Free Resource · Updated 2026
The Ausable River drains the High Peaks region of the Adirondack Mountains and is one of New York's most iconic trout rivers. The East and West Branches join near Au Sable Forks before the main stem flows to Lake Champlain. The river is known for its beautiful Adirondack setting, wild brown and brook trout, and classic northeastern hatches.
Ausable River Hatch Calendar — Quick Reference
The West Branch Ausable above Lake Placid is the most famous section of the river and is celebrated for its wild brown trout and technical fishing. The Wilmington Notch section below the Whiteface Mountain area is particularly scenic and productive. The East Branch above Au Sable Forks is a good brook trout and smaller brown trout fishery.
The Ausable is well-known for its cadre of dedicated local anglers who have studied its hatches for generations. The river has reliable Hendrickson, sulphur, and caddis hatches in spring and early summer. Attractor patterns work well in the fast pocket water of the West Branch above Lake Placid.
The Ausable is a big river in its lower sections and becomes more suited to floating near Au Sable Forks and below. Wading is the primary approach on the West Branch and upper East Branch. The river is accessible via Route 86 through the Wilmington Notch area and at multiple access points managed by the state.
See the full New York Fly Hatch Chart for hatch timing across all of New York's top trout streams.
Check Conditions Near Ausable RiverWhat to Fish
Ephemerella subvaria
The Hendrickson hatch on the Ausable peaks in early to mid-May, later than Catskill streams due to the colder Adirondack climate. The West Branch near Lake Placid produces reliable afternoon rises during the hatch.
Recommended: Hendrickson #14
Trichoptera
Caddis are the most consistent hatch on the Ausable through the summer months. Evening hatches in June are the peak. The fast pocket water character of the West Branch makes skating a dry caddis through the riffles an effective approach.
Recommended: Elk Hair Caddis #14-16
N/A
The Ausable Wulff was created on this river and remains one of the most effective attractor patterns for the fast water sections of the West Branch. The high-floating Wulff style handles the churning rapids and pocket water that characterizes much of this river.
Recommended: Ausable Wulff #10-12
Various
Terrestrials are reliable throughout summer on the Ausable especially in the open sections between Wilmington and Jay. The Adirondack forests contribute year-round but summer brings the best hopper and beetle fishing in the slower pools.
Recommended: Hopper #10-12
Common Questions
The Ausable River (spelled Ausable in New York) drains the Adirondack High Peaks region in Essex and Clinton Counties. The West Branch flows past Lake Placid through Wilmington before joining the East Branch at Au Sable Forks. The main stem flows to Lake Champlain near Keeseville.
Yes. The Ausable is a classic Adirondack freestone river with fast pocket water and plunge pools in its upper sections. It is not a tailwater. Water temperatures can warm in summer during low flows, but the elevation of the watershed keeps it cooler than lower-elevation streams.
The Ausable Wulff was developed on the West Branch Ausable River and is specifically designed for the fast, turbulent water found there. The high-floating deer hair wing and tail keep the fly visible and buoyant in the rough pocket water. It is a classic Adirondack pattern that has proven effective well beyond its home river.
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