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Fishing Au Sable River: what the data says
The Holy Water and beyond. Grayling to Mio, Michigan's most storied trout river. The river tops out around 8 ft. The contours are modeled from the water's real shoreline and maximum depth. Treat them as a rough guide, and never use them for navigation. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
Brown Trout fishing at Au Sable River
In spring, brown trout run shallow here, mostly 1 to 8 ft. Summer fish stay in 2 to 8 ft, and winter fish hold in 1 to 8 ft. The spot to know is Current seam (mile 5.6), a current seam in about 4 ft of water that rates prime for brown trout in summer. Best bite is after dark and early morning. A spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 8 ft | dawn & dusk | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 2 to 8 ft | night & dawn | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 1 to 8 ft | dusk & dawn | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 1 to 8 ft | dawn | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
Brook Trout fishing at Au Sable River
Start shallow in spring: brook trout sit in 1 to 8 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 2 to 8 ft, and winter fish hold in 1 to 8 ft. Current seam (mile 5.6) is the standout, a current seam at roughly 4 ft, rated prime for spring brook trout. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a small spoon fished deep or a trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 8 ft | dawn & dusk | Small inline spinner (gold), Tiny spoon |
| Summer | 2 to 8 ft | dawn & dusk | Small spoon fished deep, Trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm |
| Fall | 1 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Small spoon (orange), Spinner |
| Winter | 1 to 8 ft | dawn | Small jigging spoon, Tungsten jig + plastic |
Rainbow Trout fishing at Au Sable River
Spring rainbow trout on Au Sable River hold shallow, usually 2 to 8 ft. Summer fish stay in 2 to 8 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 8 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Current seam (mile 5.6): a current seam around 4 ft that scores prime in spring. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | dawn & dusk | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 2 to 8 ft | dawn & dusk | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 2 to 8 ft | dawn & dusk | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 2 to 8 ft | dawn | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Rock Bass fishing at Au Sable River
Spring rock bass on Au Sable River hold shallow, usually 2 to 8 ft. Summer fish stay in 2 to 8 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 8 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Riffle & run (mile 10.0): a rock pile around 3 ft that scores prime in spring. Best bite is the evening. Summer baits: a ned rig (small) or a marabou jig gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | 1/16 oz jig + grub, Small inline spinner |
| Summer | 2 to 8 ft | dusk | Ned rig (small), Marabou jig |
| Fall | 2 to 8 ft | midday | Small tube jig, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 2 to 8 ft | midday | Tungsten jig + plastic, Small spoon + spike |
Notable structure
- Mio Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 7 ft
- Inside bend (mile 36.2): point, around 7 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6): creek channel, around 6 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 3.1): creek channel, around 6 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 11.8): creek channel, around 6 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 16.2): creek channel, around 6 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 18.0): creek channel, around 6 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 20.2): creek channel, around 6 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 22.4): creek channel, around 6 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 25.2): creek channel, around 6 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 27.1): creek channel, around 6 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 34.8): creek channel, around 6 ft
- Eddy pocket (mile 23.8): eddy pocket, around 6 ft
- Current seam (mile 1.9): current seam, around 6 ft
Common questions
How deep is Au Sable River?
Au Sable River is about 8 ft at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
What fish are in Au Sable River?
Anglers target rainbow trout, brown trout, brook trout, rock bass on Au Sable River.
Where is the best fishing spot on Au Sable River?
Current seam (mile 5.6) is the top-rated area: a current seam in about 4 ft of water that rates prime for rainbow trout in spring. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Au Sable River?
For brown trout, the summer bite is best in after dark and early morning. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Nearby waters
KP Lake · Tea Lake · West Twin Lake · East Twin Lake · Big Wolf, Lake · Big Bear Lake
See how Au Sable River stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in Michigan · best brown trout lakes in Michigan · best brook trout lakes in Michigan · best rock bass lakes in Michigan
Browse all Michigan fishing maps or every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.