We have had an excellent April of streamer fishing on the Au Sable River and now add to it dry fly fishing! Hendrickson hatch has kicked in the Big Water over the last week. Been good hatches for the afternoons and look evening spinners fall with next warm up. Next up Light Hendrickson & Sulphurs. Steve with a beautiful Brown from last week – this is what we are hunting for every day!!
Right now, my approach to most float trips is that we start out in late morning working streamers. 7wt with Airflo Streamer Max 250 grain fly line are ideal now. Depending on conditions from large baitfish/trout patterns to more natural sculpin patterns. Currently, my Great Lakes Deceiver in rainbow has been top producer. Also my Great Lakes Goby pattern in olive and this is killer sculpin pattern.
Early afternoon, start watching for hatch to start and rising trout. This time of year, have those 5wts rigged with hennies parachutes and emergers. Hatch time can vary depending on weather and temps. 4x and 5x tippet is what you want now for leaders and tippet.