Prepare your artificial flies and fly fish for steelhead from the teeming stream outlets of Au Sable River, a major tributary to Lake Huron in Michigan. The river basin is 90 miles long with a width that ranges from 10 to 30 miles. According to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, heavy runs of steelhead make the Au Sable River a well-known fishing ground for all steelhead anglers in the region.
Steelhead Fishing
Search for steelhead in the lower part of the Au Sable River from Foote Dam to Lake Huron. This river section is home to healthy populations of steelhead, according to Fly Fishing Connection. Practice caution and wade carefully when fishing because the river width is large in this area. Steelhead migrate in this section, and the most productive time to fish is from late fall to early spring. They prefer waters with depths of less than 35 feet at temperatures ranging from of 58 to 62 degrees.
Tackle
Use steelhead lures in nymphs and egg patterns to entice salmon in the Au Sable River. Choose the hexigenia or wiggler mayfly pattern that are bountiful in Au Sable streams, especially during the colder months. According to Streamside Charter, a local steelhead fishing guide in Au Sable, hex nymph patterns are effective for luring fish by using deep-water nymphing techniques with a split shot and running line. Use fly-fishing rods that are 9 to 10 feet in length with a seven- to eight-line weight. This line weight allows you to work effectively with bigger flies and bugs for catching steelhead.
Charters
Increase your chances of finding and catching steelhead by fishing with a local guide. Charters like Streamside Guide Service and Bob Linsenman's Au Sable Angler provide guided fishing trips for full-day or half-day steelhead fishing excursions. Streamside Guide Service offers an all-day, eight to 10-hour steelhead float-fishing trip that includes all fishing equipment, flies and lunch.
Restrictions
Abide by the gear restrictions imposed on Au Sable when steelhead fishing. Only artificial flies may be used when fishing at the river mainstream, north and south streams in Crawford County. You cannot use any types of bait and processed foods when luring steelhead. The minimum size limit is 12 inches when fishing in the Au Sable River Mainstream from McKinley Bridge downstream to 4001 Bridge, and 10 inches is the minimum limit when fishing from Alcona Dam to South Branch River.
License
You must obtain a state-issued fishing license to fish for steelhead in Au Sable River. According to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment, all anglers age 17 and above must have a valid fishing license to take or possess steelhead or rainbow trout, all other types of trout and salmon from any public waters in the state. Resident and nonresident fishing licenses are available; if you are visiting for a short amount of time, a 24-hour nonresident fishing license is an ideal option.
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