BirdTroutOpen the map Is the South Branch Au Sable River good for brown trout?
Yes, on the classification rather than on a thermometer. Michigan's own survey records list brown trout in the South Branch Au Sable River, and stocks it as well, and MDNR classes most of its typed water as cool — but no USGS gauge on this river reports water temperature, so this site has no measured July mean to hold against the 54–66 °F band this fish wants. Fish of 8–18 inches are what Michigan reports as typical. The river is designated Type 2 and Type 3 trout water, which is what sets the size and creel limits.
What the state's records say
- Species
- Brown trout (Salmo trutta)
- In Michigan
- introduced
- Record here
- surveyed present, and stocked
- Holds in
- 54–66 °F, stops feeding above 75 °F
- Typical
- 8–18 inches
- Spawns
- Late October into December, on gravel riffles, later in the season than the rainbow and overlapping the brook trout.
Introduced. The first brown trout planted in North American water went into the Pere Marquette in April 1884, from German eggs by way of the Northville hatchery — the river is still fished for the descendants.
Is the water cold enough
No USGS gauge on this river reports water temperature, so there is no measured July mean to put beside the species' band. MDNR's classification of the typed reaches is Cool, and that is a classification rather than a thermometer.
| Gauge | Now | July mean |
|---|---|---|
| South Branch Au Sable River near Luzerne | 55.0 °F | 65.7 °F |
What you may keep
| Reach type | Miles | Minimum | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type 1 Designated | 18.6 | 8″ | Last Saturday in April–September 30th |
From Michigan's own regulation tables, per designated type, and the current digest is the authority rather than this page. Full regulations for this river →
What to fish for it
- Fish Eggs — October–January and April, #10–16
- Little Black Stonefly — January–April, #16–18
- Little Brown Stonefly — February–April, #12–16
- Blue-Winged Olive — March–May and September–November, #16–22
- Blackfly — April–June, #18–22
- Blue Quill — April–May, #16–18
- Cranefly — April–June and September–October, #6–10
- Grannom — April–May, #14–16
The insects recorded from this river's region, earliest first. The full calendar →
More about South Branch Au Sable River
South Branch Au Sable River — live water temperature, regulations and access
- Is the South Branch Au Sable River good for brook trout?
- Is the South Branch Au Sable River good for rainbow trout?
- When to fish the South Branch Au Sable River, Michigan
- How to get to the South Branch Au Sable River, Michigan
- South Branch Au Sable River fishing report
- South Branch Au Sable River fishing regulations