The Au Sable River in Michigan, United States runs approximately 138 miles through the northern Lower Peninsula, through the towns of Grayling and Mio, and enters Lake Huron at Au Sable. It is considered one of the best brown trout fisheries east of the Rockies and has been designated a blue ribbon trout stream by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Below you will find charts cataloging the current river temperature, flow rate, and information on the numerous branches of the beautiful Au Sable.

Above you will find two images that chart the temperature of the water, and the discharge levels of the river. Clicking either of these images will redirect you to the USGS website and provide more information on the current flow of the river. Happy fishing!

The river flows south from its origin paralleling the Manistee River. After flowing "side-by-side" for approximately twelve miles, the Au Sable turns east and flows into Lake Huron while the Manistee turns southwest and flows into Lake Michigan.

 When the Au Sable turns, she gathers the flow of the East Branch at the town of Grayling. A few miles further east of Grayling the river flows past Burton's Landing, which is the start of the fly fishing only, catch-and-release section also known as the "Holy Water." This area extends for nearly nine miles downstream to Wakeley Bridge. 

The bottom of this stretch the river consists mainly of sand and gravel, a perfect habitat. Beautiful trout filled pools, runs, and rifles litter this section of the river. This is a very productive and popular area, with a great diversity of water and fish- this region is not called the 'Holy Water' for nothing, and brings in Fly Fishers from across the country. 

Several access points are available for anglers to wade or float from. Thendara Road and Stephan Bridge are just a couple of the many areas with great access to her bounty. The water is fairly large but easy to navigate and wade.

The water from Wakeley Bridge to Mio Pond easily equals the quality of the water from Grayling to Wakeley Bridge. The water is larger and has more deep pools and runs for large trout to hide. Wading here can be difficult in some areas and caution needs to be taken. Prolific fly hatches exist here and throughout the rest of the river. Hexagenia Limbata also known as "Michigan Caddis" are a very famous and large mayfly that are rife throughout this area. Large brown trout - 20+ inches! - are found feeding on this mayfly and are occassionaly caught during this time. Many well-seasoned Fly Fishermen will often be seen sneaking around the river during this hatch looking for that trophy brown. Some of the good access points to the river in this area are found at The Whirlpool off of Cherry Creek Road and at Parmalee Bridge.

From the Mio Dam to McKinley Bridge, the river harbors an abundance of trophy-sized trout. Large brown and rainbow trout are in plentiful numbers here. Like the upper areas of the river, quality fly hatches make it a wonderful stretch. The water is deep and strong in many areas. Wading is a challenge, although it can be accomplished in certain areas. A boat is the best way to cover and fish in this section of the water. Hiring a guide will ensure the most potential out of this tremendous section of the river. A few good access points are located at Perry Creek, Comins Flats, and McKinley Bridge, but there are dozens of public boat launches along this section of the river!

The South Branch flows north out of Houghton Lake, towards the Mainstream of the Au Sable, passing by the town of Roscommon on its way. It meets the mainstream a short distance below the Wakeley Bridge. A section of this branch is designated for fishing with artificial flies only, no kill, and is located from Chase bridge downstream to the Lower High Banks. Brook, brown, and some rainbow trout can be found in its waters. Access areas are numerous along this branch of the  river providing ideal areas to "hop" out of your car and wade for fish.

The North Branch flows southeasterly passing through Lovells Township, emptying into the main river a few miles downstream from the South Branch. The North Branch is also a high quality fishery with a section devoted for fishing with artificial flies only from Sheep Ranch downstream to the confluence with the Mainstream. This is a beautiful river with slick pools and numerous quality trout. It is a great dry fly fishery, just like the rest of the upper Au Sable River system. Access can be gained from many areas alongside the North Branch's path.

The lower Au Sable River from Foote Dam to Lake Huron is a quality steelhead trout fishery. The river here is very large, and by some standards, dangerous without the proper experience and tools. Careful wading is a must, and a boat provides the best and easiest angling. Steelhead and salmon both migrate up this section of the river and can be caught in the same manner as the other great lake tributaries. Steelhead fishing is available (depending upon conditions) from late fall through early spring. 

Looking for even more information on the AuSable Valley area? Check out our YouTube series 'River Therapy' for more tips on fly fishing in the area.