River Events

Annual River Clean-up

The annual river clean-up happens the Saturday after Labor Day every year. Beats are assigned so that all parts of the river are covered during the clean-up. The original river clean-up was on the mainstream of the Au Sable. It has since expanded to the North and South Branches and beyond its Grayling roots to include portions of the trophy water near Mio.

The cleanup usually attracts several hundred river lovers, and ends with a cookout at Gates Lodge and, for those working downstream from Mio, the Comins Flats access off McKinley Road.

Cedars for the Au Sable

The northern white-cedar (Thuja occidentalis) along the riverbanks provide needed shade to maintain the cold-water fishery of the river. The presence of the cedar sweepers at the water line provides protection for the fish, increases the amount of large woody debris in the water, as well as the preservation of the riverbank by locking in the soil.

Anglers of the Au Sable have been a supporter and participant from the very beginning of the “Cedars for the Au Sable” project, which encourages river property owners to replant native northern white-cedar seedlings along the Au Sable and Manistee Rivers to help maintain the delicate balance of the river’s ecological system. Since the beginning of this project in 1997 by the Au Sable River Property Owners Association (ARPOA), over 26,000 northern white-cedar seedlings have been planted and protected in enclosures.

Current Projects

The Anglers Habitat Committee oversees work on a variety of projects aimed at improving fishing on the AuSable. If you want to volunteer to become involved please e-mail info@ausableanglers.org.

The North Branch Restoration Project

Anglers installed fish habitat structures on the North Branch above and below the Dam 4 access. There is an additional two years of work ready between the Black Hole and Twin Bridge. This work is awaiting permits and will start this spring. Anglers has provided specialized equipment, such as chainsaw winches, and plenty of hard work to make this project a success. More work is needed.

North Branch Research Projects

Concerns about low catch rates on the North Branch has led to Anglers engaging Grand Valley State University researchers to take a look at potential issues. Water quality, insect data, juvenile trout assessments and more are happening right now.

Mono Recycling Stations

We recently installed 12 Mono Recycling stations below Mio, The stations have a sign that indicates their purpose, one that asks for no trash to be deposited and an anglers decal. Some have metal signs stating that these are Anglers projects.

Gauging Stations

Anglers has partnered with Lake Superior State University to install stations tracking key river information throughout the upper watershed, with more under consideration. In 2020, Anglers Habitat Committee members made changes to the way gauging station equipment was installed. This improved their durability, installing 4 x 4 posts, using conduit to protect wiring and hardening the stations against nature and vandals, human and critter. in 2021 three new stations were added. Anglers are awaiting permits for two more bringing the total to seven completed.

Sand Traps

Sand traps work, but they need to be emptied from time to time. Recently, we have been overseeing and paying for work to dredge a major trap on the West Branch of Big Creek, with seeding and straw covering the area. And we are monitoring the trap to see if it’s working properly.

Redd Surveys

We annually do surveys of redds to monitor brown trout spawning on the North Branch. (Overall, redd numbers are down slightly, a troubling trend that continues. With information like this, we can work to make a difference.)

Main Stream Winter Projects

Sometimes it’s just easier and less intrusive to do river restoration projects during the winter, aiming to augment cover in key locations. We are trying to see how this can be done, and are working with fishery experts to determine how we might expand this practice.

East Branch Reconnect

Anglers has partnered with Michigan Trout Unlimited to conduct an alternative designs and engineering study which is a necessary first step with the goal of reconnecting 25 miles of high quality trout stream to the AuSable river system. This study is being funded by a grant from the DNR and done in cooperation with the Crawford County Board of Commissioners.

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