Fall is the time of year the brown trout spawn!
Fun facts are below!
How do you know if a trout is actively spawning?
Trout will spawn in shallow water with smaller rocks. They clear the moss of the rocks with their bodies in an exhausting effort to make a clean bed (or “redd” if you want to use technical terms. ) You can see these clean spots fairly easily on the Eagle River as we have a solid covering of moss on our rocks, so the clean spots will really stick out.
When do rainbow trout spawn?
The Rainbows spawn in the springtime!
Is it ok to fish right now?
Yes! Just be mindful and leave those spawning fish sitting on the redds alone! They are in a delicate process and using A LOT of energy. Definitely don’t step on their redds. You can absolutely fish in deeper runs and riffles. As with all fish, handle them with a quick and gentle touch!
How do trout spawn, exactly?
The female trout deposits eggs onto the redd and then leaves the male to fertilize the redd. This redd is then fiercely guarded by the male trout. It is not uncommon to see other fish fighting over a spot on the redd. Trout will eat each other’s eggs and can become quite aggressive for the easy meal. Other fish often sit downstream the redd waiting for easy eggs to wash down.
What other fish spawn in the fall?
Rocky Mountain Whitefish! You can catch some big ones this time of year, although it is a little less common as the whitefish feed off of the bottom. Whitefish are a native Colorado fish and they definitely put a bend on a fly rod!
Do trout move upstream when they spawn?
Yes! Most of the summer fish are spread out along the healthy parts of the river and “holed up” in their areas. They are trying to get fat and not spending many calories on swimming or moving. In contrast to summer behavior; in the fall, the browns and whitefish are definitely moving upstream with a spawning mission in mind. That’s why we see some bigger fish this time of year come up from the lower Eagle. And the shallow water makes it easier to hook into the bigger ones too.
Fall is a fantastic time to get out and enjoy the river! It’s quiet on the river, the fish are happy with the colder temperatures, mayflies and midges are all over the place, and there are certainly some big fish being caught right now. Let us show you the best pools and pockets, tie your flies, and keep the fun moving while you’re out fly fishing. Call Anderson’s Fish Camp at (970) 376-0002 to book a guided trip and make some fall memories! Andersonsfishcamp.com for more information.