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    Gates Ausable Lodge & Pro Shop

    4.9 (24 reviews)
    ModerateHotels
    Closed 8:00 am - 7:00 pm

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    If you like yoga chances are you'll like fly fishing
    Rebecca R.

    Up north like it use to be only a smidge better, that's what I like about my Saturday-Monday bout with fly-fishin at the Gates AuSable Lodge. Everything you've read or heard about this place is true, it's great! I don't want you to come here. I don't want you to know a slice of Heaven exists right here in Grayling, Michigan. It's simple, it's clean no assholes please. We pulled in about 6:30 Saturday night when the sun was still shiny and bright. A little lodge just like you find all over mid and upper MI but with a twist. The lot was full of SUV's with their rear windows up and sleek wooden guide boats on trailers filing the lot. Some were here for the ... and the ... opener at the ....and others like is to fish the Au Sable. I'm partial to English Setters. My first dog was a tri-setter named Corey. Man that dog was smart. He was the bestest buddy. English Setters are elegant and useful. If you're a bird man a setter is your most loyal companion. Saturday and Sunday the property was crawling with Setters and my heart was singing. Alas, I digress. We had the good fortune to be here on a weekend after school had begun, during an Indian Summer week when day time temps soared to 90 and nights fell to the high 70's making it a ripe time to do a little night fishin which is unique to a few places in the world. By the light of a sliver of a moon the ... moon our guide Matt lead the way on his grand daddy's guide boat for 5 hours under the stars. All the better to reel in a carnivores brown. My man, no newbie to fly-fishin, pulled in the prettiest 22 in brown. It ain't easy this fly fishin thing. Night fishin isn't where you want to start. Hemingway fished the Au Sable, did you know? I'm happy to report not much has changed. I did not participate in night fishin as I only now have met my personal goal of casting and landing it a little upstream from my target. It was so heavenly to feel so safe, quietly drifting for hours in the unknown gazing up at the star filled sky rocking like a baby in the seat of the guide boat to the call of Matt the expert guide call out, left, right, lift,swing as soothing as a Buddhist chant. For 4 hours not even the sound of a car. The only sound the call of the guide and listening to the swish of the sometimes rushing waters. Priceless. Bonus: the tv is hooked-up, adult movies and sports everything. Ladies if you need a treat let Matt be your guide he's easy on the eyes and knows what he's doing. And if you don't already know you'll probably dig fly-fish it's zen like yoga. Recommendations: a few more pillows, a hair dryer for the ladies and a mini fridge would be most awesome. And generous patrons leave some money for the housekeeper. Remember you had a fabulous and she cleaned up after your fun. It's worth something. Be a good citizen of the world.

    Catalin B.

    This place has a cool pro shop but the food is what I think is really amazing. I've come here for dinner and had some awesome steak, with a great Bloody Mary. I also came in for breakfast and really liked the cheddar bacon waffle and loaded hash browns. It was one of the best breakfasts I've ever had. The atmosphere is comfortable and rustic. The waitstaff is very friendly and extremely attentive to details. It's certainly a place I plan to visit again.

    Rick D.

    Dare I give away this secret hideaway? Who am I kidding? The parking lot on any given summer day is full of cars sporting license plates from every state in the union. This is a motel by and for sportsman. Fly fishermen in the summer, hunters in autumn, and snowmobilers in winter. The amenities are old-school motel. It's like stepping back into the 60s. Twin beds. No in-room phone. Minuscule television. No air conditioning. The local water is pretty sulfurous. In a nod to their clientele, the motel has provided wifi throughout the property. Some rooms are even equipped with fly-tying tables. But the location! Located right on the main branch of the Au Sable River at Stephen's Bridge, you have front row tickets to some of the best fly fishing in the world. Even if you don't fish, just the view and the vibe are a vacation in itself. Few things in this world can beat sitting on the bench by the river and listening to the water flow, interspersed with the sounds of trout rising to the hatch. Feeding the trout at the bread hole will entertain the most jaded. Sitting around the fire pit at night listening to fish stories from fellow travelers slaking their thirst with scotch will surely entertain. The restaurant serves wonderful home style food in a room overlooking the river. Breakfasts are hearty, and the French toast is not to be missed. Dinners include (farm-raised) rainbow trout. No liquor license, so BYOB if you're a wino. Beware that leaving with leftovers will garner the attention of the house dog, Drake, a Golden Lab. Significantly, all of the above comes at most reasonable prices. The lodge has a complete fly shop that offers everything from free advice to $3500 shellacked sticks if you're so inclined. The river guides who we spoke to were polite young men. One went so far as to disembark his river boat to help us when our canoe got hung up on a logjam. The guided river trips seemed pretty reasonable, considering the work the guide has to put in. This motel would get 5 stars except for one significant complaint. The bed I slept in was atrocious. Every movement was accompanied by a groan of springs. But guess what? After a day outdoors, and accompanied by the mellifluous sounds of the river, the condition of the bed didn't affect my nodding off one whit.

    A gorgeous morning on the AuSable.
    Jeanie S.

    This is a review for the fly fishing guide services out of the Gates Au Sable Lodge. I had never been fishing, let alone fly fishing, so my boyfriend signed me up for a 1/2 day guided fishing trip down the Au Sable. I'm hooked (pun intended)! I had a great time, mainly thanks to my guide, who was the epitome of patient, encouraging, and funny. He had truly remarkable knowledge of the river and its fishing secrets. Literally, he would say "cast over there, under that tree, in that shady spot" and I would get a bite on my line. That happened time and time again, making for a wonderful first experience. Apparently it's a great place for experienced fly fishers as well, and the slots book up way, way in advance. I feel fortunate that I was able to get a last minute slot in early May. I'd highly recommend this place for fly fishing guides.

    View across the Au Sable

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    3 years ago

    Trout Hemingway...,a glass pf Chardonnay.....along side the Ausable....need I say more.....

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    7 years ago

    Classic fly shop with great selection of flies and everything a fly fisherman might need. Looking forward to coming back!

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    8 years ago

    Best place to eat for miles around. Nothing like your everyday up north restaurant. A classy , hidden away place

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    Ask the Community - Gates Ausable Lodge & Pro Shop

    Review Highlights - Gates Ausable Lodge & Pro Shop

    I had never been fishing, let alone fly fishing, so my boyfriend signed me up for a 1/2 day guided fishing trip down the Au Sable.

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    Hanson House Bed & Breakfast

    Hanson House Bed & Breakfast

    (3 reviews)

    The Hanson House Bed and Breakfast was outstanding. The rooms are large and unique. Each room has…read moreits own decor. We stayed in the Hanson suite. It has a sitting area, king bed, walk-in shower, television fireplace, and nice view. The house also has a dining room and living room that are accessible by guests. We enjoyed drinking our coffee on the front porch. One of the best B& B's that we've stayed at. They also gave us a $30 voucher for breakfast or lunch. We'll definitely return. 3 block walk to downtown area. The history of Hanson house is cool to read about during your stay.

    We've stayed here before and enjoyed it. It's a beautiful, well kept home. However, this time we…read moredid not enjoy our stay as much. The host met us for 15 minutes when we checked in and that was the last we saw her. She didn't even bother to show us around. Good thing they had a sign in our room with some information. She did not share any of it with us. We could not figure out the coffee machine. It did not seem to be working. No shampoo or Body Wash refilled in our bathroom we were the only ones staying in the house. One would think that they could have, at the very least, made sure that this was refilled in our bathroom. From the looks, it hadn't been done for a while. I wouldn't recommend staying in the Hanson Room if you are elderly or have any physical disability as you need to get up into the bed with a step stool. It was ok for us but, I could imagine it may prove difficult for others. The bed was comfortable and the bathroom was large. The house is kept very cold. The temperatures dropped during the evening and the host never bothered turning the heat on. I did not sleep a wink. It was so cold. I am not certain we will go back.

    Ramada by Wyndham Grayling Hotel & Conference Center

    Ramada by Wyndham Grayling Hotel & Conference Center

    (8 reviews)

    We arrived at 9pm on a Friday night. I made an online reservation a month ago and requested a high…read morefloor since I'm a light sleeper. I got first floor in a sold out hotel adjacent to an entry door. When I looked at the check in paperwork it noted it was a pet friendly room, and I have severe allergies. When I asked to be switched, the hotel was full and there was no options. The lady at the front desk was really nice and gave me the key so I could go see if the room could work. Upon arrival at the room, the door was ajar, tv on, and it looked like someone had just been laying on the bed. There was Cockroach on the floor upon entering the room. The AC was on, but was obviously broken since the floor around it was covered in water. Lucky for us there was 1 room available at the Windmoor Lodge just down the road and we were able to switch gears and stay there. They did give us a full refund.

    The hot tub was cemented in a year ago. The pool is closed for some unknown reason. My landline…read morephone didn't work and I was told by the front desk that most of the phones don't work. The carpet is worn out. No elevator. Ice machine out of order. Asked for fresh bedding and the staff didn't have the key to access the laundry and the maids hadn't been by all day. The toilet paper holder was a hotel pen. However, it is clean, functional, and I will say the front desk staff was very polite and professional I think they are aware of the disrepair. They are also very pet friendly.

    Fay's Motel & Cottages

    Fay's Motel & Cottages

    (5 reviews)

    $

    Wanted to try the place having heard good things about the cleanliness and comfort of Fay's. Those…read morethings were largely true. We stayed on one of the "cabins" with a kitchenette (really just a larger motel room). Kitchen space was a little tight, cookware was very limited (fortunately we'd brought most of ours) and most appliances were old. The oven ran hot and scorched one of our meals, and one stove burner didn't function. The microwave was a bit sluggish. Still, it served us fairly well for a few days of breakfasts and dinners. Walls, tiles, and carpets in the cabin show plenty of wear though they're far from decrepit, and the room was very clean. It takes a while for the water to run hot, though once it does it is very hot! The shower stall was clean and roomy; even at 6'6" I didn't have to bend to get under the nozzle. Our double bed was small, on the soft side but not uncomfortable, with loosely fitted sheets that tended to come off easily. Thought the price was a bit high for what we got, but I've paid more for less. Fay's offers some discounts at local restaurants that can help save a few bucks on chow. They won't be my first choice for lodging in the area, though they're not a bad choice at all, especially if you want to be close to town.

    This was a great mom and pop motel. We were greated by Fay herself, and her friendly cat and dogs!…read moreI think we paid $60 for a room with a queen bed, clean hot shower and cable tv. The bed wasn't very comfy but then again, we didn't pay very much either!

    Gates Ausable Lodge & Pro Shop - hotels - Updated June 2026

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