Ausable River - East Branch

About Ausable River - East Branch

The East Branch of the Ausable River runs through key stretches of the Adirondack region, offering distinct river environments depending on where you decide to rig up. Anglers can orient themselves by targeting the access points located within the town of Keene, where the river displays a classic mountain stream character. Further downstream, access opens up significantly both above and below the town of Au Sable Forks, providing different gradients and water volumes to explore. The river channel varies from tight, high-gradient sections to broader, more exposed runs as it winds through these valley corridors. Roadside turnouts and local bridges along these reaches make it straightforward to plan your entry and exit points for a day on the water. The upper reaches near Keene feature steeper descents with gravel bars and cobblestone beds, while the lower sections near Au Sable Forks widen out over larger shelf rock and deeper gravel runs. The physical makeup of the East Branch is defined by its diverse riverbed structure, combining fast-moving sections with quiet holding water. You will find extensive stretches of high-oxygen pocket water where the river flows over and around large rocks and boulders, creating distinct seams and soft eddies. Interspersed among these quicker runs are slower, deeper pools where the current relents and the riverbed drops off. Along the margins, particularly where the river bends, the banks are often carved out to form deep undercut banks protected by overhanging vegetation and woody debris. Reading this structural variety requires looking for the transition zones where fast water meets slow water, as these edges define the main holding areas throughout the river. The contrast between the churning whitewater pockets and the flat, glassy surfaces of the deep pools requires anglers to constantly adjust their approach and visual focus. This water holds a mix of brook trout, brown trout, and rainbow trout, with each species utilizing different niches within the river system. Brook trout often position themselves in the cooler, highly oxygenated pockets and closer to the tributary inflows where the water temperature remains stable. Brown trout are more likely to claim the darker, protected lies, utilizing the deep undercut banks and the bottoms of the slower, deep pools where they can stay out of the main current. Rainbow trout frequently occupy the swifter runs, holding right in the heavy seams and the aerated water just downstream of large boulders. Understanding these species-specific preferences helps you decide which sections of the river to target based on the flow levels on any given day. Active feeding lanes are typically located right at the drop-offs where deep pools meet the shallower tailouts. To fish the East Branch effectively, you need to adapt your presentation to the specific structure you are targeting. When working the pocket water, a short-line nymphing setup or a tight-line rig allows you to keep your line off the swirling currents and maintain direct contact with your flies as they drift through the small pockets behind boulders. For the slower, deep sections, switching to an indicator rig or swimming a weighted streamer slowly along the bottom is often necessary to reach the fish holding in the deeper water column. Wading can be slick and challenging around the boulder fields, so taking deliberate steps and using studded wading boots is highly recommended. Working upstream while keeping a low profile prevents spooking fish in the clearer runs, ensuring your fly is the first thing they see as it drifts into their feeding lanes. Keep your rod tip high to minimize drag over the complex surface currents when drifting the seams.