Freestone · Sand Gravel · Michigan, US

Au Sable River

Aerial view of the Au Sable River winding through forested banks in autumn, Michigan
Prime · Steelhead
Adams · 14–18
Primelive now
About as good as it gets
River steady at a fishable height. On the feed top to bottom — start on the rises with a dry, drop a nymph if they stay down.
90% confidence
What moved it
  • Level1.09 mLast reading 3h ago
  • Water temp9.1°C
  • ClarityClear
Today's fly
Adams
Adams14–18
Cast to rising fish and let it drift drag-free.
Conditions on the water
Live gauge
Level
Steady
1.09 m
Last reading 3h ago
Water temp9.1°C
ClarityClear
Weather0°C
WindNW 7 km/h
Pressure1030 hPa
Rain · recent12.2 mm
Rain · ahead0.0 mm

Live readings only. Trends shown where the gauge supports them.

Water temperature for Steelhead
Ideal
9.1°Cideal 4–13°C
0°14°28°
How to fish it · for Steelhead
When
Resident trout hatches May–Sep (upper); lower-river steelhead Oct–Apr, salmon Sep–Oct
Where
The Au Sable is two rivers in one: the upper 'Holy Water' is a hallowed resident brown-trout flies-only stretch, hatch-rich and technical, while the lower…
Why this works
Excellent — water temperature is right today, though time of day could be better.
Likely species
Mayflies
Chironomids
Gammarids
Hatch timeline · todayPeak at 12h

Hatch predictions

Today's headline hatch shown — see all 5 active hatches hour by hour as a supporter.

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Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)

Hatch predictions

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Evidence
Records-basedModerate confidence

Based on species-occurrence records, not local invertebrate surveys.

Through the year
0–3 scale · October highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Brown DunHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Quill GordonHatch
2
2
Blue QuillHatch
2
3
2
HendricksonHatch
2
2

Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.

Ranked for today
Fly box · Steelhead
Local fly shops: Gates Au Sable Lodge
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • Michigan licence
  • The upper Holy Water is flies-only, no-kill — verify MI DNR rules by reach
  • Lower-river runs are an introduced, harvestable sport fishery.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Other water nearby · 1
Rifle River
69 km
83
Steelhead · Chinook salmon · Coho salmon
Gallery · 2
  1. Aerial view of the Au Sable River winding through forested banks in autumn, Michigan
    The Au Sable River bends through autumn forest at High Banks Overlook, Michigan
  2. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
Why this score · for Steelhead
  • Temperature10028% weight
  • Flow8022% weight
  • Clarity9518% weight
  • Feeding Time5513% weight
  • Pressure757% weight
  • Insect activity6812% weight
Related guides
Euro Nymphingsubsurface methods
Booking & contacts