A trip to the Ausable

[mediclimber]

I want to make at least one trip up to flyfish the Ausible this year. The DEC site seems to be down and I need some info. How much will a non-resident license cost? Where are some good places to hit around Keene Valley. Thanks in advance for any info.

[lumberzac]

For non residents the fee is as follows:
Annual Fishing - $40
7 Day Fishing - $25

As for good places to hit, I'm not really sure. I don't fly fish and most of my trout fishing is in small feeder streams.

[trouthunter]

There is a lot of nice holes to hit beween Lake Placid and Wilmington on RT 86.This is probaly the most popular section but has good access and good fishing. There are other good places to hit on the East branch closer to Keene Valley but Im not real familiar with them.Stop in to any local fly shop in the area and you can pick up a detailed map of the Ausable with all the details,the one that I grabbed was free.I suggest bringing along a wading staff as wading is difficult,kind like walking in a pool of moss covered bowling balls!

[johnstp]

If you're looking for a guide, I wholeheartedly recommend Rich Garfield. Nobody knows that river like he does. I've gone out on a few trips with him and have always come away satisfied. His website is www.flyfishtheadirondacks.com

[Qtip]

Great fishing in the Placid/Wilmington area. I especially like the pocket water. For info the best place I know of is The Adirondack Fly Shop owned by the well-known Fran Betters. IMHO he is the guru of the AuSable. You can do a Google and check out the website. I'm sure he'd answer an e-mail. You can't go wrong. Great people and no BS.

Qtip
Soli Deo Gloria!

[Qtip]

Just a little more info. You can stay at a place called the Bunk House in Wilmington. Not the Taj-Mahal, but cheap and usually full of fly guys. Just ask about it at Fran's shop.


Qtip
Soli Deo Gloria!

[Gray Ghost]

Fran regularly has river updates on his site as well. Here's the address:

http://www.adirondackflyfishing.com

I'd recommend an email to him as well. He'll get back to you personally. He's really a great guy.

[forevrwyld]

Ausable Info

Here is a great little guide to the river. Has a hatch chart and list all the pools, falls, and runs. The one I have was mailed to me and is on postcard material and I keep it on my book shelf because I think it looks cool.

http://lakeplacidmedia.com/uploads/PDF/AuSableFlyFish.pdf

[serotonin]

THAT's what I was looking to post!
mediclimber, get the printed version; somewhere online is a request form, or just ask one of the fly shops to mail you one. It's good to have in your vest when you're up there. It can take the abuse.

I want to make at least one trip up to flyfish the Ausible this year. Where are some good places to hit around Keene Valley.

If you can only make one trip, don't bother w/Keene Valley; that's the East Branch of the Ausable.
(Too many hikers over there anyhow.)
Fish the West Branch.
And for a change of pace, you can also go for wild fish in the tribs.

What time of year are you thinking of going...? For how long...?
There's alot of water over there.
As the time approaches for your trip, keep an eye on the conditions from here:

http://www.ausableriversportshop.com/conditions.htm

If you can swing it, hire a guide for at least a half-day. It'll be money well spent. Good Luck.

[mediclimber]

I'll come up for a couple of three or four day trips. I love the area and have hiked and climbed there for a while, but never thought about the fishing until recently. Then again, I had taken a break from fishing for a couple of years, just needed something else to do for a while, like kayak. It will probably be sometime in May to October, nothing really narrowed down right now, just that I want to get up there and fly fish for a change. I guess I'll be on the phone tomorrow calling up there to beg a copy of the chart. Thank much. Now I know which way to go on this.

[Chris Jacobs]

You can also call the Hungry Trout, they have a fly shop and accomidations, guide service. I fish it a couple times/year and have always done well unguided.

They have a website too.