Ausable River Two-Fly Challenge

Annual Ausable River Two-Fly Challenge for Lure-Angling Fun

Enjoy the sport of fishing and take in the beauty of the Whiteface Mountains at the Ausable River Two-Fly Challenge. This annual event features a friendly angler fishing competition, food vendors, live music, guest speakers and more. Whether you are a novice or an expert angler, Ausable River fly-fishing offers something for everyone.

What Is the Ausable River Two-Fly Challenge?

Since 2000, the Ausable River Two-Fly Challenge has been celebrating fly-fishing, a highly popular activity in this region. The area is world-renowned among fly-fishing enthusiasts for its pristine waters and ample trout.

The event highlight is the catch-and-release tournament, divided into three categories — men, women and professional. Participants must follow these rules:

• The fish must be caught on the west branch of the Ausable River (between the ski jumps on Lake Placid and the bridge in downtown Wilmington).
• You can bring two hook flies in any pattern or combination, and they must be barbless. If the flies are unusable or lost, you are out of the competition.
• Anglers need to fish with a partner. You must record the number of fish you catch, each fish's length and the cumulative inches of all fish caught.
• A caught fish is a fish that the angler handles and successfully releases.

The anglers with the highest cumulative length of fish caught are the winners.

Other Things to Do at the Fly-Fishing Challenge

In addition to the competition, this event has plenty to offer, including:

• A banquet to conclude the weekend's events, with a meal, prizes, awards and raffles.
• On-stream skills clinics to learn angle fishing skills from local fishing experts.
• Food from local vendors.
• Brews from Wilmington-area breweries.
• Live music from local bands.
• Talks by celebrity guest speakers.

Details for This Year's Ausable River Fly-Fishing Competition

 Here is what you need to know about this year's Ausable River Two-Fly Challenge:

• Date: May 15-17, 2025
• Time: All day
• Location: 5753 Route 86, Wilmington, NY, 12997

Register for the competition on the Ausable Two-Fly Challenge's official website. You will receive a copy of the official rules with your confirmation.

Choose Lake Placid / Whiteface Mtn. KOA Holiday as Your Ausable River Campground

Lake Placid / Whiteface Mtn. KOA Holiday is the perfect place to stay during the Ausable River Two-Fly Challenge. The campground is conveniently located less than a mile from the challenge site. Campers can stay at an RV Site, Tent Site or Deluxe Cabin and take advantage of unique amenities. Explore the many ways to say, and reserve a site today!