General Description:
The AuSable River is a blue ribbon trout stream due to the highly oxygenated water, great cover, constant water temperature, and generous supply of aquatic insects. The AuSable River consists of three main sections including the East Branch, the West Branch and the Main branch. The West Branch of the AuSable River is located in the Northeastern part of New York in the Adirondack Mountains. The West Branch starts with the junction of the Macintyre, South Meadow and Marcy Brooks and if flows approximately 36 miles northeast before it is joined by the East Branch at AuSable Forks, NY. It's the West Branch that is known for the large trout. Some may go so far as to say it is one of the best eastern trout streams and it definitely has some of the best scenery.
From the beginning of the stream, it meanders through meadows for approximately five miles and is joined by several small streams along its route. After passing the bridge at RT 86, the speed of the water increases and has the typical riffles, pocket water, runs and pools. Below Wilmington Notch the water flows over 100 foot High Falls and provides an opportunity to catch a large brown at the base of the fall. Then the West Branch continues with moderate speed with slower pools and pocket water for about two miles before the Flume Falls.
The next two mile section of the West Branch of the AuSable River is actually a 200 foot wide lake with deep water but the water is slow flowing like you would expect from a river. The depth of the water makes fishing somewhat difficult. After leaving the dam, the tailwater provides excellent fly fishing in the pocket water and around the large boulders. Downstream from Wilmington, below the Lewis Bridge, there is a two mile stretch of water that can not be accessed.
After passing past the confluence of the small Black Brook and the West Branch, the fishing is good and continues to be good for seven miles before the dam at AuSable Forks. The tailwater below the dam provides angling opportunities for a mile before the West Branch meets up with the East Branch to form the Main Branch of the AuSable River.
Fly Fishing the West Branch:
Wading the West Branch can be difficult since the tannic acid turns the water tea colored, so caution is advised. For the most part, a wading staff will provide some stability.
Beginning about a mile above Holcomb Pond Outlet and continuing to a point about 2.2 miles downstream of Monument Falls there is a catch and release section. From this section down past the Wilmington Notch State Campground to the small lake in Wilmington is a section containing some rather large trout but is usually fished from a canoe or boat. There is again, a small section of catch and release from Whiteface Ski Center Bridge down to the Bridge at Flume. After this bridge and for the next ten or so miles there is a section well known for dry fly fishing. The section above AuSable Forks is remote and has some private property to be concerned about.
Whether you are using dry flies or nymphs, the excellent hatches of mayflies, caddis flies and stoneflies make a very favorable habitat for trout. The stocked trout are easy to catch especially just after they are released into the wild. However if you want to catch the larger holdover trout or one of the wild trout, you will need skill and some excellent flies.
Mayfly nymphs and caddis fly larva and pupa imitations fished on or near the bottom will be most effective on the wild browns and the holdover trout. Under low light, streamers will be a good bet as well. Beetles, ants and grass hoppers will occasionally produce trout.
Regardless of the type of flies you choose, we recommend our line of flies sold at Troutprostore. They they are perfect imitations of the aquatic insects that you will find in any trout stream. Don’t leave home without them.
Fly Fishing the West Branch in the Spring:
Fishing in the early spring starting in April with the Giant Black Stonefly and in May, the Hendricksons will hatch followed by the March Browns and the Light Cahills in early June. Caddisflies provide very favorable dry fly fishing starting with Cinnamon caddis hatch in late spring. The Little Sister caddis fly hatch, the Green Sedges hatches and Short-horned Sedges hatches will round out the Cadddisfly hatches.
Fly Fishing the West Branch in the Summer:
The famous Green Drake hatches in early June are followed by the Sulphurs and the Tricos in late July and into September. Terrestrial imitations of beetles, ants and grass hoppers will continue to be effective until the first frost.
Fly Fishing the West Branch in the Fall:
The Slate Drakes will start hatching in the last week of August and continue into mid October. Also, early in the fall you may see some Little Brown Stoneflies. In cold weather you can rely on the midges in hook sizes of 20 and 22.
There is "Public Fishing Rights" (PFRs) which are easements allowing anglers to walk along the banks of the West Branch of the AuSable River. These rights are for the purpose of fishing only. These PFRs can be valuable in indicating where the river can be accessed. The Maps are available n line HERE.
Hatches have been discussed above.