Au Sable River
Fishing, stocking, and current conditions
Stocked monthly April through June in 2026: rainbow trout, atlantic salmon, and coho salmon, 11 plants in all. The most-stocked water on the Iosco County record for 2026. A USGS gauge reports from this water, so the conditions card on this page is live, water temperature included.
Iosco County · Michigan · see it on the national map
The year here
stocked last 7 days announced ahead · tap a tick for details
What swims here
Rainbow trout
Atlantic salmon
Coho salmon
Stocking record 2026
Agency feed checked Oct 14.
| Date | Species | Size | Fish | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 8 | Rainbow trout | adult | 35,162 | completed |
| Apr 8 | Rainbow trout | adult | 20,543 | completed |
| Apr 8 | Rainbow trout | adult | 20,520 | completed |
| Apr 23 | Coho salmon x 2 sections | adult | 15,000 | completed |
| May 11 | Atlantic salmon x 2 sections | adult | 7,750 | completed |
| May 13 | Atlantic salmon | adult | 29,498 | completed |
| May 18 | Rainbow trout | adult | 34,133 | completed |
| May 20 | Rainbow trout | adult | 37,117 | completed |
| Jun 1 | Rainbow trout | adult | 5,076 | completed |
When to fish Au Sable River
| Major periods (~2 h) | Minor periods (~1 h) | |
|---|---|---|
| Today | 10:11 am-12:11 pm and 10:34 pm-12:34 am | 4:27-5:27 am and 4:42-5:42 pm |
| Tomorrow | 10:57 am-12:57 pm | 5:40-6:40 am and 5:02-6:02 pm |
Moon: waxing gibbous, 92% lit. These are solunar periods, the traditional feeding-time theory: majors around the moon's transit overhead and underfoot, minors around moonrise and moonset. Theory, not a measurement. Times are Eastern Time (EDT).
What the record actually says
- Last stocked Jun 1
- Water 58 °F, prime coldwater range
- Flow near normal for the season
Computed this evening, Oct 23 · Michigan fishing forecast
Getting on the water
| Access point | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Au Sable River Mouth | boat ramp | Recreation Passport required · accessible facilities |
| Lower Foote Dam | boat ramp | Recreation Passport required · accessible facilities |
Access points from the Michigan DNR boating access inventory. Ramps, fees, and hours change; check before towing a boat a long way.
Gear for this water
It has been a while since the trucks came. The holdovers have spread out and wised up; downsize and fish natural. The gauge reads 58 degrees, prime coldwater temperature; fish confidently through the day.
For the trout (rainbow trout stocked 6 times here in 2026, moving water)
| Drifted bait | single salmon egg or half a crawler under light split shot, rolled along the bottom |
| Small jerkbaits | floating minnows in the 2 to 3 inch class for the deeper bends |
| Waders or wet-wading boots | stocked stream fish stack in the obvious pools; getting to the next one is the edge |
For the salmon and steelhead (atlantic salmon stocked 3 times here in 2026, moving water)
| Trolling flies and dodgers | for landlocked salmon in the lakes, early and late in the day |
| Medium spinning rod | 8 to 9 ft with 8 to 12 lb line; big water, big runs |
| Spoons and spinners | 1/4 to 1/2 oz metal; cast across and swing through the run |
Suggestions follow from what the state actually stocks here and what kind of water it is, nothing else. No sponsored placements.
Nearby stocked waters
The closest waters with stocking pages of their own, straight-line miles from this one.
| Water | Distance | Most recent |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar Lake | 8.1 mi | Jun 25 |
| Tawas River | 14 mi | May 7 |
| East Br Au Gres River | 22 mi | Apr 23 |
| Loon Lake | 25 mi | Jun 23 |
| Long Lake | 26 mi | Jun 17 |
Follow Iosco County stocking: RSS / Calendar (iCal) / Print the schedule