As you may gather, fall in Colorado is, simply put, the best. And it's one of our favorite times to be on the water. Crisp mornings, golden leaves along the banks, cooler water. It's about as idyllic as outdoor settings get.

There's also a chance at a big fish. Specifically, a big brown trout.

For anglers, fall means spawning season. Big browns spend most of the year in the deep water of reservoirs and lakes: cool water, good cover, and an endless buffet. But as the rivers that feed those lakes cool down, the trout head upstream to spawn. The males change color, turning dark gold and butterscotch, and grow a hooked jaw called a kype. They get aggressive and territorial as the trout testosterone kicks in.

The biggest fish in the system are suddenly in small water, within reach of a fly rod. How big can they get? Colorado's record brown trout weighed over 30 pounds.

For a fish that seems so at home here, the brown trout is a relative newcomer. It's an import from the old world.

The earliest documented brown trout in Colorado came from England in 1885, shipped as eggs to a Denver hatchery. Then in 1890, U.S. Senator Henry M. Teller received a gift of brown trout eggs from Loch Leven in Scotland and donated them to the state. Around the same time, a Leadville hatchery was raising brown trout from Germany.

So the fish you catch today are a little bit English, a little bit Scottish, a little bit German. They've been making this fall run up Colorado rivers for well over a century now, and in plenty of places they've gone completely wild, which brings us to the most important part.

Fish It the Right Way

Next year's fish depend on this year's nests. Females dig those nests, called redds, in the gravel. They look like oval patches of clean, noticeably lighter gravel in shallow water. If you see fish holding still over one, often in pairs, leave them be. Fish the deeper runs and pools instead, where the browns stage before and after spawning, and walk around the redds, not through them. The eggs sit in that gravel all winter.

A Short Window

Like the leaves, the run doesn't last. Browns start moving in late September, and spawning runs from late October into December. After that, the big fish slide back into deep water and disappear for another year.

Well, the people have spoken. Loudly. Last week, I floated an idea: a list of trusted local pros, built entirely from your recommendations. It turned into our most-answered poll ever.

83% of you said you’d definitely use it. Another 15% said not only would you use it, but you’re ready to start sharing recommendations. Only 2% said no thanks. That’s 98% in favor, so the motion passes by a landslide. Message received.

Now comes the fun part: figuring out how to do this right, in a way that’s unique to our ethos and also valuable to everyone. We want this to feel like the Foothill Crew you’ve all come to know: curated, genuinely useful, and worth your time.

We’re working through the details now. Stay tuned.

Local foothills favorite, New Terrain Brewing, is taking their good brews and better views playbook and trekking out west. Specifically to Palisade on the Western Slope. The grand opening is this weekend, so next time you find yourself heading west along I-70, pop in and check it out.

Sure, Palisade is well outside the foothill. But we’ll always cheer on and support home grown businesses making big moves.

SUNRISE: 6:54 AM
SUNSET: 6:46 PM
FORECAST: Lots of rain inbound over the next few days, then perfect fall weather
BEST DAY TO GET OUTSIDE: Sunday

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The Mountainfilm Evergreen film tour rolls into Center Stage this Friday and Saturday evening for two nights of unique programming and inspiring short films, and special guest John McAfee of Western Exposure Fine Art. Check out the awesome lineup of short films here. Doors open at 5:30pm, show starts at 6:30pm. Only a few tickets remaining for each night, so get your tickets below:

Evergreen Farmers' Market, Evergreen- The original Tuesday market at Hiwan, 10 AM–2 PM. Fresh

Floyd Hill, Evergreen- Jeffco Mountain Bike Club Tuesday group ride, 5 PM. Shred

Green Mountain Brewery, Lakewood- Weekly Run Club, 6pm. Run, then beers

Center for the Arts, Evergreen- Art Bar: make fused glass plants, 6–8 PM. Get crafty

Golden- Golden Bike Cruise, zombie-themed, kegs tap at 5:30 PM and the ride rolls at 6:30 PM. Ride of the Living Dead

Clear Creek Makerspace, Wheat Ridge- Free public tour of the 7,500 sq ft shop, 12pm. Tinker

Golden History Museum, Golden- Author John Steinle on Colorado and the Silver Crash of 1893, 6–7:30 PM, $12. History nerds

Miners Saloon, Golden- Live music Wednesdays, 6-9pm.

Snowpack Taproom, Conifer- Open bluegrass jam, 6:30–9 PM. Pickin'

Downtown Idaho Springs- Ghost tour, 1.3 miles from Tommyknocker to the Argo, 7 PM. Spooky

Colorado Railroad Museum, Golden- Free admission day, 10 AM–3 PM. All aboard

Mountain Toad Brewing, Golden- Cheese Night with Cheese Ranch, 5–10 PM. Cheesy

Runners Roost, Golden- Social run club with snacks and a cold one after, 6 PM. Run club

BP Run Co, Wheat Ridge- Weekly run club, starting at 6pm. Lace ‘em up

New Terrain Brewing, Golden- Music by the Mesa: Dorado, 6–9 PM. Check it out

Buffalo Rose, Golden- HAIRAISER: big hair, big guitars, '80s rock, 7 PM. Don't Stop

Idaho Springs Cemetery- Cemetery ghost tour, 7 PM. Boo

Miner's Feast, Idaho Springs- Soups, stews and brews downtown with two stages of music, a pumpkin patch and free entry, 3–9 PM. Hearty

Western Exposure Fine Art, Kittredge- First Friday Art Opening, 4-7pm. Join us

Cheese Ranch Artisan Deli, Golden- Fondue Friday, 5pm. Yummy

Tommyknocker Brewery, Idaho Springs- Live music with David Barber and his bluesy folk rock, 5-7pm.

Buchanan Park, Evergreen- Opening weekend of the foothills' scariest haunted house, Fri and Sat. Rated PG-17. Scream

Miners Alley Performing Arts, Golden- Good Night, Oscar opens, 7:30 PM. Curtain up

Foothills Art Center, Golden- Golden Hour season finale with Allen Anderson & Friends , 6–8 PM. Golden Hour

Colorado Railroad Museum, Golden- Rails & Cocktails: stories of the Rocky Mountain Railroad Club, 7–9 PM, 21+. Choo choo

Colorado School of Mines, Golden- Homecoming Fall Festival 2:30–5 PM, then a bonfire on Q Lot 7–9 PM. Orediggers

Little Bear, Evergreen- Cass Clayton Band's "Fall Funk," doors 7 PM, show 8 PM. Funky

Golden- Golden’s Farmers Market - Final Saturday, 8am-1pm. Get the goods

Colorado School of Mines, Golden- Homecoming: 5K at 7 AM, street fair 8–10 AM, tailgate, then football vs. Black Hills State at noon. Go Diggers

Snowpack Taproom, Conifer- Saturday morning yoga, 10–11 AM. Stretch

Tony Grampsas Compex, Golden- 2nd Annual Golden Wine Festival, 11am-5pm. Tannins

Miner's Feast, Idaho Springs- Soups, stews and brews downtown with two stages of music, a pumpkin patch and free entry, noon–8 PM. Hearty

Holidaily Brewing, Golden- Monthly behind-the-scenes brewery tour, 3 PM. Tour

Rockland Church, Golden- Evergreen Chamber Orchestra 45th season opener, 3 PM. Bravo

Golden History Park, Golden- Autumn Fest with farm animals, big trucks, crafts, dancers and live music from Alibi, 10 AM–3 PM. Fall fun

The Golden Mill, Golden- 6th annual Oktoberfest with Neue Polka and stein-holding, noon–3 PM. Prost

Mountain Toad Brewing, Golden- Board Game Night, 5pm-close. Have fun

Golden Game Guild, Golden- Teach Me to Play Mondays, 6-9pm. Learn new games

New Terrain Brewing Co, Golden- Yoga on Tap 🧘 Yoga from 6-7pm, beers anytime. Get your ticket

Snowpack Taproom, Conifer- GABF week kicks off with East Coast vs. West Coast IPAs 4–9 PM, plus speed puzzling 6:30 PM. IPAs / Puzzles

Family day on the water

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See you around the next bend!