Au Sable River Guide Service

Au Sable River Guide Service floats the main branch of the Au Sable at Grayling in northern Michigan, and also works the neighboring Manistee watershed. Full day float trips run seven to nine hours and include a streamside meal, priced at $475 for a single angler and $500 for two. Half days are four to five hours for one or two anglers at $400 without a meal. Hex floats, run for the Hexagenia hatch, are a named part of the season. Fishing trips are offered through the year. The guide practices catch and release, carries first aid equipment and provides life jackets on the boat. Separate from guided fishing, casting, presentation and technique lessons are taught at $100 an hour with a two hour minimum, generally from mid April through October. Non fishing eco tours are also run on both rivers at $350 for a half day and $450 for a full day, and are described as most rewarding in spring and fall when migrating birds move through. A $200 deposit holds a booking.