Gates Au Sable Lodge

Just getting back into fly fishing. I walked into the store and was greeted with a warm welcome. Great place! the owner Josh was very helpful. He's the kind of guy that wants you to be successful in your fly fishing adventure. He found out that I only had hip boots,and insisted that I borrow a set of waders so I could have a great experience. Thanks so much! I can't say enough good about this place!

I heard about this tiny restaurant hidden in a fly fishing shop just a couple of weeks ago. I was told they had Kraft food and cocktails and I knew I had to check it out! My husband and I went there for lunch. It’s evident that they have many more options available for dinner, but with reservations only and a toddler at home we have to go there for dinner another time. Our lunch experience was excellent! We both had burgers and fries, which were very filling and delicious. The service was good. The staff in the kitchen kept coming out and talking to locals, and that made the environment, very friendly and welcoming. It was like everybody knew everybody there.We loved the view of the river, all the birds that you can watch, and the small quiet setting. You need to check it out!

Gates Ausable Lodge has been a mainstay for trout fishing in Michigan and indeed, given the huge role its founder, Rusty Gates had in trout fishing and river protection, nationally as well. Trout Unlimited was formed on this river and fly fishers who have never been to Michigan know of this place located on what is called the Holy Waters. Rusty and others formed Anglers of the Ausable into a powerful advocate and protector of this beautiful river. When Rusty passed away 15 years ago, the Lodge was thankfully saved by longtime Gates employee, Josh Greenberg and his wife, Katy. Under Josh and Katy's ownership, the Lodge thrives while they methodically evolve, expand and refine this unpretentious place while growing everything that makes it special. ||It is a motor lodge style place with simple clean rooms overlooking a beautiful and wadeable stretch of the Ausable. The rooms are modest, comfortable and clean. As a sport (religion?) fly fishing can be pretentious and intimidating - Gates Lodge mirrors instead Josh and Katy's warmth and welcoming personalities and the Lodge is anything but intimidating. The fly shop staff (Josh included) think nothing of taking a visitor out to the yard for some impromptu casting lessons for instance, or offering advice on fly selection, equipment, appropriate access points to the river and its branches, north and south and Holy Waters, etc. ||The fly shop is stocked with anything you need and often stuff you can't readily find elsewhere, especially if you're a fly tier. And the Lodge maintains a terrific group of fishing guides anxious to float any of the river's branches in a classic Ausable riverboat. ||Gates is not only a destination for fly fishing though. Josh and Katy have expanded into all four seasons. The Lodge is typically very busy during Michigan's Fall color season, for instance. It's situated well for road and mountain bike riders, hiking the Ausable's fabulous foot paths or watching the Ausable Canoe Marathon in late July.||The restaurant has been upgraded from the Mom and Pop spot under Rusty to a solid place to find classic and creative breakfasts, fantastic lunches that the staff happily will prepare for picnics or a stop while fishing and upscale dinners with entrees ranging from a simple burger to nicely prepared whitefish, salmon, steaks, etc. ||It's been a long time since I reviewed this wonderful place run by wonderful people and I'm happy to report that it's only better and better each time I come back.

Had a great time at Gates last week. Josh and the staff were welcoming and accommodating. Matt was a great guide and got me on the fish through out our trip. A very peaceful and beautiful setting. Highly recommend!

Gates is the best fly shop around! I’ve been fishing with them for a few years now and everyone in that shop is helpful, attentive, and genuinely wants to see you have a great day on the river. None of the macho, I’m better than you vibes I’ve ran into with staff at other fly shops.

This is hands down the best place to go! The guys that work here go above and beyond for their customers! They had great patience and took time to teach my son and answered his questions! They even helped us out when my son’s pole broke!! Definitely will be back to see them!

If you know your parachute adams from a woolly bugger then you need to know about gates Au Sabe Lodge. It is a fishing lodge, so the rooms may seem a little worn but the location and the restaurant and the fly shop and the people that run in the place make it worth a visit

Didn't stay here, but the fly shop and employees are incredible. Extremely knowledgeable and spent extra time really helping out the young new fly fishers and novices (like me)