au-sable-river

Au Sable River is a river in Michigan.

It ranks #1 among the 11 waters of Michigan in the registry, and is of national prominence.

Also called The Au Sable.

Fished for trout and steelhead.

Species: brown trout, brook trout, rainbow trout and steelhead.

USGS GNIS record: 620329.

Stretches: Holy Water, Mason Tract, South Branch, Trophy Water, Big Water, North Branch and East Branch.

Access points: Burton's Landing, Chase Bridge, McMasters Bridge, Parmalee Bridge, Smith Bridge, Stephan Bridge, Wakeley Bridge, McKinley Bridge, Sheep Ranch, Thendara Road, Comins Flats, Perry Creek and The Whirlpool.

Features: Mio Dam, Alcona Dam, Foote Dam, Mason Chapel and Mio Pond.

Big Creek Flat (feature). It is fishable. Single source (flyanglersonline).

It is on the stretch Big Water.

Canoe Harbor Campground (access). It is launchable.

It is on the stretch South Branch.

Durant's Castle (access). It is fishable. Named parking area in DNR directions to High Banks. Not verified as an angler nickname.

It is on the stretch Mason Tract.

Float: Mason Tract, from Chase Bridge to Smith Bridge, 10.2 miles.

Float: Wakeley Bridge to McMasters Bridge, from Wakeley Bridge to McMasters Bridge, 6 miles.

Float: Holy Water, from Burton's Landing to Wakeley Bridge, 9 miles.

Sourced from 4 independent fly sites.

Sources: blog.oldausable.com, diyflyfishing.com, dnr.state.mi.us, fallentimbers.tu.org, Fly Anglers Online, MidCurrent, oldausable.com, outdoorhub.com, The Perfect Fly Store (retrieved 2026-10-20) and theoutbound.com.

Hatches

Cinammon Caddis

Sourced.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May hatching
  6. Jun hatching
  7. Jul hatching
  8. Aug hatching
  9. Sep hatching
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Chart dates 5/20-9/30; 4pm-dark; hooks #14-18. Statewide chart, not Au Sable-specific.

Sources: Trails to Trout

Mahogany Dun and Little Yellow Quill

Well sourced.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug hatching
  9. Sep hatching
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

About a month from August 1.

Sources: The Perfect Fly Store

Tiny Black Stonefly

Sourced.

  1. Jan hatching
  2. Feb hatching
  3. Mar hatching
  4. Apr hatching
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Chart dates 1/1-4/30; noon-4pm; hooks #16-20. Statewide chart, not Au Sable-specific.

Sources: Trails to Trout

Golden Stonefly

Well sourced. Sources give different windows; this shows the range.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May hatching
  6. Jun hatching
  7. Jul hatching
  8. Aug hatching
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Shop text gives June; statewide chart gives 5/15-6/30 (any time, #4-6) and, for a big golden stonefly, 6/21-8/7, #6-8.

Sources: Trails to Trout, The Perfect Fly Store

Little Winter Stonefly

Well sourced.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr hatching
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Sources: The Perfect Fly Store

American March Brown

Well sourced. Sources give different windows; this shows the range.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May hatching
  6. Jun hatching
  7. Jul hatching
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Shop text gives mid-May for about a month, in faster water; statewide chart gives 5/15-7/20, noon-4pm, #8-12.

Sources: Trails to Trout, The Perfect Fly Store

Grannom Caddis

Sourced.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr hatching
  5. May hatching
  6. Jun hatching
  7. Jul hatching
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Chart dates 4/20-7/31; 2pm-dark; hooks #12-16. Statewide chart, not Au Sable-specific.

Sources: Trails to Trout

Blue-Winged Olive

Well sourced.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr hatching
  5. May hatching
  6. Jun hatching
  7. Jul hatching
  8. Aug hatching
  9. Sep hatching
  10. Oct hatching
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Multi-brooded: first hatch early April to mid-May; little BWOs late June to July; again late August to the first week of October. Statewide chart: BWO 4/15-10/24 (peak 5/1-7 and 6/7-21), noon-3pm, #16-20; tiny BWO 5/15-8/30, 10am-9pm, #20-22.

Sources: Trails to Trout, The Perfect Fly Store

Early Black Stonefly

Sourced.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb hatching
  3. Mar hatching
  4. Apr hatching
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Chart dates 2/21-4/30; noon-4pm; hooks #10-14. Statewide chart, not Au Sable-specific.

Sources: Trails to Trout

Little Black Caddis

Well sourced. Sources give different windows; this shows the range.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr hatching
  5. May hatching
  6. Jun hatching
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Shop text gives the last week of April for about three weeks; statewide chart gives 4/20-6/30 (peak 5/1-14), noon-10pm, #16-20.

Sources: Trails to Trout, The Perfect Fly Store

Slate Winged Olive(Summer Olive)

Sourced.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun hatching
  7. Jul hatching
  8. Aug hatching
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Chart dates 6/21-8/14; hooks #14-18. Statewide chart, not Au Sable-specific.

Sources: Trails to Trout

Brown Drake

Well sourced.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May hatching
  6. Jun hatching
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Last week of May for about a month. Statewide chart: 6/1-7/4 (peak 6/1-14), 8pm-midnight, #8-10.

Sources: Trails to Trout, The Perfect Fly Store

Blue Quill (Mahogany Dun)

Well sourced.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr hatching
  5. May hatching
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Starts with the Hendrickson; usually about three weeks.

Sources: The Perfect Fly Store

Pale Evening Dun

Sourced.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun hatching
  7. Jul hatching
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Chart dates 6/1-7/15; 8pm-midnight; hooks #16, 18. Statewide chart, not Au Sable-specific.

Sources: Trails to Trout

Trico

Sourced.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul hatching
  8. Aug hatching
  9. Sep hatching
  10. Oct hatching
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Chart dates 7/20-10/20; 6am-10am; hooks #22-26. Statewide chart, not Au Sable-specific.

Sources: Trails to Trout

Beetles

Sourced.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun hatching
  7. Jul hatching
  8. Aug hatching
  9. Sep hatching
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Chart dates 6/1-9/30; day, evening. Statewide chart, not Au Sable-specific.

Sources: Trails to Trout

Golden Dun(Apricot Cahill)

Sourced.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul hatching
  8. Aug hatching
  9. Sep hatching
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Chart dates 7/11-9/15; noon-evening; hooks #10-14. Statewide chart, not Au Sable-specific.

Sources: Trails to Trout

Green Caddis(Green Rock Worm)

Sourced.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May hatching
  6. Jun hatching
  7. Jul hatching
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Chart dates 5/1-7/31; 2pm-dark; hooks #10-16. Statewide chart, not Au Sable-specific.

Sources: Trails to Trout

Great Olive Wing Dun (Hex, Michigan Caddis)

Stage: dun. Well sourced.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun hatching
  7. Jul hatching
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Peak: evening

Signature hatch of this river; mostly evening. Statewide chart: 6/10-7/10 (peak 6/21-7/7), 10pm-4am, #4-8.

Sources: Trails to Trout, The Perfect Fly Store

Quill Gordon

Sourced.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May hatching
  6. Jun hatching
  7. Jul hatching
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Chart dates 5/24-7/12; 1pm-4pm; hooks #12, 14. Statewide chart, not Au Sable-specific.

Sources: Trails to Trout

Light Cahill

Well sourced. Sources give different windows; this shows the range.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun hatching
  7. Jul hatching
  8. Aug hatching
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Shop text gives most of June, in faster water; statewide chart gives 6/5-8/14, 2pm-10pm, #10-12.

Sources: Trails to Trout, The Perfect Fly Store

Spotted Sedge

Sourced.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May hatching
  6. Jun hatching
  7. Jul hatching
  8. Aug hatching
  9. Sep hatching
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Chart dates 5/1-9/30; noon-dark; hooks #12-16. Statewide chart, not Au Sable-specific.

Sources: Trails to Trout

Little Mahogany

Sourced.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr hatching
  5. May hatching, peak
  6. Jun hatching
  7. Jul hatching
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Peak: peak 5/1-14

Chart dates 4/15-7/8; 10am-4pm; hooks #16-18. Statewide chart, not Au Sable-specific.

Sources: Trails to Trout

October Caddis(Autumn Sedge)

Sourced.

Months: July to January

  1. Jul hatching
  2. Aug hatching
  3. Sep hatching
  4. Oct hatching
  5. Nov hatching
  6. Dec hatching
  7. Jan hatching
  8. Feb
  9. Mar
  10. Apr
  11. May
  12. Jun

Chart dates 7/20-01/30; evening, morning; hooks #8-10. Statewide chart, not Au Sable-specific.

Sources: Trails to Trout

Yellow Sally

Well sourced. Sources give different windows; this shows the range.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May hatching
  6. Jun hatching
  7. Jul hatching
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

The most plentiful stonefly. Shop text gives end of May to mid-July; statewide chart gives 5/1-6/30, afternoons, #10-12.

Sources: Trails to Trout, The Perfect Fly Store

Terrestrials (ants, beetles, hoppers)

Stage: adult. Well sourced.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun hatching
  7. Jul hatching
  8. Aug hatching
  9. Sep hatching
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Ants from late June to mid-October; flying ants mid-August to mid-September; beetles and hoppers July-September.

Sources: The Perfect Fly Store

Great Orange Sedge

Sourced.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun hatching
  7. Jul hatching
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Chart dates 6/1-7/31; evenings; hooks #8, 10. Statewide chart, not Au Sable-specific.

Sources: Trails to Trout

Yellow Drake

Well sourced. Sources give different windows; this shows the range.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May hatching
  6. Jun hatching
  7. Jul hatching
  8. Aug hatching
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Reported windows differ: shop text gives the last week of July for two or three weeks; a statewide chart entry for this mayfly (listed there as sulphur dun) gives 5/15-7/8 (peak 6/7-30), noon-5pm, #12-16.

Sources: Trails to Trout, The Perfect Fly Store

Cinnamon Caddis

Well sourced.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun hatching
  7. Jul hatching
  8. Aug hatching
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

The most important caddis.

Sources: The Perfect Fly Store

Medium Brown Stonefly

Sourced.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May hatching
  6. Jun hatching
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Chart dates 5/1-6/30; afternoons; hooks #6-10. Statewide chart, not Au Sable-specific.

Sources: Trails to Trout

Hendrickson

Well sourced.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr hatching
  5. May hatching
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Begins about the last week of April and runs roughly a month depending on section. Statewide chart: 4/20-5/20 (peak 5/1-14), 10am-4pm, #12-14.

Sources: Trails to Trout, The Perfect Fly Store

Grasshoppers

Sourced.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul hatching
  8. Aug hatching
  9. Sep hatching
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Chart dates 7/15-9/30; day; hooks #6-12. Statewide chart, not Au Sable-specific.

Sources: Trails to Trout

Slate Drake

Well sourced. Sources give different windows; this shows the range.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May hatching
  6. Jun hatching
  7. Jul hatching
  8. Aug hatching
  9. Sep hatching
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Shop text gives mid-July to mid-August; statewide chart gives 5/15-9/30, evenings, #8-10.

Sources: Trails to Trout, The Perfect Fly Store

Gray Drake

Well sourced. Sources give different windows; this shows the range.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May hatching
  6. Jun hatching
  7. Jul hatching
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Shop text gives June 1 for up to a month; statewide chart gives 5/20-7/15 (peak 6/1-7), at dark, #8-10.

Sources: Trails to Trout, The Perfect Fly Store

Green Sedge

Well sourced.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun hatching
  7. Jul hatching
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

About six weeks from early June.

Sources: The Perfect Fly Store

Midge(Griffith’s Gnat)

Sourced.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun hatching
  7. Jul hatching
  8. Aug hatching
  9. Sep hatching
  10. Oct hatching
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Chart dates 6/1-10/30; hooks #20-28. Statewide chart, not Au Sable-specific.

Sources: Trails to Trout

Sulphur

Well sourced.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May hatching
  6. Jun hatching
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Shop text gives mid-May to mid-June. Statewide chart: little sulphur 5/15-6/7, evening, #16-18; Hebe (little yellow quill) 6/15-9/30 (peak 7/1-31), noon to evening, #16-18.

Sources: Trails to Trout, The Perfect Fly Store

Early Brown Stonefly

Sourced.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar hatching
  4. Apr hatching
  5. May hatching
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Chart dates 3/15-5/10; 1pm-7pm; hooks #10-14. Statewide chart, not Au Sable-specific.

Sources: Trails to Trout

Crickets

Sourced.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul hatching
  8. Aug hatching
  9. Sep hatching
  10. Oct hatching
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Chart dates 7/1-10/15; any time. Statewide chart, not Au Sable-specific.

Sources: Trails to Trout

Great Speckled Olive Mayfly

Sourced.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May hatching, peak
  6. Jun hatching
  7. Jul hatching
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Peak: peak 5/14-31

Chart dates 5/15-7/15; noon-5pm; hooks #8-12. Statewide chart, not Au Sable-specific.

Sources: Trails to Trout

Great Mahogany(Borcher’s Drake)

Sourced.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr hatching
  5. May hatching
  6. Jun hatching
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Chart dates 4/20-6/15; 10am-4pm; hooks #10-14. Statewide chart, not Au Sable-specific.

Sources: Trails to Trout

White Miller Caddis

Well sourced. Sources give different windows; this shows the range.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul hatching
  8. Aug hatching
  9. Sep hatching
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Shop text gives about the whole of August; statewide chart gives 7/1-9/30, afternoons, #12-16.

Sources: Trails to Trout, The Perfect Fly Store

Green Oak Worm

Sourced.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May hatching
  6. Jun hatching, peak
  7. Jul hatching
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Peak: peak 6/7-21

Chart dates 5/15-7/10; day; hooks #8-12. Statewide chart, not Au Sable-specific.

Sources: Trails to Trout

Great Autumn Brown Caddis

Well sourced.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug hatching
  9. Sep hatching
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Night hatch; about a month.

Sources: The Perfect Fly Store

White Fly

Sourced.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug hatching
  9. Sep hatching
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Chart dates 8/14-9/30; evening, night; hooks #10-14. Statewide chart, not Au Sable-specific.

Sources: Trails to Trout

Ants(Black and Cinammon)

Sourced.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun hatching
  7. Jul hatching
  8. Aug hatching
  9. Sep hatching
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Chart dates 6/15-9/30; day, evening; hooks #12-24. Statewide chart, not Au Sable-specific.

Sources: Trails to Trout

Giant Stonefly(Salmonfly)

Sourced.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May hatching
  6. Jun hatching
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Chart dates 5/15-6/30; any time; hooks #2-8. Statewide chart, not Au Sable-specific.

Sources: Trails to Trout

Access, closures and rules change; check with the state agency before you go.