The nights have been long and the hex bite is on, but we've been spending the daylight hours chasing brookies on the North Branch. This past week late afternoons have been fishing well using various patterns such as stim stones, borchers, RYD's. Its also worth going subsurface with a wet skunk or muddler minnow. 

Things are finally warming up here in northern Michigan! A lot of the Au Sable system is high and stained due to Saturday's storm, but will hopefully be better this coming week as we await the sulphur hatch.  So far the North Branch has been fishing well, definitely an improvement from last year. We are looking forward to those big brown bugs showing up in the next few weeks and we will keep you posted on that. 

Right now on the North Branch we have been seeing the last of the light hennies with black caddis and stoneflies making up the bulk of the top water bugs at the moment. That being said fishing Borchers and swinging soft hackles has been very productive as well.  

We hope you all have a wonderful Memorial Day and we hope to see you up here at NBOC soon! 

This time of year stirs a lot of senses in the fly fisherman. To me personally opening weekend is as much or more anticipated as Christmas morning was when I was a child. The last Saturday in April symbolizes so much more than just the day trout season officially opens. It is the conclusion of a long winters wait to get back onto the water. It is a vivid reminder that bugs are coming and that the trees will blossom and bloom along our banks which have looked like some sort of ghostly memory of the rivers we remember from last season. Its been said that to fish is to hope. Opening day of trout season is the fruition of the hoping for a new trout season all winter long. I cant wait to see what is in store for all of us on the water this season. 

It was wonderful to see familiar faces and make new friends here at NBOC during our annual opener events. Here are a few pictures from the weekend. Thanks to everyone who joined us for our 20th opener. We hope to see the rest of you in the weeks ahead! 

We've spent most of the week preparing for the Midwest Fly-fishing Expo this weekend. We look forward to this show all winter as its the first real sign of spring and of the fishing season to come. Time to take a break from that fly-tying desk, crawl out of your hermit hole and enjoy a day with like minded folks immersed in all things fly fishing. See you there!
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https://midwestflyfishingexpo.com/

14500 Twelve Mile Rd
Warren, MI 48088

Saturday 9am-6pm
Sunday 9am-4pm

Has this icy cold weather got you dreaming about fishing this spring? The season is just a few months away now.. Join us at the lodge for one of our annual streamer events. These are a great way to start the season off and get out on the water before the crowds! This year we are mixing things up a bit because of where Easter lands on the calendar and we are offering a midweek trip as well as a traditional streamer weekend. The midweek trip is a great way to gain some real solitude on the water. Our early May streamer weekend might offer opportunities for Hendrickson fishing  if weather permits. 

Dates and details as follows:

April 16th-18th & May 3rd-5th

Price is $575 per person, based on double occupancy and includes the following: 

• 2 nights lodging 
• 2 days guided fishing 
• evening fly tying instruction 
• meals 
• free Orvis Hydros sink tip fly line ($90 value) 

To book, call or email us  989-348-7951 or info@northbranchoutingclub.com 

Best Of Michigan names the North Branch Outing Club 1 of the 10 coolest and most unique hotels in Michigan. Read the full article here.