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Au Sable River Fishing Report — Michigan
Photo: Mtn-graphic Opens in a new tab. · CC BY-SA 4.0
Should I go fishing?
Go with caution.
Flow is high for this time of year.
Best option: Floating. A float can fit better than wading only if launches, shuttle, boat skill, wind, and local rules all check out.
Fishing rating64
Rating updatedRiver local time:
Why this recommendation?
USGS shows 821 cfs. The flow has been stable over about 6 hours. USGS marks this reading provisional and may revise it. USGS records for this date (1909-2025, 36 readings) show a median near 634 cfs and the upper quartile near 746 cfs; today's flow is high for the date. Fishable water may exist, but do not rate it highly without a safe access, clarity, and wading or boat plan.
Available live dataHighHow much of the live flow, weather, and alert data came back.
Confidence in this recommendationHighCurrent flow, weather, alerts, and trip-critical signals support this decision.
Usually checks again about every 45 minutes
If you go
- Check first
- Use RiverReports and USGS Red Oak flow as broad main-branch context.
- Try
- Choose a specific reach before choosing a fly. The Au Sable changes quickly by branch and public access point.
- Leave when
- Skip or change reaches when Michigan trout-map rules are unclear, when warm water would stress trout, when night-fishing safety is poor, when access sites are too crowded for good etiquette, or when high water makes wading or boat control unsafe.
Flow and weather
Showing server-checked river conditions while current readings refresh.
- Flow
- 821 cfs
- From the latest stored river check. Open the official source for the newest reading.Water 58.5°F · 24h high 60.3°F · USGS provisional
- Air forecast
- 67°F
- Next 24h high
- 80.0°F
NWS air forecast near
- Rain chance
- 4%
Latest stored weather check
Mostly Sunny
- Wind
- 10 mph
- Weather checked
More forecast and source details
Mostly Sunny
National Weather Service
Au Sable River near Grayling
The National Weather Service forecast is temporarily unavailable.
Live data
Where these readings come from
RiverReports gauge: Au Sable River Main Branch near Parmalee
Water 58.5°F · provisional · 24h high 60.3°F provisionalWater observed · high observed
Flies for this time of year
Seasonal starting points, not a live hatch report. Match what you see on the water.
- Blue-Winged Olive PatternsBWO dryView fly guide ↗
- Stonefly Nymph Patternsstonefly nymphView fly guide ↗
- Egg Fly Patternsegg only where legalView fly guide ↗
- Leech PatternsleechView fly guide ↗
See flies for every season
SeasonWhat to look forFlies to try
April to May
What to look forBlack stones, Hendricksons, BWOs, early caddis
Late May to June
What to look forSulphurs, March Browns, Brown Drakes, caddis
Flies to try
Also try Sulphur comparadun, Brown Drake spinner
June to August
What to look forIsonychia, caddis, terrestrials, night browns
Flies to try
Also try Isonychia, mouse
September to NovemberThis season
What to look forBWOs, October caddis, salmon and steelhead movement
Flies to try
Each fly name opens its matching Fly Box guide.
More fishing tips
Methods, fish species and trip notes
How to fish Au Sable River today.
The Au Sable can be excellent when flows are stable and water stays cold. If it is hot, bright, or crowded, fish early, late, or choose shaded water with trout-safe temperatures.
Stable trout flow
Fish dries, soft hackles, and nymphs through riffles, flats, and bank edges.
Low clear water
Use long leaders, softer casts, and low-light windows.
Stained or rising
Streamers and bank work can improve, but skip unsafe wading.
Warm spell
Carry a thermometer and stop targeting trout when water is too warm for safe release.
Wading, bank fishing or floating?
Best access methodFloating
These scores compare the risks of wading, bank fishing, and floating.
Wading44/100
Wading is the most sensitive plan today. Use protected edges only, avoid crossings, and downgrade quickly if clarity or current feels wrong.
Bank fishingNot recommended
This report does not recommend bank fishing on this reach.
Floating · Best fit68/100
A float can fit better than wading only if launches, shuttle, boat skill, wind, and local rules all check out.
Full river report
Is Au Sable River worth the trip today? Check flow, weather, hatches, access, and rules for Michigan before you go.
The Au Sable is a famous Michigan trout river, but it is not one uniform report. Pick the branch or main-stem reach, confirm the trout rule, and use the flow trend before planning dries, streamers, or night fishing.
Fishing words used on this page
- U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) gauge
- A USGS gauge is an official river station that measures flow or water height.
- Cubic feet per second (cfs)
- Cubic feet per second, or cfs, shows how much water passes the gauge each second.
- Nymph
- A nymph is a young water insect. Anglers also use the word for a fly that copies it.
- Riffle
- A riffle is shallow, fast water broken by rocks.
- Blue-winged olive (BWO)
- Blue-winged olives, or BWOs, are small mayflies that often hatch in cool or cloudy weather.
- Caddis
- Caddis are small water insects. The adults look a little like tiny moths.
- Emerger
- An emerger copies an insect as it rises from below the water toward the surface.
- River reach
- A reach is one named section of a river or stream.
- Soft hackle
- A soft-hackle fly has moving fibers that can look like an insect rising through the water.
- Stained water
- Stained water is darker or cloudier after rain, runoff, or a change in flow.
Why this call
Why this score
FlowUse caution
USGS shows 821 cfs. The flow has been stable over about 6 hours. USGS marks this reading provisional and may revise it. USGS records for this date (1909-2025, 36 readings) show a median near 634 cfs and the upper quartile near 746 cfs; today's flow is high for the date. Fishable water may exist, but do not rate it highly without a safe access, clarity, and wading or boat plan.
Best mode nowUse caution
Float: A float can fit better than wading only if launches, shuttle, boat skill, wind, and local rules all check out.
SeasonHelps
Fall: Streamers, olives, and lower light can put larger browns in play.
Water temperatureHelps
USGS water temperature is about 58.5F, and the rolling 24-hour high did not trigger a heat caution. USGS marks the temperature data provisional and may revise it.
Public alertsHelps
No active NWS alert was returned for this forecast point.
Trip notes
Check these before you choose a reach.
Use the RiverReports Main Branch chart and USGS 04136000 near Red Oak together. Stable flows support dry-fly and wade planning. Sudden rain bumps, warm water, or poor clarity should shift the plan toward safer banks, colder windows, or a different reach.
Skip or change reaches when Michigan trout-map rules are unclear, when warm water would stress trout, when night-fishing safety is poor, when access sites are too crowded for good etiquette, or when high water makes wading or boat control unsafe.
Start by choosing the style: Grayling and Holy Water dry-fly focus, Mio and main-branch float context, Red Oak flow checks, or a streamer day after rain. Match flies and timing to that reach instead of treating the Au Sable as one generic river.
If the Au Sable is warm, crowded, rule-sensitive, or off-color, compare the Boardman River, Pere Marquette River, or Little Manistee River after checking current rules, flows, and access.
Au Sable River access and rules.
Use these places as starting points. Open the access link below and check posted signs before you park or enter.
Before you go
Michigan DNR's current fishing rules and Inland Trout and Salmon map control seasons, methods, size limits, and reach boundaries. Verify the specific Au Sable reach before fishing.
Where to access the river
Grayling and Holy Water context
Classic upper/mainstream fly-fishing planning with exact rules to verify.
Mio and Red Oak main branch
Useful main-stem flow context and broader boat/wade planning.
Huron-Manistee public access sites
Use official access and boat-launch information rather than informal bank cuts.
- Much of the fishing culture is public, but not every bank is public. Confirm access before walking long banks.
- Boats and wade anglers share water. Give anchored or working anglers space.
- The Michigan trout map and fishing guide are the controlling rules, especially on special fishing rule reaches.
Sources and report details
Official agencies and primary river operators come first. Secondary tools are labeled so you know what carries the most weight.
Rules and closures
Check what is allowed, where the rule applies, and whether the river is open.
Flow and weather
Check the latest river reading and forecast before you leave.
Access and land
Check public entry points, land rules, and seasonal access changes.
More helpful links
Use these links for stocking, safety, and other local details.
See all 7 checked sources
Rules and closures
Check what is allowed, where the rule applies, and whether the river is open.
What this source covers
Open the current rules and check the river section, season, and special limits.
Flow and weather
Check the latest river reading and forecast before you leave.
What this source covers
Open this page and check the latest safety advice before your trip.
What this source covers
Open this river reading to check the latest level, flow, and update time.
What this source covers
Open this river reading to check the latest level, flow, and update time.
Access and land
Check public entry points, land rules, and seasonal access changes.
What this source covers
Open the land or access page, then check signs before you park or enter.
More helpful links
Use these links for stocking, safety, and other local details.
What this source covers
Open this page for more river information and check when it was last updated.
What this source covers
Open this page for more river information and check when it was last updated.
How this report was checked
How this report was checked
Reviewed byBlueStreamFly River Review Team
Trip guidance checked
What was checked: This Au Sable River report is maintained from RiverReports and USGS flow data, Michigan DNR regulation and trout-access sources, Michigan Natural Rivers context, Rivers.gov background, weather checks, and Michigan dry-fly and trout-planning guidance.
Live measurements and forecasts keep their provider timestamps. Rules, access, and trip guidance use the source-review date shown here. BlueStreamFly planning advice is editorial interpretation, not an agency notice.
First-hand experience: BlueStreamFly does not claim a first-hand visit or local field test for this report unless a real contributor is explicitly named and linked.
Quick questions
What should I check first before fishing the Au Sable River?
Check the Red Oak flow, Michigan trout map, weather, and water temperature before picking a reach.
Are there special fishing rules on the Au Sable River?
Yes. The system has section-by-section trout rules, so check the Michigan Inland Trout and Salmon map directly.
Is the Au Sable River a good fly-fishing river?
Yes, but only if you match the reach, season, water temperature, and target species. This page separates trout, migratory, and warmwater plans where that matters.
What flies should I bring for the Au Sable River?
Bring the hatch-chart flies, a few confidence nymphs, and a backup streamer or warmwater box so you can adjust to flow, clarity, and temperature.
How should I plan access for the Au Sable River?
Access is good in many places, but private banks, boats, and special reaches make planning important.