May 31 - June 1, 2013
Trout Camp 2013 based out of Fuller's North Branch Outing Club
Four friends and I participated in Trout Camp 2013 this weekend hoping to catch the prolific brown drake hatch on the North Branch of the AuSable River. We traveled north and set up camp at Fuller's North Branch Outing Club, which is one of the great historical sporting clubs still in operation. (I highly recommend treating yourself to this club and join the historical figures who have slept, ate, drank, told stories, and developed friendships within its confines. Give Judy or Chris a call at (989) 348-7951 and plan your visit.......you won't regret it.
Our plan was to float the North Branch in traditional Au Sable River Boats on Friday evening with guides from the AuSable Fly Shop, and fish on our own during the day and evening on Saturday. Friday was warm and the conditions were right for the first large brown drake hatch of the year. A few flies had been seen coming off the local lakes, and all indications pointed to a big hatch on the river very soon. Well........we hit it just right. A few minutes before dark we started seeing a few brown drakes coming off the water and things only progressed from there. We had multiple opportunities on several really large fish only to have the box score inform the fans that the Trout Camp Anglers lost to the 20+ inch North Branch Brown Trout by a score of 2 to zero. However, we did happen to land several 13 to 17 inch fish with several of them taken on Karma Kane Rods.
Trout Camp 2013 based out of Fuller's North Branch Outing Club
Four friends and I participated in Trout Camp 2013 this weekend hoping to catch the prolific brown drake hatch on the North Branch of the AuSable River. We traveled north and set up camp at Fuller's North Branch Outing Club, which is one of the great historical sporting clubs still in operation. (I highly recommend treating yourself to this club and join the historical figures who have slept, ate, drank, told stories, and developed friendships within its confines. Give Judy or Chris a call at (989) 348-7951 and plan your visit.......you won't regret it.
Our plan was to float the North Branch in traditional Au Sable River Boats on Friday evening with guides from the AuSable Fly Shop, and fish on our own during the day and evening on Saturday. Friday was warm and the conditions were right for the first large brown drake hatch of the year. A few flies had been seen coming off the local lakes, and all indications pointed to a big hatch on the river very soon. Well........we hit it just right. A few minutes before dark we started seeing a few brown drakes coming off the water and things only progressed from there. We had multiple opportunities on several really large fish only to have the box score inform the fans that the Trout Camp Anglers lost to the 20+ inch North Branch Brown Trout by a score of 2 to zero. However, we did happen to land several 13 to 17 inch fish with several of them taken on Karma Kane Rods.
Classic Michigan Flies Author, Jon Osborn with 17" North Branch Brown taken on Karma Kane Rod.
On Saturday afternoon we fished Big Creek in hopes of finding some 10 to 14 inch brook trout. We found them, but had difficulty landing them in the heavy wooded stream. It was a neat little stream and fun to get them to take.
Saturday evening found us back on the North Branch hoping for a spinner fall from the hatch the night before. We were not disappointed as we not only had a spinner fall, but another heavy hatch. We had approximately 45 minutes of great rises with several fish taken among the group. I personally was able to entice two fish to take a low riding brown drake comparadun pattern. The fish were tight to cover as it was dusk and they had not moved out into the middle of the river. The first fish (15”) was up tight to log that ran parallel to the bank, with the second fish tight to a grassy undercut with a tamarack branch serving as a roof to its home. This fish was larger and full of spunk.
It was a great culmination to a wonderful weekend of fun, food, and fishing.
Fishing with bamboo only made it better............
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