AuSable River Two Fly Shop Inc

06/06/2026

Atlantic salmon smolt turn up on the West Branch once in a while. They come from the stocking work in Styles Brook, where the goal is to imprint them on the Ausable system so some eventually return from Lake Champlain. They’ll never get past the Chasm, but the idea is to build more salmon in the lake and keep them tied to this river. I picked this one up on a Mayfly spinner at dusk, and it jumped close to twenty times before I got it in — small fish, but a great fight.”

06/04/2026

West Branch Ausable – River Conditions

Air cooled off nicely after the 80‑degree heat. Flow held around 370 cfs and the river stayed steady. March Browns were the main mayfly moving, with Grannom caddis mixed in. Fished a split‑tail spinner and picked up a couple decent browns.

Solid conditions last night.

05/14/2026

Every May, the Ausable River Two‑Fly Challenge feels like the true start of the season — familiar faces returning to Wilmington, the river settling into its spring rhythm, and the whole event reminding us why it means so much. It’s a weekend I look forward to every year.

This year I’m stepping away from the river for something that matters a whole lot more than a weekend of fishing. My mom turns 90 on the 15th, and that’s the kind of milestone you don’t miss. The Ausable will still be here next spring, but celebrating ninety years of a life well‑lived only happens once.

To everyone who’s out there fishing the Challenge this weekend, I hope the river treats you well. Enjoy the flows, the company, the trout, and those quiet stretches where it’s just you and the current. The Ausable has a way of reminding us why we keep coming back.

I’ll be back for the Challenge next year, ready to fish it hard with two flies.

05/12/2026

Wait, what? Hatches on the river and all the named spots. Yes, lets finish this paddle and go wade the West Branch AuSable River.

05/02/2026

Stocking totals for our local rivers.
East Branch Ausable 17,100 Brown Trout
West Branch Ausable 20,030 Brown Trout; Brook Trout
Boquet River 7,310 Brook Trout; Brown Trout
Saranac River 10,450 Brown Trout; Rainbow Trout
Grand Total 54,890

🎣 WEST BRANCH AUSABLE RIVER

Jay

• 80 — April 2nd week — Brown Trout 12–15”
• 700 — April 2nd week — Brown Trout 9–10”
• 700 — April 4th week — Brown Trout 9–10”
• 80 — April 4th week — Brown Trout 12–15”
• 80 — May 2nd week — Brown Trout 12–15”
• 700 — May 2nd week — Brown Trout 9–10”
• 80 — May 4th week — Brown Trout 12–15”
• 700 — May 4th week — Brown Trout 9–10”

North Elba

• 420 — April 2nd week — Brown Trout 12–15”
• 3,260 — April 2nd week — Brown Trout 9–10”
• 640 — April 4th week — Brown Trout 9–10”
• 100 — April 4th week — Brown Trout 12–15”
• 100 — May 2nd week — Brown Trout 12–15”
• 770 — May 2nd week — Brook Trout 9–10”
• 640 — May 2nd week — Brown Trout 9–10”
• 640 — May 4th week — Brown Trout 9–10”
• 100 — May 4th week — Brown Trout 12–15”

Wilmington

• 310 — April 3rd week — Brown Trout 12–15”
• 2,250 — April 3rd week — Brown Trout 9–10”
• 310 — May 1st week — Brown Trout 12–15”
• 2,250 — May 1st week — Brown Trout 9–10”
• 310 — May 3rd week — Brown Trout 12–15”
• 2,250 — May 3rd week — Brown Trout 9–10”
• 310 — June 1st week — Brown Trout 12–15”
• 2,250 — June 1st week — Brown Trout 9–10”

Note: the photo is from the past when I was the stocking coordinator for our community.

04/28/2026

Traditional small‑arbor reels will always have their charm, but large‑arbor narrow reels are on a completely different level. The line control is unreal. Hardy’s updated version—now with Kelly Galloup involved—pushes this design even further.

I’ve been fishing this style for years, and it’s the first reel that genuinely changed how effectively you can fish.

04/02/2026

Feeling the need for change? It is here. Spring forward, no bugs, no high heat. get out and free the mind.

03/20/2026

Changes are coming. Weather Undergrounds perdiction for this spring looks promising. https://weather.com/forecast/national/news/2026-03-19-april-may-june-temperature-outlook-ag2

02/11/2026

The Visual Metaphor. The barrier, the removal, the free passage. 

02/10/2026

Let's go.

An international film screening with a brief local connection to the Saranac River - Sat, Mar 7, 2026 - Plattsburgh, NY - Get tickets online