What are the fishing regulations on the Au Sable River, Michigan?

Au Sable River fishing regulations

The Au Sable River is designated Type 1, Type 2, Type 3 and Type 4 trout water over 67.5 of its 137.9 mapped miles. The season on Type 1 Designated water runs Last Saturday in April–September 30th. The creel limit there is 5 fish, with no more than 3 trout 15“ or greater. Zero (0) Arctic Grayling. 69.7 miles of it are named Blue Ribbon trout stream. The posted signs and the current digest are the authority, not this page.

Open Au Sable River on the map See Au Sable River on the live map → Every reach coloured by water temperature, with the public land and access points along it.

By designated reach

Type	Miles	Season	Creel
Type 1 Designated	15.1	Last Saturday in April–September 30th	5 fish, with no more than 3 trout 15“ or greater. Zero (0) Arctic Grayling.
Type 2 Designated	13.0	Last Saturday in April–September 30th	5 fish, with no more than 3 trout 15“ or greater. Zero (0) Arctic Grayling.
Type 4 Designated	27.3	January 1st–December 31st	5 fish, with no more than 3 trout 15“ or greater. Zero (0) Arctic Grayling.
Type 3 Designated	12.1	January 1st–December 31st	5 fish, with no more than 3 trout 15“ or greater. Zero (0) Arctic Grayling.

Gear and tackle

Type 1 Designated — Artificial lures and all types of natural bait may be used.
Type 2 Designated — Artificial lures and all types of natural bait may be used.
Type 4 Designated — Artificial lures and all types of natural bait may be used.
Type 3 Designated — Artificial lures and all types of natural bait may be used.

Minimum sizes

Brook trout: 7″
Brown trout: 8″
Rainbow trout / steelhead: 10″
Splake: 10″
Lake trout: 10″
Chinook salmon: 10″
Coho salmon: 10″
Pink salmon: 10″
Atlantic salmon: 10″

Type 1 Designated, 15.1 miles of this river.

Brook trout: 10″
Brown trout: 12″
Rainbow trout / steelhead: 10″
Splake: 10″
Lake trout: 10″
Chinook salmon: 10″
Coho salmon: 10″
Pink salmon: 10″
Atlantic salmon: 10″

Type 2 Designated, 13.0 miles of this river.

Brook trout: 7″
Brown trout: 10″
Rainbow trout / steelhead: 10″
Splake: 10″
Lake trout: 10″
Chinook salmon: 10″
Coho salmon: 10″
Pink salmon: 10″
Atlantic salmon: 10″

Type 4 Designated, 27.3 miles of this river.

Brook trout: 15″
Brown trout: 15″
Rainbow trout / steelhead: 10″
Splake: 10″
Lake trout: 10″
Chinook salmon: 10″
Coho salmon: 10″
Pink salmon: 10″
Atlantic salmon: 10″

Type 3 Designated, 12.1 miles of this river.

Blue Ribbon water

Stretch	From	To	Miles
Main Branch AuSable River	Upper Section: Co. 612, Lower Section: Mio Dam	Upper Section: Luzerne Co. Pk., Lower Section: Alcona Line	63.7
North Branch AuSable River	Dam No. 2	Main Branch AuSable	2.1
South Branch AuSable River	Roscommon	Main Branch AuSable	2.0
Middle, West, and East Branches Big Creek	West Branch: Junction with Hunt Creek, East Branch: T25N, R2E, Sec. 6	Main Branch AuSable, Main Branch AuSable	1.0
East Branch AuSable River	Lewiston Grade Road	Main Branch AuSable	0.9

Named stretches with their own rules

Rules change every year and the posted signs are the authority, not this page. The full state tables, with the date they were read, are on Michigan fishing regulations.

More about Au Sable River

Au Sable River — live water temperature, regulations and access