New York
West Branch Ausable River
Location Snapshot
West Branch Ausable River is an Adirondack trout river with managed stocked reaches and colder wild-water influence. The principal supported target is brown trout, with rainbow trout and brook trout providing additional species variety within the same fishery.
Information Only
StrikeTracks does not currently provide a live condition rating for this destination. Destination and fishery information is still available.
Fishing Overview
The West Branch of the Ausable, from its confluence with the East Branch upstream to the Route 86 bridge at the Flume, is Stocked-Extended trout water.
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
Target species
Brown Trout
Salmo trutta
- Expectation
- Primary
- Population
- Stocked
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- High confidence
Source: NYSDEC
Rainbow Trout
Oncorhynchus mykiss
- Expectation
- Common
- Population
- Stocked
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- Medium confidence
Source: NYSDEC
Brook Trout
Salvelinus fontinalis
- Expectation
- Present
- Population
- Wild
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- Medium confidence
Source: NYSDEC
Fishery characteristics
- Composition
- Mixed wild and stocked
- Great Lakes tributary
- No
- Flow regime
- Natural flow
Best seasons
- Spring
- Summer
- Fall
Common techniques
- Dry flies
- Fly fishing
- Nymphing
- Spinning
- Streamers
Stocking information
- 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.
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
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