Fly Fishing In The Ausable: The Two-Fly Challenge

The Ausable River Two-Fly Challenge was founded to celebrate the joy of fishing.

Celebrate the joy of fishing, the spirit of sportsmanship, the preservation of the Ausable River, and the natural wonders of the Whiteface Region at the 23rd annual Ausable River 2 Fly challenge.

This event takes place over the course of three days in May in and around Wilmington, New York. Registration is available online.

Here’s a rundown of the agenda.

Thursday night kick-off

• Beer, Band and Bonfires at the Town Beach featuring live music and local food trucks.

• A night to feel the local flavor while relaxing by the Ausable and catching up with old friends. 

Friday

• Get ready for an AWESOME day of fishing the West Branch of the Ausable

• Fly Tyers's Reception at Rudy's Scar Bar & Grille at the Chalet Whiteface — good food, good music and tales of day

Saturday

• Another GREAT day on the water with another shot at getting a prized trout.

• The evening concludes with the Annual 2 Fly Banquet at the renowned Hungry Trout, complete with raffles and prizes

The 411 on the competish

Rules for the catch-and-release tournament are simple:

• Anglers are allowed to bring two barb-less hook flies of any combination or pattern.

• Once the flies are lost or unusable, he or she is out.

• Anglers must fish with a partner, and each must record the total number of fish caught, the length of each fish, and the cumulative number of inches.

• Only fish handled by the angler and successfully released will count as caught fish.

• The winner is determined by the highest cumulative length of each fish caught. 

• Each fisherperson can choose just two flies to use per day.

• They must pick the flies they will use at the beginning of the day.

• If they lose them, they are done. Official rules are sent with registration confirmations.