Paul Young's Cabin

Paul H. Young was a cane rod builder and fly-fishing pioneer from Detroit, MI. Trout Unlimited named the Detroit chapter after him. The Paul H. Young Chapter of Trout Unlimited is dedicated to helping sustain the fragile ecological balance which trout depend on. I was honored to have been given the opportunity to stay at his lodge last weekend, which is now called “Trafeh Lodge”.

Anyone who has ever been to the Au Sable knows its beauty. It truly is a fly-fisher’s paradise and deserves the name, “the holy water”. Paul and his wife Martha built the log cabin on the mainstream sometime in the early 1900’s. The soft light of the interior glows with knotty pine. The stone fireplace and living room was my favorite hangout. The sound of crackling wood fills the room. The smell of burning firewood and fine cigars drift through the air. The kitchen is spacious. The men all came together at the enormous dining room table for breakfast and dinner. “Doc”, the cook, served prime rib that rivaled any 5 star restaurant. The coffee was always hot. The wine was homemade and the perfect solution to warm the bones after a long wade down the river. The showers were hot. The beds were warm. The conversation was good.

Outside the lodge was just like any place in the northern Michigan woods, full of Pine, Birch, Aspen, Wild Cherry, Oak and Cedar. Who can argue that the finest music ever made comes from a cold trout stream? The bird feeder behind the cabin was the largest I’ve ever seen. Even the birds are treated to a feast at every meal. Chickadees, Nuthatches, bluejay and Juncos added to natures symphony.

It’s cast and blast season on the Au Sable.  Fly fish in the morning; bird hunt in the afternoon. But, I left my gun at home. Instead I cast streamers all day under a clear blue sky….which is not good streamer fishing weather. I didn’t complain. Who would? I also went fly fishing after dark under the moonlight. It was my very first attempt at wading the Au Sable at night. It was cold. I could see my breath…but not much else….only the shadows of trees in the night sky. It was a sensory experience like none other, casting blindfolded, feeling my way down river. The trout would not come out and play that night. I didn’t care. A hot fireplace and glass of wine was waiting for me at the cabin. The next day I floated down the South Branch in a 21′ Au Sable River drift boat. It was tricky to maneuver it through downed sweepers. The fishing was just as slow as the day before. But, I finally got to see the famous George Mason Chapel.

What a beautiful sight to behold. It is without a doubt the most beautiful Chapel I have ever seen. It is modest, simple, and sturdy and sufficiently provides a perfect perspective on God’s creation. It’s all I need. Give me the woods, Faith and George Mason‘s Chapel and I’m spiritually fulfilled.

A sincere thanks goes out to my fly fishing friend Sherm for taking me on this trip.  This winter I plan to create a woodcut for the lodge and Sherm.  It’s the least I can do.