Fly Fish the Adirondacks

The Ausable River descends from the High Peaks of the Adirondacks toward Lake Champlain, dropping nearly 500 feet over its 40-kilometer run through this section. The river splits into East and West branches upstream, each with distinct character—the East Branch carries faster gradient and colder water from higher elevations, while the West Branch meanders through more forgiving terrain. Both merge near the town of Ausable Forks before the main stem settles into a broader, slower flow as it approaches the lake.\n\nThis is wild brown and brook trout water, sustained by cold groundwater seepage and consistent spring flows. The Ausable rarely runs too high or too low thanks to the surrounding geology and elevation—the USGS gauge at Ausable Forks (04275500) typically holds between 200 and 400 cubic feet per second during the main season. Dry-fly fishing dominates from May through October, with reliable hatches of Hendricksons, Sulfurs, and Isonychia. Nymph work and small streamers produce year-round, particularly in the deeper pools and around structure. The river's freestone character means it fishes well within days of rain, a significant advantage in the Northeast.\n\nAccess is straightforward along Route 9N and secondary roads, with multiple public and private access points. The lower sections near Ausable Forks hold larger fish and deeper pools suited to swing-and-strip techniques, while the upper branches reward technical dry-fly work in tighter, faster runs. The surrounding Adirondack landscape—mixed hardwood and conifer forest, rocky banks, and mountain views—provides the setting, but the fishing is what keeps anglers returning: technical enough to demand focus, productive enough to reward it, and wild enough to feel earned.