New York
West Branch Ausable River
West Branch Ausable River
River · New York
Information Only
StrikeTracks does not currently provide a live condition rating for this destination. Destination and fishery information is still available.
Fishing Overview
Adirondack trout river near Lake Placid / Wilmington. Separate from the main-stem Ausable below Au Sable Forks and from the East Branch.
Fishery Profile
Documented species you may encounter at West Branch Ausable River.
Species images are AI-generated illustrations for visual reference and may simplify natural variation. Fishery records are based on the cited agency sources. About fish illustrations
Fishery overview
Adirondack trout river with alternating Stocked-Extended and Catch and Release reaches from the East Branch confluence upstream through the Flume, Whiteface, and Monument Falls areas. No live USGS streamgage is assigned to this destination. Historical USGS station 04274000 (West Branch Ausable near Lake Placid) is not used as a current monitoring source. This record represents the West Branch corridor near Lake Placid / Wilmington and does not use East Branch, main-stem Ausable, or tributary gauges as substitutes.
Target species
Brown Trout
Salmo trutta
- Expectation
- Primary
- Population
- Stocked
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- High confidence
DEC lists Stocked-Extended and Catch and Release reaches on the West Branch Ausable; mixed wild and stocked trout composition. Brown trout are a primary target on stocked reaches.
Source: NYSDEC
Rainbow Trout
Oncorhynchus mykiss
- Expectation
- Common
- Population
- Stocked
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- Medium confidence
Stocked-Extended management reaches support rainbow trout among the mixed trout fishery.
Source: NYSDEC
Brook Trout
Salvelinus fontinalis
- Expectation
- Present
- Population
- Wild
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- Medium confidence
Brook trout are present in the West Branch Ausable system; more typical of wilder upper reaches than lower Stocked-Extended sections.
Source: NYSDEC
Fishery characteristics
- Composition
- Mixed wild and stocked
- Great Lakes tributary
- No
- Flow regime
- Natural flow
Mountain freestone river near Lake Placid / Wilmington with pocket water, pools, and special-regulation reaches. Separate from the main-stem Ausable below Au Sable Forks.
Best seasons
- Spring
- Summer
- Fall
Common techniques
- Dry flies
- Fly fishing
- Nymphing
- Spinning
- Streamers
Access and Public Fishing Rights
Public access includes DEC lands and mapped fishing access; confirm current DECinfo Locator / Trout Stream Fishing Map coverage. Wilmington Wild Forest provides related public land access.
Public Fishing Rights easements exist on selected mapped reaches; confirm current DEC maps.
Stocking information
DEC stocking programs apply to designated Stocked-Extended West Branch Ausable reaches. Catch and Release reaches emphasize wild and holdover trout.
- Stocked
Brown Trout
Stocked · NYSDEC
- Stocked
Rainbow Trout
Stocked · NYSDEC
Regulation sections
Legal regulations are summarized below for convenience. Official linked rules control. This app does not determine whether you are physically within a regulation reach.
West Branch Ausable Flume Catch and Release
From the Route 86 bridge at The Flume upstream to the Whiteface Ski Center bridge
Catch and Release inland trout stream category; artificial lures only, all year.
- Upstream
- Whiteface Ski Center bridge
- Downstream
- Route 86 bridge at The Flume
- Season
- Catch and Release all year.
- Methods
- Artificial lures only.
- Harvest
- Catch and Release only; all fish must be released.
West Branch Ausable Lower Stocked-Extended
From confluence with East Branch Ausable River upstream to the Rt 86 bridge at the Flume
Stocked-Extended inland trout stream category.
- Upstream
- Rt 86 bridge at the Flume
- Downstream
- Confluence with East Branch Ausable River
- Season
- April 1–October 15 harvest season under Stocked-Extended limits; October 16–March 31 catch and release, artificial lures only.
- Harvest
- Stocked-Extended: April 1–October 15 daily limit 3 with no more than 1 longer than 12 inches.
West Branch Ausable Monument Falls Catch and Release
From DEC sign 2.2 miles downstream of Monument Falls upstream to confluence with Holcomb Pond Outlet
Catch and Release inland trout stream category; artificial lures only, all year.
- Upstream
- Confluence with Holcomb Pond Outlet
- Downstream
- DEC sign 2.2 miles downstream of Monument Falls
- Season
- Catch and Release all year.
- Methods
- Artificial lures only.
- Harvest
- Catch and Release only; all fish must be released.
West Branch Ausable Whiteface Stocked-Extended
From the Whiteface Ski Center Bridge upstream to the DEC sign 2.2 miles downstream of Monument Falls
Stocked-Extended inland trout stream category.
- Upstream
- DEC sign 2.2 miles downstream of Monument Falls
- Downstream
- Whiteface Ski Center Bridge
- Season
- April 1–October 15 harvest season under Stocked-Extended limits; October 16–March 31 catch and release, artificial lures only.
- Harvest
- Stocked-Extended: April 1–October 15 daily limit 3 with no more than 1 longer than 12 inches.
Official sources
Regulations can change. Always verify current rules on the official NYSDEC page before fishing; linked official regulations control.
Hatch Match
General fly suggestions
- Parachute-style dryGeneral attractor dry family — not a claim that a named mayfly is hatching.
- Pheasant-tail-style nymphGeneral nymph family for trout rivers without destination hatch timing.
- Elk-hair-style dryGeneral dry/attractor family. Pattern choice only — not a report that caddis are hatching.
- Woolly-bugger-style streamerGeneral streamer family. Not a forage or insect Hatch event.
These are general fishing suggestions, not a report of insects currently hatching at this destination.
Location and Access
Cataloged river location
Essex, New York
The map marker represents the cataloged waterbody or monitoring location and may not indicate legal parking or public access. Confirm access through the official information before visiting.
River Details
County
Essex
DEC Region
5
Management Category
Adirondack trout river
Regulation Scope
West Branch Ausable special-regulation reaches
Regulation Summary
Region 5 special regulations may apply on designated West Branch Ausable reaches.
Target Species
Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout
Access, Parking, and Regulations
Loading access and regulations…
