Fishing

A World Class Trout River

The West Branch Ausable River is one of the premier fly fishing destinations east of the Mississippi. The river is a must-visit location for any angler looking for an Adirondack fly fishing experience. 

The upper portions of the West Branch of the Ausable pass through Adirondack Forest Preserve land or private lands with public fishing access, making much of this section of the river open to anglers. Certain sections of the West Branch are designated special regulation areas which are catch and release only, artificial lure only, and are open to fishing year-round. The Ausable River Association strongly encourages anglers to use the Wader Wash Stations placed along the river from Memorial Day to Labor Day to clean their waders prior to entering the river. You can explore the fishing opportunities on the West Branch by using the map above.

Brook Trout Conservation

In addition to protecting the Ausable River from the introduciton of aquatic invasive species we are also working to restore fish habitat, monitor river temperature, and open fish passage. The Adirondacks and the Ausable River watershed contain wild Brook Trout populations. Our goal is to monitor the health of these populations and take action to conserve them for future generations. 

If you enjoy fishing the Ausable we hope you will join us in our conservation efforts by joining the Ausable Freshwater Center.