New York ·
Ausable River Fly Fishing Report - September 20, 2026
AUSABLE RIVER
ReportSEP 20 — 27, 2026
🌊
Flow
162CFS
AUSABLE RIVER NEAR AU SABLE FORKS NY
🌡️
Water Temp
—
Updated 2026-09-20
☀️
Weather
41–58°F
Partly Cloudy
💧
Clarity
Clear
Check post-storm
Flow is running at 162 cfs with a gauge height of 1.11 ft at Au Sable Forks — noticeably lower and cleaner than last week's 248 cfs, meaning crystal-clear water and spooky fish that reward precise, drag-free drifts. Rain moves in after 8 AM Sunday and could bump flows by Monday, so today is your best shot at stable, fishable conditions this weekend.
What's Working — Hot Flies
Juju Baetis Tungsten #22
22
Parachute - Blue Wing Olive #22
22
Top Secret Baetis #16
16
Black Zebra Midge(TBH) #20
20
Olsen's Hare's Ear Blowtorch Barbless #20 - 28
20
Pheasant Tail Tungsten #20
20
Bionic Ant 2.0 - Black #16
16
Corn-fed Caddis (CDC) Olive #20
20
Egan's Silver Bullet - Baetis #14
14
Olsen's Quilldigon - Olive - Barbless #22 - 24
22
Egan's Tungsten Surveyor #18
18
Barr's Flashback Emerger - BWO #22
22
Hatch Chart
| Insect | Size | Activity | Prime Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue-Winged Olive (Baetis) | 18-22 | Moderate | 10 AM - 2 PM |
| Midge | 20-24 | Heavy | 7 AM - 10 AM |
| Caddis | 16-20 | Light | 4 PM - 7 PM |
| Terrestrials (Ants) | 14-18 | Light | 11 AM - 3 PM |
| Pheasant Tail / Mayfly Nymph | 18-22 | Moderate | 8 AM - 12 PM |
Best Time Window
- 7 AM - 9 AM: Early midge activity in slow pools and glassy tailouts — low light and cool temps concentrate fish near the surface.
- 10 AM - 2 PM: Prime BWO hatch window, especially with overcast skies ahead of Sunday's rain — watch for rising fish in flat water and match with a #22 dry or emerger.
- 4 PM - Dusk: Evening caddis activity along riffled edges; terrestrial action also possible on sunny bank lies before light fades.
Guide's Tip
From the benchWith flows at 162 cfs and gin-clear water, stealth is everything today — stay low, approach runs from downstream, and extend your tippet to at least 5X fluorocarbon (6X in the flats). Focus your nymphing efforts on the seam where fast riffle water dumps into the head of a pool, setting your depth so your fly is ticking bottom within the first third of the drift. When the rain kicks in after 8 AM Sunday, expect a brief clarity bump and potentially more aggressive fish — that transition window right as the river starts to color can be exceptional, so be on the water early and ready to adapt.
Main Species
Brown Trout
Rainbow Trout
Brook Trout
