Info:       

Fly Fish the Adirondacks
PO Box 1147
Lake Placid, NY 12946

Web:
www.flyfishthe
adirondacks.com
Phone:
518-637-2124

Fran Betters’
Adirondack Sport Shop
PO Box 125
Wilmington, NY 12997

Web:
www.adirondackfly
fishing.com
Phone:
518-946-2605

Lodging

Lake Placid–Wilmington Region

Ledge Rock at Whiteface
5078 NY State Rte. 86
Wilmington, NY 12997

Web:
www.ledgerockat
whiteface.com
Phone:
800-336-4754
518-946-2379

Hungry Trout Resort
& Fly Shop
5239 Route 86
Wilmington, NY 12997

Web:
www.hungrytrout.com
Phone:
800-766-9137
518-946-2217

Fishing New York's Ausable River        

by Phil Johnson
photos courtesy of Fly Fish the Adirondacks

If the ultimate tribute to a fishing stream is to have a fly tied in its name, then New York’s Ausable River is a Hall of Famer.

The Ausable Wulff, a modified version of the popular Wulff series, was first tied by Fran Betters in 1963 and has since become a staple in the dry fly box of all serious anglers. It is often the first choice in heavy water where this high-riding dry fly with a rusty orange mid-section is visible to both fish and fisherman.

But, as all experienced fly fisherman know, not every day is a dry fly day. Trout spend most of their day gobbling up whatever they can beneath the surface. So when there is no hatch and they don’t come up to the surface to feed, even the best dry fly in the world isn’t going to catch fish.
                                    
Here is where the nymph fisherman gets the gold. It doesn’t generate the visual rush of a trout hitting a dry fly on the surface. But, for the patient fisherman who can match a keen sense of focus with a tight line and a quick strike reflex, nymph fishing is the way to put trout on your line.

Rich Garfield of Fly Fish the Adirondacks has been a nymph specialist for years. He lives in Wilmington, NY, close by the prime fishing run of the West Branch of the Ausable, and he has been guiding the river since 1993. And, the nymph he says works best is one he has developed.
    
What is it called, you ask?  

Rich’s creation is the Ausable Ugly, a scruffy bead head that Rich relies on when he is on his home river or any of the many other rivers and streams in the Adirondacks. The secret is grizzly hackle that he roughs up with a stiff toothbrush. Says Rich, "it’s an excellent all purpose attractor pattern that can be fished in either moving or still water. And it catches fish, lots of them."

Rich will even nymph through a hatch. "The flies have to come from somewhere," he says.  

So now, Ausable fishermen, you have two hometown choices, depending whether you want to fish on top of the water, or below the surface.

Gone Fishing               

Let’s get you to the Ausable to try them out on the population of brown trout and rainbow trout that live there.

The main access route to the Ausable is the Adirondack Northway, I-87, that runs from Albany, NY, straight north to the Canadian border. Take Exit 30 and head west toward Lake Placid, about 30 miles away.

The first stream you see en-route is part of the East Branch of the Ausable. Pass it by and keep going to the river’s West Branch, which starts at Mt. Marcy, the highest peak in New York, and then runs parallel to NY Route 73, where it can be seen from the road as you approach the impossible-to-miss Olympic Ski Jumps at Intervale.

From the jumps, then along River Road, and then on Rt. 86, the sometimes pocket water, sometimes flat part of the river is ripe for anglers. There is excellent access and plenty of parking along these roadways.

From the intersection of Route 86 and past the Whiteface Ski Area to just south of the village of Wilmington, the water is swifter and the drops are more impressive. This is primarily freestone pocket water, including a 2.2 mile "Trophy Section," which is much limited to catch and release. Because the water here is moving quickly, the Ausable patterns, which don’t match any particular hatch, are very effective.

The water flattens out as you get to the village of Wilmington, and you may find yourself competing with bait fishermen in this stretch.

From Wilmington to Ausable Forks, it is mainly pocket water fishing. While it can be productive, public access is limited in this stretch. The West Branch meets up with the East Branch of the Ausable here creating the main stem of the river that flattens out as it heads east toward Lake Champlain. This latter part gets less fishing pressure and can yield some big fish on occasion.

For more detailed information on Ausable fishing conditions, check Rich Garfield’s Web site.  There is also up to date information at Fran Betters’ Adirondack Sport Shop and the Hungry Trout Fly Shop, both on Rt 86 in Wilmington.  

If a multi-day trip is planned, or if you simply want to get an early start to your fishing day, there are plenty of lodging options in the Lake Placid – Wilmington area. Two worth considering that are right along the river on Route 86 in Wilmington are Ledge Rock, which features a magnificent view of the Whiteface Mountain Ski Area, and The Hungry Trout Resort, which has an excellent dining room.   

As with most eastern rivers, the optimal fishing is from late May through early July, depending on water flow and temperature. But since the Ausable is mountain fed, there are opportunities to catch fish throughout the season. So, choose your Ausable favorite and try this classic eastern river.