AuSable River - Michigan

Michigan is one of the only states in the Eastern United States that has the ultimate fly fishing experience. Many rivers have wild trout that freely grow and become colorful and healthy fish.

As many of us know, southeastern Pennsylvania is not the best place to throw a fly. So each year, on the Fourth of July,  I go to the AuSable River in Northern Michigan with my dad. My uncle has a cabin just a couple of yard from the river which is known as "The Holy Water." This section of river is deemed some of the best fishing waters in North America by the Michigan DNR. For that reason, much of the area is protected by catch-and-release only or artificial flies only restrictions.

The first day I was there, I went to the fly shop to pick out some flies. I asked the guy at the counter what flies were good for fishing during the day. He gave me a grasshopper and a parachute stonefly, which looked like a lot of different stoneflies.

I went fishing that afternoon, in the freezing cold water, and caught a brook trout in the first five minutes. I kept using that fly for three days but caught no other fish. My dad, who hadn't caught any fish during the first two days there, was determined to catch a fish the last night, the third night, we were there. He asked me if he should use a hex of a march brown. I told him to use a march brown, and sure enough, at 10 P.M. pm on the last night, he caught a 16-inch brown trout! He claimed it almost broke his line.

So, we had a great time at my uncle's cabin for the Fourth of July, and got some fishing in too. If you want great fishing, but don't want to go out west, stop by Michigan and throw a fly.

Let the 4th be with You

I know it's kind of a cheesy title. Many people across the country are traveling this Fourth of July and fishermen will flock to their nearby streams to catch some fish. There will be lots of men and women getting up early and heading to the stream. With so many people, there will be lots of competition and lack of space. I've already had my own experience with that.

I decided to take off work on the Friday before Independence Day to fish in the afternoon. I was sure the crowds of fishermen wouldn't be out until dusk. After all, the Fourth of July next Friday, still one week away. I got to my usual fishing spot around 2:00 pm and it was already taken. Looking for spots up and down the road, I could find a place where I could fish. After searching for about 30 minutes I had given up and found no location. I did find a few spots that I could use in the future though.

Don't underestimate the number of people that could be fishing, they all have the same idea: get out before the crowds. But so many people go early that they become the crowds. Don't let it get to you, be patient and don't try to push people out of their space.

So let the 4th be with you, but don't make it sour for everybody else.