and fish and species caught used on the West Branch of the Ausable to survey the fish populations) and noone caught many fish, and none larger than 14" browns. After a bit of unsuccessful fishing along some "that looks good pull over" pools we went to the Hungry Trout Fly Shop, Ausable River Sport Shop and Aiderondack Sport Shop (we met Fran Betters) to ask about flies, pools and spots. Everyone was disappointingly vague, but pointed us in the right general direction (Whiteface, Monument falls and Flume Falls). So we set out again to Monument falls. While i was setting up Simon caught a small brown (we were quite pleased as few people managed anything). Nothing more until the evening, but not for lack of trying. We check in to our nicer motel, and went to Whiteface where people said we'd have a chance at big fish. Nothing. Once the magic hours began, we headed back to Monument falls for trout and were surprised to find no one there. I got a brown (woot) drifiting an Ausable Bomber (or Betters' Bomber) in the tail of the pool. Later on we saw rising fish above the falls in the flat water but they were stubborn and would not have anything to do with artificials (keying on s 24 Bwo's we think). We moved on to Whiteface and fished there while it got darker, and Simon managed a 10" brown hooked by the fin. As a last ditch attempt, we headed off to monument falls this morning around 5.30 (yawn) to no avail AGAIN! So we continued down to theRL's pool (i discovered it; it has an undisclosed name and is referred to by us as theRL's pool) on the Ausable. This spot finally produced consistent (5 rises, 2 lost fish, 2 fish) action on dry flies. We were thrilled. I got a nice 15 inch brown, then yung_flyfisher3 caught his first of the trip. An Ausable TROPHY!!!! 20" Butterbelly brown trout. Unheard of on the heavily fished river.

Summary:

-DONT stay at the Crossroad Inn in Moira
-Try Monument Falls and Whiteface
-Go to visit Fran Betters
Golf at the Malone Golf Club
-Use Stimulators, Turk Tarantulas, Betters Bombers, Ausable Wulffs and Ausable Uglies
-PLEASE PM me if you want to know the location of theRL's pool. Whoever PM's me will get the directions and location of the pool.



Wow What a trip

Off again tomorrow to Calgary to get more Trout


theRL

[Mike Lennox]

there are tons of big brownies in the river. The difficulty is finding a remote stretch where nobody else fishes and fishing there "according to all theguides" But in the 5 mile no kill section, most of the bigguns are very smart, and i was REALLY lucky to catch one in the heat,but man my legs were shaking for a good 10 minutes
yff3

[ganman]

Good for you guys sounds like you had a good time. This summer has made for some very difficult if not impossible conditions for trout fishing those rivers. RL there are plenty of 20 plus inchers in the Ausable.....I've caught a few myself.

I can't wait for September and some cooler weather. I have to get Squib up for another trip.

[Squib]

For sure! Just got back from camping near Elizabeth town and fished the bouquet river. Surprising number of good size browns there for the size of the river.

Drop me a line when you want to head out again... I have only been bass fising twice this year, Ganman, I blame you for turining me into a trout junkie!