Au Sable River Trout with Janis Putelis and Brian Kozminski | S2E02 | Das Boat

In the second episode of Season 2, Steve hauls Dos Boat to Boyne City, Michigan, where Janis Putelis assumes the helm. Jani connects with local trout fishing guide Brian "Koz" Kozminski. Together, they try to get the boat prepared for a nighttime river expedition by removing the outboard and setting it up for rowing. Nothing in this episode goes as planned-the weather turns from lovely to wet and stormy, and the guys spend multiple nights in the cold getting their asses handed to them by brown trout. Along the way they discuss: the history and fish of the Iconic Au Sable river, the giant hexagenia mayflies that hatch there, whether or not fish give a damn how pretty your cast is, the shit load of fishing options in Michigan, the ability to pivot when conditions suck, and a hell of a lot more.
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To dive into more MeatEater Fishing content, check out our new fishing podcast Bent, available here or wherever you listen to podcasts: www.themeateater.com/listen/bent
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[@Runningwithsharpobjects]

I love that Steve just craps on this trip the entire time.

[@DRUCO316]

So funny

[@kevinscapegoat3719]

@@nunomartinez3136 h Iychgug

[@kevinscapegoat3719]

@@nunomartinez3136 ccpk bnuhyllytuyocctdcffg

[@kevinscapegoat3719]

@@DRUCO316 fgcfcrf cvgcfuvy

[@WestPennFeistHunter]

You can tell Brian Kozminski's a real fisherman because his grass isn't mowed.

[@alexkoutdoor]

Lmao. Only mowed mine like 2 or 3 times all summer. Water..!!??? No don't put the sprinkler out, it will make the grass grow and need to be cut, screw that, I need to go fishin

[@riggin8097]

Steve's roastage is exponential throughout the episode. Love it.

[@mls01981]

Way to break the 4th wall Steve!!! I love how the Meateater production team can keep the same formula for each episode, yet make fun of it at the same time. The montage was the highlight of the episode!

[@fluffywarhampster]

i have to say steves narration on this episode is some of the most entertaining stuff i have ever heard on Das boat. i really enjoyed him playing up the comedy of a lot of the situation. great work meateater crew!

[@blakemcvey9315]

The fact that you’re from my local area and are showing all the historically known Michigan waters is incredible. Its like listening to an overview of what every guide and local angler has to tell you from each area. love every bit of this series.

[@patsyts4331]

Same here brother

[@matthewdunham5235]

Same here (Kalkaska)

[@MrSeeReed]

Absolutely agree (Petoskey)

[@johnroehrig3619]

Boyne city for me

[@cedricnora4481]

U.P. here, Ishpeming

[@leelandsinclair143]

Steve needs to sarcastically voice-over more of these. Not just Dos Boat.

[@L33CHW33D]

Yeah I thought it was fun!

[@joepiersma4768]

Love the subtle digs on fly fishing ;)

[@bbreede1]

We got some random dude who shows up. We've never seen him before and he doesn't say much.

[@MichiganAngling]

i’m working on the project to get grayling back in michigan. we gave the DNR our fish last year and they are currently working on making a brood stock. we will see grayling back in michigan within the next 5 years!!

[@josephgrandpre1761]

Do you know how different US graylings are, compared to europeans? If there is a difference of course, but i think there is some. Thanks, from France.

[@MichiganAngling]

@@josephgrandpre1761 Not too much difference, they have a slight variation in color and patterning, and the european grayling has spines in its dorsal and anal fins while spines are absent in arctic grayling. There is Arctic Grayling in Russia too, same as we have here. Arctic grayling also seem to grow longer, while european grayling seem to grow heavier. And another big difference we’ve noticed is that European grayling can coexist well with brown trout, (likely because they evolved together, occupying much of the same range) while arctic grayling seem to be regularly outcompeted and preyed upon by brown trout. (the introduction of rainbow trout and brown trout into michigan rivers contributed to their extirpation here), however, it appears arctic grayling do very well, if not better, when cohabitating with brook trout. I apologize if this is more info than you asked for, I got carried away. My dad is from Belgium, so I love France! Cheers from Michigan!

[@josephgrandpre1761]

@@MichiganAngling Thanks a lot, that's the kind of answer i like :) Actually you 're totally right, european grayling and brown coexist quite well here. I'm fishing the Seine river (the same Seine that you'll find in Paris, but a lot upstream. A LOT upstream, cristal clear water, sight fishing etc.) Due to fishing pressure, these fish are really, really tricky, you'll never see them taking a mice, neither a nymph bigger than a #18 hook. (during summer, i usually fish them on #22-24nymphs, and a sweet 10,5/100 fluorocarbon leader) There is also some black dots, that we can see on european graylings, but not on arctic ones. The biggest we can catch are in between 50 and 54 cm long, but the 54 are actually, like you said, very heavy and fat. Sometimes, one fish is a little longer, lke 56-57. I heard about arctic graylins, in Sweden for example, over 60. So youre explanations make sense, really. Cheers from bourgogne! And thanks a lot for this answer.

[@bryanjones14]

Have they figured out how to fix the issue with the fish imprinting ?

[@MichiganAngling]

@@bryanjones14 Yes, We’ve seen great success with remote streamside incubators in Montana. It contains the eggs in a flow through system at any streams/rivers we want them to imprint on. They will be implemented here to solve that issue. The issue they had before is that they would rear them at the hatchery using well water pumped from deep underground. The fish would imprint on this water and then out migrate to find their home waters, but obviously they would never succeed.

[@willalot]

I like when Steve roasts Yannis, best part.

[@gamgelservices]

Wow! Steve's voice over in this episode is down right magical. One of the best meat eater peoduced episodes ever. Thanks for bringing reality to fishing.

[@tabularasa820]

This episode is a view into Steve’s cynical and sarcastic side.

[@joefaulkner4746]

I had the same thought, but then Inoticed in the end credits that he didn't get a writing credit on this, like he does on Meateater episodes... which makes me feel a little cheated, tbh. I watch in large part because I enjoy and admire Steve's writing, but if he's just a VO actor, it feels different. What do you think?

[@D_A_D_]

@@joefaulkner4746 I feel like it was the writer's last day and he didn't give a shit lmao

[@Gatorraider]

I fished the ausable every year out of canoe harbor off m72 from 1990-2007.my father's ashes are in that river, and so is a peice of my soul. I've fished hex, bird moth, all up and down the manistee and ausable...when the milky way looked like you were in a space ship, used to make humps back on the north branch to. Wild nights, bears, UFOs, smoke on the water so thick at 4am you thought you stepped into the twilight zone, but sometimes that smack you heard wasnt a quality beaver, sometimesit was a good 20+ inch brown.. my souls there.

[@Randy_Savage_ohyeah]

Steve's commentary is hilarious!

[@cosmicbackwoods]

steve is salty as hell in this one lol

[@hardmanfishing]

I'm here for the Brown Trout!! Love this series! Edit: They didn't catch any...

[@annaSapphire360]

This is the best voice over Steve has ever done

[@flyingtriangle]

"When you hear a conversation like this you know the fishing sucks." Hahahah

[@rexfknwetzel7162]

They look like Step Brothers when they are building that frame to pull the motor

[@stegmandd]

"well, it sure wasnt from a lack of trying" i felt this in my soul

[@LawsonLindseyFishing]

these fishing videos get me so hyped!

[@carsonviers1922]

Lawson you should be on one of these episodes bud

[@Ellopez05]

Cool story bruh

[@jc7354]

Petition to get Steve and Lawson to go fishing

[@bmelton8520]

Yeah me too! I like how it reminds us that there is a whole lot more to fishing than just catching fish. Love watching your videos too!

[@Joel_Unbound]

I think your vids are better @Lawson - no joke.

[@matttcox71Tube]

Excellent commentating Steve! Made the episode 10X better.

[@Anthony-du3he]

This is such an amazing series. I absolutely love it. Going simple in a little old boat that has deep fishing roots and than modifying it to work in modern times,This is great! i hope these videos never end. I love the hunting series too but this is just something else. I have a 1973 aluminum v bottom that was sitting around for 20 years on my l grandfather inlaw land that he gifted to me thinking it was worthless. I have been restoring it and bringing it back to its former glory or better than. Last summer i got to enjoy the bay with a 20hp mercury and there is really nothing else like it. This really connects with me on many levels. Sure it has its limitations versus a big brand new center console. But so does the big center console. I can get up in the river with only about 24” of water and get to spots others cannot! Thankyou steve and your team for this👍

[@robgrubb420]

" a snappin turtle bonks his head on a log"... LOL! 18:13

[@24bdm]

I'm loving all of the Michigan content!

[@gregoryfuzi4745]

Michigan is a sportsman's wonderland. Hunting a fishing just about everywhere in the state.

[@gregoryfuzi4745]

I fished the river they are on au sable great river especially at the mouth were it dump's into lake Huron. You can get anything.

[@gregoryfuzi4745]

Got pictures to prove it.

[@jacobperleoni8549]

“A snapping turtle bangs it’s head on a log!”

[@dennyvillemure1088]

Hahahahahahaha best part.

[@senseiofsong]

I love the ever reconfigurable boat adventure series. I too grew up Michigander, and fishing in the various forks of the Au Sable River as well as Lake Saint Clair and the Great Lakes. Most of my Au Sable fishing was in the Roscommon area to Oscoda. Closer to Huron in Au Sable, I have caught smallies, largemouth, trout and salmon, northern pike, perch, rock bass, walleye and even suckers in the various forks and flooded backwaters of places like Foote Dam in Oscoda. When I left in the early 1990's the sea lamprey had started spawning in the Au Sable from Foote Dam downstream to Lake Huron, and they started poisening them, the fishing seemed to die then. When I was a kid in the 1970's there were so many salmon it seemed unbelievable. Also close to downtown Oscoda they deployed a weir and a net that routing fish to a capture tank, I think it was a canned fish company. That did not help the fishing either.

[@kylewinter8766]

"And Das boat just sits there all smug..." The narration on this episode was great.

[@justinmadair]

OMG!!! The glib narration!!!! I'm dying.

[@RP-ue9wy]

Best Steve narration so far.

[@brandonwinter1456]

Steve just roasting Yanni the whole time. Even got the editor in on it with that goofy music

[@amywernet577]

I am so happy about Steve narrating all of these. Thanks for all that you do xo

[@littlebustersoysters9229]

Ha. I loved the Steven Rinella voiceover commentary that trash talked the great Latvian Eagle. Hey, that's how fishing goes sometimes.

[@beereaters]

I just started fly fishing this summer and absolutely remember this week in Grayling. What a cool experience to see my insignificant area of the country highlighted like this. Hope y'all come back again!

[@brendandoyle8147]

As a Michigander I love that you are letting the world know how amazing our state is.

[@jakestever4757]

Steve, I’m a 19 year old currently restoring/customizing my first boat, a 1984 Bluefin 14’. This content is awesome and full of awesome ideas for someone like me. Thank you!

[@UplandAndOverland]

Great episode with an awesome Guide, and even better person!

[@tiddiesprinkles]

20:30 "a camp fire that just happens to be burning" We know you put some lighter fluid on that log lol

[@tightlinesflyshop]

Very well done again guys! From the looks of it season two will not disappoint.

[@BrianKozminski]

look forward to your episode- you know how much work goes into twenty minutes....

[@collinnorvell508]

I have to say, a smallmouth bass is much better than just a "big bluegill"

[@yumnammarconimeitei2702]

Eagerly waiting for Meateater Season9 the part 2.. The ending of the first part was definitely not expected

[@chimpy7267]

Same man. I wish the episodes were a hour long at least

[@JonZuliniak]

Yes but that season 9 episode 5 should be watched by every new hunter

[@peterupdikeswildtreasures4055]

Thank you for doing these youtube videos. I enjoy each and every one. Love the meateater and everything that inspires me to hunt and fish and get outside. Got all your books and I really enjoyed American Buffalo.

[@kckc5933]

Dope he got his kids involved btw 💪🏻🔥

[@BigBassDreams]

Here's a cute kid on an ice chest *softens the blow* 🤣 Great Episode!

[@garychiang2568]

Love this series so much. It’s so down to earth and fun which is what fishing is really about.

[@loganol1627]

I think thw coolest part of this group is the gifts they give when going somewhere to hunt or fish. I got watching the old south American episodes and every single local had a Benchmade. Not one of them was small either. So cool to see old tech and new used seamlessly

[@intellectualdegen]

I use to drink, tube, and fish Au Sable river growing up! Bringing back memories of Mccollom Lake campground, grouse hunting and trout fishing! Love it.

[@johnmonk4255]

Great episode Steve! I especially love the reality check regarding the BS us fisherman tell ourselves all the time! I’d love to see Dos Boat visit Minny this season!

[@kevinrenn9123]

Thanks for the video, I also grew up in MI and ended up in the west, last time I was in the Au Sable was my senior trip many moons ago. It was nice to see some fishing in my old stomping grounds

[@homegrownoutdooradventures2568]

Love the Das boat vids! Its more of my fishing tribulations lol. I can totally relate to all the guys struggles which makes the catches that much more memorable!

[@rabbitchaser101]

Great episode! The fact the meat eater crew was just a few miles away is awesome! And I could listen to Steve's narration all night!

[@gladebrosi6587]

I really enjoyed Steve’s commentary and the layout of the show. It was entertaining and funny and not predictable- that’s hard to do with an outdoor show. Good job fellas

[@stanleyshelby7460]

Thanks for sharing...how a cooler full of smallmouth ended the day, when starting out trout fishing. Thanks guys...

[@daltonsharpe]

This was sweet to see. I grew up on the AuSable and spend my summers in it 40 hours a week building trout habit, great episode 👌🏻

[@ChuckDuncan]

This is truly a great series to watch. Steven is beyond great at narrating

[@shelbysanchez1288]

Love this series! Even more because it started in my home state of Michigan! Keep em coming!

[@derekhoopes1904]

The narration from Steve on this episode is just perfect 👌

[@davidlang80]

You got to get more episodes on Netflix. Love your show Steve!!!

[@MatthewinGooseneck]

I am glad Mr Rinella is narrating.

[@eliaswreford4523]

I live on the south arm of Lake Charlevoix. (It’s next to Boyne.)“Yesterday the high was 90 degrees and sunny today it’s raining and 58 degrees.” Can confirm Michigan is Michigan.

[@BrianKozminski]

it was a brutal couple days to try the evening dry fly bite...

[@muskyman26]

Best outdoor series going! Soooo much potential. Even a season with multiple teams and multiple boats competitions

[@ELax98]

Lake Charlevoix... gotta be one of the most beautiful lakes in the whole country

[@TexasViking_INFP-t_5w4]

I'm glad I'm getting to watch season 2 of das boat

[@ehtikhet]

Ha! Steve’s narration is excellent! Brilliant episode guys!

[@fatbikerdude]

I really enjoy that they include their "failures". Just getting to go out and do the thing means it's not really a failure but an opportunity to enjoy the outdoors.

[@HPfishing_]

YES BOY!!! Just as excited, if not more, as the first episode of season 2 airing!

[@michaelpeterson7805]

I love the food scene....best part.

[@MrSeeReed]

Absolutely outstanding to see the MeatEater crew on my hometown rivers and lakes - I think that was Lake Charlevoix... In which case, too bad they didn't pull in a few perch. But so exciting regardless!

[@nemideergoon1844]

The Holy Waters of the Ausable are basically my back yard. I will admit living here is sometimes taken for granted. It takes me walking down the river steelhead fishing or walking a mile and half into the bush on this river to deer hunt for me to really appreciate what we have. Even living here you can caught up in the hustle and bustle. I've worked hard to figure out a living that could sustain me for a year while only working half the year so I can spend the other half in the wild. Anyone to visit this place, please leave it as you found it.

[@georgezgreek]

Stumbled on season 2 of das boat, didn't know there was one , happy days ;)

[@thomaskong5]

The narration was 12/10.

[@tylerjacob4698]

Pembine???!!!! Holy smokes! Im from Florence! Right in my wheel house. I actually use to fish the hex hatch or as we liked to call it "The Best Damn Time to go catch Crappies on the Pine River...Hatch" ;-) I can neither confirm nor deny 5 gallon buckets with limits of Black slabs. It was to the point that you would get sick of cleaning fish. Crazy Awesome! Love this brand, show, and message. Everything about the show and folks involved couldn't be more Intune with my inner beliefs and sheer love for the outdoors. The connection is REAL and Strong. Hooyah!

[@ethaneastman2785]

Awesome video! I’m from here in Michigan, and I’m starting my KZbin channel solely for fishing the beautiful state for all the species it has to offer!

[@dallasorr1794]

That is one of the best rivers not only to fish but kayaking and canoeing. I love living in Michigan

[@jarvyk2257]

I like Steve's attitude throughout this episode lol

[@bradlybrown1148]

So happy to see videos in my home state of michigan love going up and fishing for trout in the rivers up there cant waot to see more content you now have a mew subscriber

[@grandmasterjig2433]

Love this series keep up the great work fellas much love

[@mimicocto8]

Even though the trip was a bit of a bust, I love that the goal is to resurrect an older boat. Many of us part-time anglers can't afford those shinny new boats with all the cool gear and high horse power engines. But, we can afford something safe and functional. There's nothing wrong with older boats if you have patience, ingenuity, and a few bucks. Why let those old boats die and fade away if they can give someone else an opportunity at enjoying the outdoors? If you have and older boat, and you have a good friend or know someone who needs a boat, let it go "on the cheap". Encourage people to get out on the water, help them upgrade or even get started. You won't regret it.

[@Bornintheseat]

Steve's commentary on this episode is my favorite so far haha. Come to Canada Steve!

[@SCQT]

ahh i didnt even know you were from MI. Grayling area is one of my favorite places in the world, have had some great times on those rivers. The mayflies in that area are something else. Walking around is like the scene out of Temple of Doom.

[@jasonmiley2645]

My favorite episode yet. Mainly because of Steve's smart ass commentary.

[@jdmredteg]

This narration is straight fire Steve! Im rolling over here.

[@Exses3D]

"I think I'd feel the same about both"... Love that so much!

[@bellliberty4500]

I appreciate the self deprecating narration. It keeps the show from taking itself too seriously.

[@jamesiv960]

17:47- 18:42 was hilarious 😂 we need more of sarcastic condescending Steve

[@nickanderson4469]

McMasters launch i love it i fish the same holes the same way nice vid fellas

[@fabulous7567]

Love the voice overs from Steve Rinella. Had me laughing out loud.

[@chrome_is_gold]

Steve's narration is on point 😂

[@silentobserver9589]

Love the narration.. I'm hooked..

[@Filthy_PhilDance]

This series is so awesome. Hopefully you make it to my state.

[@michaelbidniss988]

I love how savage Steve is this whole time. He's my hero.

[@hegz1484]

Stunning :D Loved it!!! Next season a world tour??? haha Come get some back country trout here in NZ ;)

[@Abandoned_Brane]

i love fishing the giant michigan mayfly hatch. mousing at night is good on that river to.

[@craigmacfayden]

So many hate eating bass . I grew up eating both small and large mouth bass and it’s great eating. This video reminded me of a childhood fish fry. Thank you

[@oliveraustin3240]

Keep em coming 🇦🇺

[@vinmad6669]

Love this series steve ----- thank u bro Safe travels out there #peacelovehealthnhappines

[@oneeye1012]

Steve's commentary on this episode was hilarious!

[@HAIL-WAR.C]

I love it soooo much , I want to binge watch

[@vaughnblack4857]

This video makes me miss hunting and fishing in Michigan

[@jasonmk44]

i dont think ive ever laughed this hard at any show before. RIP to the random dude walking behind the cooler.

[@amoore4363]

This is great I appreciate everything the meat eater crew puts out