West Branch of The Ausable River, NY

[EJS]

I just returned from a trip to the West Branch of The Ausable River in NY. The back story to this trip, our original destination was the Elk River in WV. Mother nature decided otherwise, see the following flow charts.

https://plus.google.com/photos/108118264311825954341/albums?banner=pwa&gpsrc=pwrd1#photos/108118264311825954341/albums/6017350961659170289/6017350963190578322?pid=6017350963190578322&oid=108118264311825954341

The flows hit 17,000CFM on a river where optimal river conditions are 500CFM. With some quick research we found the Ausable. Water there come up fast but drops equally as fast!

We drove 5hrs Sunday and arrived at 1:30pm. By 3:30pm we were scouting the river. We hit the two local fly shops, Two Flies Ausable Fly Shop and Hungry Trout Fly Shop. River maps in hand and some local adivice we hit the river, CFM was 4700 and the fishing was pocket water behind structure and boulders. Some small browns but not what were were after.

https://plus.google.com/photos/108118264311825954341/albums?banner=pwa&gpsrc=pwrd1#photos/108118264311825954341/albums/6017350961659170289/6017351230129346466?pid=6017351230129346466&oid=108118264311825954341

Monday brought some overcast skies and lower flows, in the 2000-3000 range. We fished two holes in the morning, it was hit and miss. We change locations and went further up stream in the lake Placid direction. Hiher elevations, less feeder streams, narrower waters. Not mush surface activity, some Blue Wing Olives and smaller Dark Hendrickson size 18. The water temp was mid 40's so suface activity was a few hits over a few hours. I switched to streamer and bugger, that's when the fishing got serious.

https://plus.google.com/photos/108118264311825954341/albums?banner=pwa&gpsrc=pwrd1#photos/108118264311825954341/albums/6017350961659170289/6017352692970604354?pid=6017352692970604354&oid=108118264311825954341

Next cast, I ripped a streamer under a fallen tree.... start of a 30 minute battle. I fish light tackle, 4wt 7'-6" G-Lommis East Fork, WFF 5wt line, 7X to 5X tippet. I went into my backing 3 times, 4 jumps and destroyed a leader(pig-tailed 3' of leader), but landed this brown.

https://plus.google.com/photos/108118264311825954341/albums?banner=pwa&gpsrc=pwrd1#photos/108118264311825954341/albums/6017350961659170289/6017353130122746690?pid=6017353130122746690&oid=108118264311825954341

https://plus.google.com/photos/108118264311825954341/albums?banner=pwa&gpsrc=pwrd1#photos/108118264311825954341/albums/6017350961659170289/6017353280110403042?pid=6017353280110403042&oid=108118264311825954341

After landing the brown I decided it was time to set up the GoPro and just shoot video. I have 42GB of video to now edit and grab stills. I ghave my arm a rest and help a friend who just started fly fishing this year. I wanted to help him get his first trut on a fly. With A-LOT of coaching from casting to through the fight, he landed a real nice Rainbow. Honestly, too nice for his first trout on a fly rod!

https://plus.google.com/photos/108118264311825954341/albums?banner=pwa&gpsrc=pwrd1#photos/108118264311825954341/albums/6017350961659170289/6017352912018903426?pid=6017352912018903426&oid=108118264311825954341

With everyone in the group landing a nice Trout I went back to fishing. In all, I landed 13 Trout all over 20" and two native Brook Trout, & a dozen trout between 9' and 17".

The day we left, another storm hit the region, so Dark Hendrickson hatches should be coming off in clouds this week on the Ausable. If you like fishing pocket water and shoots, this is a great river to fish!

[gwl2oneida]

Love the ny reports. There's so many good rivers upstate that are usually untouched. Finding access is the trick.

[EJS]

Love the ny reports. There's so many good rivers upstate that are usually untouched. Finding access is the trick.

You are absolutely right! Access to the top 1/2 of the West Branch was pretty easy. The lower half is harder as it drops in elevation so fast, the river often runs through sheer cliff gorges. With some help from the locals we were able to find access in that lower 8 miles. The lower half also has more property that is posted private property and not fishable.

It is absolutely a river I am going to fish again, and everyone should add it to there fishing location bucket list!

[FASTEDDIE29]

Ausable is AWESOME, actually a very windy big river. Lots of nice fish in that area. I passed through there 2 winters ago while watching my friends daughter compete for team figure skating in Lake Placid. Her team won of course and she is currently training to compete in the next Winter Olympics. Awesome, picturesque country up there. The cliffs leading down to lakes, ice climbing, hiking, it's just amazing up there. When I was in LP I was supposed to do some ice fishing but Mother Nature had other ideas with the wind gusting from 50-75 everyday we were there. No boarding, no fishing but the views are breathtaking. Thanx for the AWESOME report dude!!!!:D

[Lard Almighty]

I've heard of the Ausable as a premier trout river before, nice to finally put a face to the name, so to speak. Great report, and thanks for bringing some new water to NJF!

[Dave B.]

Sounds like you guys had an awesome trip! I gotta get back up there someday! Haven't fished it in nearly 30 years and can still picture that beautiful river! Thanks for sharing and for stirring up some fine memories!

[AndyS]

I gotta get up there. Do they close this October 15th like the rest of the state ? GREAT report btw !

[EJS]

I gotta get up there. Do they close this October 15th like the rest of the state ? GREAT report btw !

Andy, I am not sure if it is closed season. Most of the West Branch is special regulation posted - artificial lure only and catch & release only.

[Capt. Lou]

Great stream as stated , type of water I love to fish ! Drawback too far for to visit often !
First fished it in mid sixties , most road side pools in those days were loaded with stockies , I mean hundreds ! U had to hike to off road areas where a good. number of big browns took up residence!

[EJS]

Great stream as stated , type of water I love to fish ! Drawback too far for to visit often !
First fished it in mid sixties , most road side pools in those days were loaded with stockies , I mean hundreds ! U had to hike to off road areas where a good. number of big browns took up residence!

The numbers weren't as high as some of the places as I have fished, however the number of 20"+ trout were really high! The special regs are working, producing a fine stretch of quality trout fishing! This place should be on everyone's bucket list!

I would recommend anyone going there to pack a set of dry clothes in the vehicle, have a wading stick, and use cleeted wading boots! I saw two people go in the drink while I was fishing.

Next fishing report to come soon. Either the Savage river in MD, the Elk River in WV, or some other random stop!