Wooden Boat People
By McKenzieDriftBoat.com
AuSable River Trip
We managed to get the boat wet a couple weeks ago... we floated a section of the AuSable River here in Michigan. We did pretty good on rainbows with a few browns mixed in. All the fish were "keeper" size but returned we our catch unharmed. We did a real long and productive float the first day - then waded the "The Holy" water section of the AS the second day.
I also wanted to mention we ran a caster in front of me and behind - both full size guys... and we floated over some shallow water that I could not believe we were not dragging bottom... The canoes next to us were dragging and I couldn't even get my oars in the water... but we cruised right over the gravel bars... waiting to hang up the whole time... but we made it. We did get hung up once but the water could only have been a couple of inches deep. I am impressed!
Here are a few pics of the action - good dry fly action - so we had a blast.
I also wanted to mention we ran a caster in front of me and behind - both full size guys... and we floated over some shallow water that I could not believe we were not dragging bottom... The canoes next to us were dragging and I couldn't even get my oars in the water... but we cruised right over the gravel bars... waiting to hang up the whole time... but we made it. We did get hung up once but the water could only have been a couple of inches deep. I am impressed!
Here are a few pics of the action - good dry fly action - so we had a blast.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Mike Dearing on
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Jason,
Looks more like a lake then a river;)
Actually it looks very much like the Williamson river here in Klamath, love how clear the water is. Good stuff.
Mike
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Permalink Reply by Jason Knight on
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Trout Unlimited was started on the banks of the Ausable in the 50's... quality fishery.
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Permalink Reply by Greg Hatten on
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Great pics... boat looks good on that water!!
Thanks for posting the "action photo's".
GH
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Yeah it is a nice relaxing trip with good fish to cast to... can't wait to get back.
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Permalink Reply by Randy Dersham on
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Thanks for sharing Jason. The boat looks better every time I see it.
Yup, you should draw about four inches of water at 700lbs to 750lbs. It sounds like everything is working just right for you.
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Randy,
It was awesome to be able to get through such shallow water... I just lifted the oars and waited for the drag... but we were consistently making it through some 4-5" gravel sections. I should have rowed to the deeper water - but what can I say - I was curious to see what we could get away with. very cool!
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Permalink Reply by Dave Z on
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I know that water very well. Amazing place. Will be back up during grouse season.
Looks good. You are keeping the boat clean. I can't say the same. mine is sitting in the garage full of mud, paw prints and beer cans!
The good state of MI doesn't require the display of numbers on a boat?
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Dave,
I just washed the boat out the other day... full of sand and junk...
No numbers required if the boat is under 16' and has no motor...
jason
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Permalink Reply by Joseph Podesta on
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Wow you took a driftboat down the Holy Ausable...The one bend section looks like the TU waters, I was just there in June for the hex hatch. That section is really skinny water, your driftboat must have looked like the Queen Mary running parts of that river. I have seen boats running sections near Mio but never up by the TU. Pretty cool that you were able to run it, its a great river. I am from California but my buddies uncle has a cabin near the TU.
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Joseph,
We did not run the boat down the Holy Waters...
We did the sections below the dam in Mio - much bigger water down there. I would not want to try and float those upper sections.. ouch! haha
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Ok makes sense. I have caught some strange trout below the dam at Mio. They are cross bread rainbows and bookies aka tiget trout. Pretty cool looking fish. When I caught the first couple I was dumbfounded as to what they were. Then did some research and found out bow and brooks can and do interbreed.
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Tiger trout are pretty darn rare... I would be thrilled to catch one...
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