West Branch of the Ausable 6/11- 6/12

[jeff]

Well Troy and I are back from our annual trip to the West Branch of the Ausable in the Adirondaks. Let me start out by saying that we both look forward to this annual pilgrimage. Everyone is so layed back up there and the scenery is worth the trip alone... Throw in some great trout fishing and it is a trip you will want to do over and over again!! Last year when we were up the river was blown out and the fishing was tuff. We managed to catch a few trout between us chucking streamers along the banks but that was it.

Fast forward to this past weekend. Same thing almost de ja vu. Just not as bad as last year. We got there Friday to a high river that was defiently off color because of rain they had on Thursday night. Fished the upper CR section. We were able to catch a few fish on Friday. The good thing about this river is how quickly it goes down after a blast of rain so we crossed our fingers for a good Saturday. Well Friday night it started to rain again and continued into Saturday. So much for that plan?!? We again manged a few fish between us even a few on blue wing olives Sat night and finished with 17 for the trip. Nothing of any great size. Forgot a camera maybe Troy will post some pictures. There's always next year..... Oh yeah water temps were great btween 55-60 both days. 🙂

 

[afishinado]

Sorry the conditions weren't that good on your trip, but it sounds like you had a great time. If the River is off, you can find good fishing in other places. The last time I was there with my wife, about three years ago, we I had a cabin along Kiwassa Lake. I would get up early each morning, take out the boat that came with the cabin, and hammer football-sized smallies along the shoreline and islands fishing poppers on top. I actually remember that fishing even more than the trout fishing.

You can't go wrong up there, it is a gorgeous area.

 

[Troy]

The conditions were tough again for us. I had some success on stoneflies and pheasant tails. I didn't take one picture while I was there. I really haven't been taking any pictures lately on my trips. I guess I'm getting lazy. It is a great area. We really need to start exploring more while we are there. We did fish a couple new sections of the W. Branch, but that was it. We camp right on the river so it makes it tough to leave where we are and fish something else. Anyway, good trip, but tough conditions again. The river even ripped my sole off my wading boot. Saturday was pretty cold. I was actually freezing by the end of the day. I had a t-shirt, fleece, and rain coat on and I was still shivering.

Troy

 

[SkyBlue]

I was up during the same time (Friday until Tuesday) and had some good fishing even with the high water. We fished the C & R area and below the dam in Wilmington. We went over to the Saranac for a morning and had some good caddis fishing. I agree, no real big fish, I landed one 16 inch brown. But I had 20-30 fish days, with 100% caught on dries. Searching pocket water with a stonefly during the day and looking for heads at night. Average fish was 12 inches with a few rainbows and brooks coming to the net.

 

[one_more_cast]

Wow... those were good days with dries. I just got back from fishing 2 weekends at the West Branch and had a couple decent days, but I got most of my fish on green buggers and ausable uglies. The water got up to 1700 cfs and was really hard to wade but the fast water had the fish stacked up on top of each other. I took 5 in one pool in about 20 minutes with a nice 14" brown in the mix. It felt a lot bigger in the faster water. I also took a nice 16" brown at hemlock pool at 9:30 at night. I was getting eaten up alive by gnats but that fish made it worth it. I only took a few on dries but my buddy caught a bunch of smaller ones on a small caddis. I think I threw everything I had at 'em, except a stone fly!?! I even tied up a few yellow sallies for the trip but never tied one on. What kind of stone did you use?

 

[JackM]

Most times, the glory shots aren't that interesting, but I liked the setting and posture of the angler in your picture. I also stylized the finish as an oil painting and framed and notated it.

Here is the result:

 

[afishinado]

Or you can make a puzzle out of it (just cut along lines).

Bourbon Jack? :-?

 

[one_more_cast]

Hey, I really like what you did to the photo... it gives it a classy look!