west-branch-ausable-river

West Branch Ausable River is a river in New York.

It ranks #6 among the 12 waters of New York in the registry, and is of national prominence.

Also called West Branch of the Au Sable River, West Branch Au Sable, West Branch of the Ausable and Ausable River.

Fished for trout (inferred from the species listed).

Species: brown trout, rainbow trout and brook trout.

USGS GNIS record: 970755.

Stretches: Fox Farm Stretch.

Holes: Betters' Pool, Flume Pool, Frustration Pool, Red Barn Run, Shadow Rock Pool, Bassett Flats, Bergman Run and Quarry Hole.

Features: Monument Falls, Flume Falls, High Falls and Wilmington Dam.

Ski Jump Pool (hole). It is fishable. Whiteface Region Ausable River Fishing Map spot number 1 of 35, numbered upstream (Lake Placid end) to downstream (Au Sable Forks).

It is upstream of Red Barn Run.

86 Flats (hole). It is fishable. Whiteface Region Ausable River Fishing Map spot number 6 of 35, numbered upstream (Lake Placid end) to downstream (Au Sable Forks).

It is upstream of Quarry Hole.

It is downstream of Coty Flats.

Bushey's Hole (hole). It is fishable. Whiteface Region Ausable River Fishing Map spot number 33 of 35, numbered upstream (Lake Placid end) to downstream (Au Sable Forks).

It is upstream of Slant Rock #2.

It is downstream of Old Dump Run.

Carpenter's Island (feature). It is fishable. Whiteface Region Ausable River Fishing Map spot number 19 of 35, numbered upstream (Lake Placid end) to downstream (Au Sable Forks).

It is upstream of Fox Farm Stretch.

It is downstream of Greer Stretch.

Coty Flats (hole). It is fishable. Whiteface Region Ausable River Fishing Map spot number 5 of 35, numbered upstream (Lake Placid end) to downstream (Au Sable Forks).

It is upstream of 86 Flats.

It is downstream of Iron Bridge.

Edwards Stretch (stretch). It is fishable. Whiteface Region Ausable River Fishing Map spot number 30 of 35, numbered upstream (Lake Placid end) to downstream (Au Sable Forks).

It is upstream of Ledge Rock Pool.

It is downstream of White Birches.

Firehouse Run (hole). It is fishable. Whiteface Region Ausable River Fishing Map spot number 27 of 35, numbered upstream (Lake Placid end) to downstream (Au Sable Forks).

It is upstream of Stop Pool.

It is downstream of Lake Everest.

Greer Stretch (stretch). It is fishable. Whiteface Region Ausable River Fishing Map spot number 18 of 35, numbered upstream (Lake Placid end) to downstream (Au Sable Forks).

It is upstream of Carpenter's Island.

It is downstream of Hemlock Pool.

Hemlock Pool (hole). It is fishable. Whiteface Region Ausable River Fishing Map spot number 17 of 35, numbered upstream (Lake Placid end) to downstream (Au Sable Forks).

It is upstream of Greer Stretch.

It is downstream of Pump House Hole.

Iron Bridge (access). It is fishable. Whiteface Region Ausable River Fishing Map spot number 4 of 35, numbered upstream (Lake Placid end) to downstream (Au Sable Forks). Marked with a parking area.

It is upstream of Coty Flats.

It is downstream of Frustration Pool.

Island Run (hole). It is fishable. Whiteface Region Ausable River Fishing Map spot number 10 of 35, numbered upstream (Lake Placid end) to downstream (Au Sable Forks).

It is upstream of Shadow Rock Pool.

It is downstream of Monument Falls.

Jenning's Run (hole). It is fishable. Whiteface Region Ausable River Fishing Map spot number 21 of 35, numbered upstream (Lake Placid end) to downstream (Au Sable Forks).

It is upstream of Flume Pool.

It is downstream of Fox Farm Stretch.

Kraus Flats (hole). It is fishable. Whiteface Region Ausable River Fishing Map spot number 8 of 35, numbered upstream (Lake Placid end) to downstream (Au Sable Forks).

It is upstream of Monument Falls.

It is downstream of Quarry Hole.

Lake Everest (feature). It is fishable. Whiteface Region Ausable River Fishing Map spot number 26 of 35, numbered upstream (Lake Placid end) to downstream (Au Sable Forks).

It is upstream of Firehouse Run.

It is downstream of Slant Rock #1.

Ledge Rock Pool (hole). It is fishable. Whiteface Region Ausable River Fishing Map spot number 31 of 35, numbered upstream (Lake Placid end) to downstream (Au Sable Forks).

It is upstream of Old Dump Run.

It is downstream of Edwards Stretch.

Mill Stretch (stretch). It is fishable. Whiteface Region Ausable River Fishing Map spot number 35 of 35, numbered upstream (Lake Placid end) to downstream (Au Sable Forks).

It is downstream of Slant Rock #2.

Notch Stretch (stretch). It is fishable. Whiteface Region Ausable River Fishing Map spot number 13 of 35, numbered upstream (Lake Placid end) to downstream (Au Sable Forks).

It is upstream of Phillips Pool.

It is downstream of Bassett Flats.

Old Dump Run (hole). It is fishable. Whiteface Region Ausable River Fishing Map spot number 32 of 35, numbered upstream (Lake Placid end) to downstream (Au Sable Forks).

It is upstream of Bushey's Hole.

It is downstream of Ledge Rock Pool.

Phillips Pool (hole). It is fishable. Whiteface Region Ausable River Fishing Map spot number 14 of 35, numbered upstream (Lake Placid end) to downstream (Au Sable Forks).

It is upstream of Bergman Run.

It is downstream of Notch Stretch.

Pump House Hole (hole). It is fishable. Whiteface Region Ausable River Fishing Map spot number 16 of 35, numbered upstream (Lake Placid end) to downstream (Au Sable Forks).

It is upstream of Hemlock Pool.

It is downstream of Bergman Run.

Slant Rock #1 (feature). It is fishable. Whiteface Region Ausable River Fishing Map spot number 25 of 35, numbered upstream (Lake Placid end) to downstream (Au Sable Forks).

It is upstream of Lake Everest.

It is downstream of Betters' Pool.

Slant Rock #2 (feature). It is fishable. Whiteface Region Ausable River Fishing Map spot number 34 of 35, numbered upstream (Lake Placid end) to downstream (Au Sable Forks).

It is upstream of Mill Stretch.

It is downstream of Bushey's Hole.

Stop Pool (hole). It is fishable. Whiteface Region Ausable River Fishing Map spot number 28 of 35, numbered upstream (Lake Placid end) to downstream (Au Sable Forks).

It is upstream of White Birches.

It is downstream of Firehouse Run.

Welch Run (hole). It is fishable. Whiteface Region Ausable River Fishing Map spot number 23 of 35, numbered upstream (Lake Placid end) to downstream (Au Sable Forks).

It is upstream of Betters' Pool.

It is downstream of Flume Pool.

White Birches (feature). It is fishable. Whiteface Region Ausable River Fishing Map spot number 29 of 35, numbered upstream (Lake Placid end) to downstream (Au Sable Forks).

It is upstream of Edwards Stretch.

It is downstream of Stop Pool.

Sourced from 3 independent fly sites.

Sources: Dark Skies Fly Fishing (retrieved 2026-10-20), diyflyfishing.com, The Perfect Fly Store (retrieved 2026-10-20) and whitefaceregion.com.

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