The New Au Sable by Dave Jankowski and Thomas Buhr

Au Sable History Compilation Continues Legacy of Late Conservationist

TRAVERSE CITY, MICHIGAN—Michigan’s notoriety stands with its water, from the legends of the Great Lakes to the history that runs alongside currents of the rivers: including the Au Sable.

In homage to Rusty Gates’ The Old Au Sable, published in the early 1960’s, Dave Jankowski and Thomas Buhr have compiled a continued history of the tales of the river above the Upper Au Sable River above Mio Dam. This book highlights not just famous residents that live along the riverbanks, but two of the biggest events of the last 75 years: the 1947 Au Sable River Canoe Marathon and the Stephan Bridge Fire in 1990.

“Rusty Gates, the late conservationist and fly fisher who did so much to protect the Au Sable River, wanted to do an update of "The Old Au Sable." He passed before the project started. I took over the process and this book is the second in a trilogy of books on the history of the river,” Buhr detailed.

As a resident of the Au Sable Valley for over two decades, Buhr feels strongly about maintaining the truth carried through in these accounts of the river, and about spreading the message to as many as possible.

“I feel that we are losing touch with the past. In today's fast paced, high tech world people may know a lot about what is happening in any moment but there is a huge disconnect to what has come before. The past should be celebrated and there are many lessons to be learned from it.

Protecting History, Wildlife, and Wild Places

Having worked on this compilation intermittently since 2011, countless hours have been spent by the co-authors devoted to research and staying true to the river’s ecosystem and residents— of all species.

“We need to protect wild places such as the Au Sable River and understand what those who came before us tried to do in order for those places to still be here today. There is a deep love for the outdoors in the rural Midwest and it goes back to the foundation of these settlements.”

Jankowski and Buhr’s dedication to conservation and preservation of history has not gone unnoticed by early endorsements of the novel.

Advance Praise

“The Au Sable is a river of mysteries and long-practiced customs drifting downstream into the future through campfire storytelling and a precious few who invest the time to write it all down and store it away in mostly forgotten archives. Dave Jankowski and Tom Buhr know the Au Sable’s mysteries and customs better than most and have worked tirelessly to bring back to life so many of its legendary camps, anglers, and fly tyers. It is my annual custom to listen to Tom in some of his special bends of the river.” —John Bebow, retired founder of Bridge Magazine

“The Au Sable is among the most storied trout rivers in North America, so it’s no surprise to find this book bursting with stories about people who have shaped its modern history. The New Au Sable belongs on the bookshelves of every cabin and lodge on every branch of the river.” —Jerry Dennis, author of Up North in Michigan, The River Home, and others

The Authors

Dave Jankowski is a retired U.S. Air Force fighter pilot and Northwest Airlines captain with a passion for fly fishing, fly tying, and bamboo rod making. He volunteers with Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing and Bamboo Bend, where he serves as lead instructor. He lives in Traverse City, Michigan, with his wife, and enjoys time with their four daughters and eight grandchildren at their cabin on the Au Sable River. His previous book, The Venerable Fly Tyers, was released in 2022.

Thomas A. Buhr is a native Michigander and lifelong fishing enthusiast whose time in Florida inspired a passion for conservation. He has written for publications including Field & Stream, Florida Game & Fish, and Michigan Out-of-Doors, and is a former editor of The Riverwatch. A recipient of the Sierra Club’s Conservation Journalism Award, both of his books—The Outgoing and The Big Water—have earned silver medals in the Global Book Awards. When not writing or fishing, he follows the Leicester City Foxes, Michigan Wolverines, and Miami Dolphins.

The Book

The New Au Sable

Dave Jankowski and Thomas Buhr

400 pages, 6” x 9”, B/W

Nature / Michigan / Outdoor Sports and Fishing / Travel

ISBN: 978-1-968761-37-0, $37.95 (Hardcover)

ISBN: Softcover: 978-1-968761-38-7, $19.95 (Softcover)

Publication Date: Coming soon

Mission Point Press

Copies are available for preorder at Bookshop.org, Amazon, and other online retailers. On its publication date, it will be available for purchase wherever books are sold. For information or to arrange for signings and events, contact the author at tombuhr@prodigy.net.

.