Lake Placid\West Branch Ausable fishing

[shagee14]

Heading up to Lake Placid area Sept 14th-17th. Been up there before for snowboarding but this will be the first trip for fishing. The old man is not too keen on river fishing so he will most likely fish Lake Placid\Mirror Lake while I check out the West Branch Ausable.

Anybody ever fish there in September, if so how was the fishing? I will most likely check out a couple of the shops up there for advice but was just checking to see if anyone here has any good info. I will not be booking any guides this time..maybe on another trip up.

Thanks

Chris

 

[Fly Ty R]

Sept can have some low water in the river. But otherwise it's very nice, with much fewer anglers per mile and still very hungry fish.

Ausable with low fall water

The lakes fish very nicely in Sept, too.

 

[shagee14]

Thanks Fly Ty R. Low water may be a good thing for a newbie like me to this stream as I heard it can be very difficult to wade. Should be a lot easier to explore too.

 

[Mike Ridolfino]

Heading up the weekend before you, I'll post a report when I get back.

 

[BIGBOW]

Got back from the Ausable/Placid area last night. Water is very low and the weather was very warm while I was there. I went in between two cool fronts and caught the crappy hot weather in between. Your best bet is to throw terrestrials (ants, beetles), but you might find some tricos hatching (saw a few). I'd try the white water and deep pools with streamers or nymphs. We also ran into some bears in the area, but thats another story. Good Luck!

 

[NJFred]

How about the third week in October? Is everything done by then or is it worth a try... and with what?

 

[Ausable]

I have seen some great BWO and Isonychia hatches in late September on the Ausable

 

[Montauklax]

Mid September is my favorite time on the West Branch. Bring big stoneflies and zug bugs for nymphing. Lots isonychia parachutes, if you hit a spinner fall you'll be in heaven. Size 18 BWO's will come off too, like Ausable said. If you're lucky there might still be a few big golden stones hovering around- if you spot them skate a size 8 stimulator or fish it in pocketwater.

NJFred- I wouldn't plan a huge trip up there that late in the season. Much of the fishing will have slowed by then, plus the majority of the river will be closed. However, there is some good C&R water that will be open and if you luck out you can find real nice BWO hatches in the early afternoon. I've had fish on dries up until halloween.

I fished that river extensively over the past 5 years. You'll love it.

 

[NJFred]

Ryan.. .I'm up there for a hockey tournament so that will be the focus. Just wondering if I should bring my equipment. Also, I learned to fly fish on the Ausable in the late 70s. I fished the strech along river road downstream of the ski jumps. Does this section still have acess... sounds like it would be closed to fishing anyway.

 

[Montauklax]

Fred,
Since you'll be up there, you might as well bring your gear. There is still access to the sections you mentioned, it will be closed though.

Bring streamers, fish deep and slow that time of the year. And like I mentioned, you can sometimes find small olives and fish coming up. Send me a pm for more info.

 

[Mike Ridolfino]

Just got back from my trip. Water is extremely low and the temperature reached 70 by about noon today with the air temp only in the 70s. Fish are keyed in on Tricos early in the morning. I caught the tail end of a spinner fall on two days and picked up a couple nice little browns. Also had one breakoff(due to lazy knot tieing) on a size 12 Iso Comparadun style fly. Fished the big slow pools, didn't bother with the pocket water because the water is so thin. Send me a PM if you want more detailed information.

 

[DoubleHaul]

I just go back from a trip this morning too. Mike wash & sanitize you gear.
I saw A ton of Rock Snot in the Ausable today

 

[shagee14]

Do you guys know if there are any bait shops in the Lake Placid area? I will be fly fishing but my dad will most likely be bait fishing on Lake Placid and Mirror Lake.

Also do the shops up there sell fishing licenses? I have one but my Dad will need one. Probably one of those multi-day licenses that NY sells.

Thanks