Angling Publications - Index

Angling Publications - may2008 - Index

to large, flat stretches of lazy, freestone stream, to beaver ponds and
small, manmade lakes full of hungry trout. The lower part of the
stream runs primarily through privately owned properties, but there
are public access points along the way. If you hire a guide, most of
them have access to private parts of the creek.
Big Blue Creek
Located high in the mountains north and west of Lake City, Big
Blue Creek is my favorite brook trout stream. To get there, it’s handy
to have a 4x4 of some kind, though the road—Alpine Forest Service
Road 868—is passable to a high-clearance, 2-wheel drive vehicle. The
road winds its way up through the aspen, pine, and blue spruce, finally
topping out at an elevation of about 10,500 feet before falling away
into the picturesque valley of the Big Blue. This is the place to go if you
want to catch a lot of trout—primarily brook trout—but don’t mind if
they are small. This is the place to try out that new 2-weight rod you’re
so proud of, or to introduce your kids to the wonders of fly fishing.
The best dry flies here in the summer are Adams, blue-winged olives,
light Cahills, and elk hair caddis in sizes 16 to 20. These are the least
selective fish I have ever seen, but it never pays to get too complacent.
While I prefer to fish a dry fly, I must admit that a dry-and-dropper
rig, with a nymph like a zug bug, gold-ribbed hare’s ear, or bead-head
pheasant tail suspended a foot to 18 inches under your dry fly will take
a lot of fish when they are reticent to bite a dry fly.
Take plenty of water and a lunch when you go to Big Blue Creek;
it’s a rather long trip from Lake City and it’s simply not feasible to
run back into town for lunch or something to drink. Also, easy access
to the creek is very limited. The road runs near the creek for a short
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