Planning a trip to W. branch of Ausable river in Ny

Anyone ever done any fishing here? Im going for 2 days hopefully June 11-12, I hear the hatch around then of green drakes is great! Let me know if you have ever gone and any of your experiences there. Thanks!
Darrin

"It's so crowded that no one goes there any more."

It can get busy especially when a hatch is on, and it does get well publisized. There are nice stretches of pocket water as well as nice flat runs. The fishing can be really good as well as frustrating at other times. Links that keep one up to date are:
[url=http://adirondackflyfishing.com/:e9f7f]http://adirondackflyfishing.com/[/url:e9f7f] [url=http://ausableriversportshop.com/conditions.htm:e9f7f]http://ausableriversportshop.com/conditions.htm[/url:e9f7f] [url=http://www.hungrytrout.com/site/index.shtml.:e9f7f]http://www.hungrytrout.com/site/index.shtml.[/url:e9f7f]

Tight lines,
Walt

Great water, although it can be challenging.
You may encounter the green drake hatch then but the timing is very unpredictable. one fly that you should have in your box that you might not ordinarily carry is an AuSable Wulff. I also find Griffith Gnats and Stimulators are good there. Be sure to bring a wading staff; its atough river to wade. Stop by Fran Better's shop or the AuSable River Sport Shop by the bridge in Wilmington to find out what going on. And don't forget the bug repellent because it'll be black fly season.

There is a string on down the board with more info.

Chris

Darrin,

You'll have a blast! The W. Branch is a great fishing experience. I used to fish there tons when I lived in the area. Make sure you have lots of Elk Hair Caddis (Various Sizes), Ausable Wulffs, Stimulators, BH Stonefly Nymphs (Black & Yellow) and lots of emergers and you'll be good to go. Most guys fish in the "No Kill" Zone on the main road between Wilmington and Lake Placid, but there is some sweet pocket water with BIGGGG Browns to be had below the dam in Wilmington and some great brook trout water way up high above the ski jumps. In terms of timing, make sure you're on the water in the evening. From my experience, the evening caddis hatches have been by far the most productive. Fish tend to key in on emergers at dusk, and the action can be heart-stopping. Many-a time I've fished until after dark, just by sound - hear a take somewhere in the vicinity of your fly and set the hook! Stop into one of the fly shops in Wilmington (There are at least 4 in and around the little town) for more info and some locally tied flies. Have fun!

-- James

The Ausable is a fantastic place to fish. The 5 mile C&R has been extended this year. Not much traffic in May but June gets pretty heavy on weekends. Still nowhere as heavily fished as the Beaverkill. I fish probably 25 to 30 days each year on the West Branch. If you stay at the Hungry Trout Motel and Restaurant you get to fish one mile of private water. I have heard that this may be the last year the privatestretch 'Dream Mile" will be available. By all means as some one else said, bring a wading staff. Lots of fast water, pocket water where the trout don't have a lot of time to make a decision on whether to strike or not. By all means see Fran Betters. His Usual, Ausable Wulff andHatstack patterns may look a bit on the dishelved side but do work in the fast water. They float well too. Stick to the West Branch or main Branch. Most of the best fishing is the hour before dark. On a bright sunny day take a break from fishing and drive up the toll road to the peak of Whiteface Mountain. Take the tunnel and elevator to the actual peak and then either the same route or the 'walk down' back to the little restaurant / knic-knac shop and the parking area. If you go in June be sure and bring along some good insect repellent as the black flies can get tough. There is usually a breeze on the river and that helps with the bugs. Not a lot of really deep water so a floating line should be fine. On the slow water the troutt are just as spooky as on any other stream. longer finer leaders and stealthy slow wading are in order.. Most people fish the obvious spots so a little hike in will give you some worthwhile results. Rt 86 and then River Road pretty much follow the river. There are some posted sections that seem to be more in evidence than in the past. A lot of it is owned by absentee lamdlords but some of it is patrolled to keep people off. There is still plenty of river to fish and the scenery is almost worth the trip by itself. Check with either Henebries, the Hungry Trout or Fran Betters fly shopto see what is hatching although you will almost always gt the same answer from Fran who will suggest his Big Three, mentioned above. He also ties a great Iso pattern. Good luck and enjoy your trip...It is indeed beautiful country,.................Bob

PS, The Green Drakes are hard to catch. They may be over by the time you get there. I caught them around June 5 to 7 the last few years. Much depends on the wather and temp. And the Hatch does move along the river and they do not all hatch at the same time One other thing. On the West Branch of the Ausable the water rises quickly in a storm or long rain period, but it goes down just as fast. Lot of rock except in the Meadows area so the run off happens quickly. Fast up, fast down. Have fun!

Thanks for a very informative bunch of posts!! My original plan was for the weekend but may redo some sched's and head for there on the 6th-8th. Should be fun....its about 3 hours from here. Thanks again!
Darrin