.sf-co{–ink:#1C1F22;–deep:#43484D;–teal:#563A86;–mist:#F1F0EC;–foam:#FAFAF8;–lure:#F2C14E;–lure-ink:#3A2A00;–line:#DEDCD5;–muted:#4E5257}.sf-co .sf-hero{background-color:#43484D;background-image:radial-gradient(860px 500px at 4% 100%,rgba(242,193,78,.34),rgba(242,193,78,0) 62%),radial-gradient(720px 440px at 96% 0%,rgba(244,246,250,.22),rgba(244,246,250,0) 60%),linear-gradient(160deg,#5A5F64,#43484D 46%,#1E2124);clip-path:polygon(0 0,100% 0,100% calc(100% – 30px),93% calc(100% – 58px),86% calc(100% – 26px),79% calc(100% – 50px),71% calc(100% – 12px),62% calc(100% – 46px),55% calc(100% – 20px),46% calc(100% – 62px),37% calc(100% – 18px),29% calc(100% – 40px),21% calc(100% – 8px),12% calc(100% – 44px),5% calc(100% – 22px),0 calc(100% – 36px));padding-bottom:92px}.sf-co .sf-hero::before{background:linear-gradient(80deg,rgba(28,31,34,.86) 0%,rgba(28,31,34,.56) 50%,rgba(28,31,34,.30) 100%)}.sf-co .sf-eyebrow{border-radius:3px;background:#1C1F22;color:#FBE7B4;border-bottom:3px solid #F2C14E;padding:5px 13px 3px;letter-spacing:.09em}.sf-co .sf-hero .sf-sub{color:#F1F1EE}.sf-co .sf-hero .sf-credit{background:rgba(17,19,21,.64);padding:3px 9px;border-radius:3px;color:#F1F1EE}.sf-co .sf-hero[style*=”background-image”]::before{background:linear-gradient(98deg,rgba(28,31,34,.90) 0%,rgba(28,31,34,.66) 46%,rgba(67,72,77,.32) 80%,rgba(67,72,77,.16) 100%),linear-gradient(0deg,rgba(18,20,22,.72),rgba(18,20,22,0) 50%)}.sf-co .sf-bar{background-color:#1C1F22;background-image:radial-gradient(560px 230px at 4% 100%,rgba(242,193,78,.22),rgba(242,193,78,0)),linear-gradient(100deg,#1C1F22 40%,#4A4F55)}.sf-co .sf-bar p{color:#E8E8E4}.sf-co .sf-band–white,.sf-co .sf-band–white:nth-of-type(even){background-color:#fff;background-image:radial-gradient(900px 520px at 4% 8%,rgba(86,58,134,.10),rgba(86,58,134,0) 64%),radial-gradient(780px 470px at 96% 94%,rgba(242,193,78,.34),rgba(242,193,78,0) 62%),radial-gradient(640px 400px at 50% 50%,rgba(222,220,213,.30),rgba(222,220,213,0) 62%),linear-gradient(135deg,#FFFFFF,#FAFAF7,#EFEEE8)}.sf-co .sf-band–white:nth-of-type(even){background-image:radial-gradient(900px 520px at 96% 8%,rgba(86,58,134,.10),rgba(86,58,134,0) 64%),radial-gradient(780px 470px at 4% 94%,rgba(242,193,78,.34),rgba(242,193,78,0) 62%),linear-gradient(225deg,#FFFFFF,#FAFAF7,#EFEEE8)}.sf-co .sf-band–mist{background-color:#F1F0EC;background-image:radial-gradient(860px 520px at 8% 8%,rgba(242,193,78,.34),rgba(242,193,78,0) 64%),radial-gradient(720px 460px at 92% 94%,rgba(86,58,134,.12),rgba(86,58,134,0) 62%),linear-gradient(160deg,#F7F6F2,#F1F0EC,#E4E2DA)}.sf-co .sf-band–deep,.sf-co .sf-band–ink{color:#F1F1EE}.sf-co .sf-band–deep{background-color:#3D4247;background-image:radial-gradient(900px 540px at 92% 6%,rgba(244,246,250,.10),rgba(244,246,250,0) 62%),radial-gradient(800px 500px at 6% 94%,rgba(242,193,78,.16),rgba(242,193,78,0) 62%),linear-gradient(200deg,#4C5156,#3D4247,#272A2D)}.sf-co .sf-band–ink{background-color:#1C1F22;background-image:radial-gradient(900px 540px at 8% 6%,rgba(86,58,134,.34),rgba(86,58,134,0) 62%),radial-gradient(760px 480px at 94% 96%,rgba(242,193,78,.12),rgba(242,193,78,0) 62%),linear-gradient(200deg,#272A2E,#1C1F22,#111315)}.sf-co .sf-band–deep .sf-src,.sf-co .sf-band–ink .sf-src{color:#DADAD5}.sf-co .sf-band–deep .sf-head p,.sf-co .sf-band–ink .sf-head p,.sf-co .sf-cta p{color:#E9E9E5}.sf-co .sf-band–deep .sf-card p,.sf-co .sf-band–ink .sf-card p,.sf-co .sf-band–deep .sf-fact span,.sf-co .sf-band–ink .sf-fact span{color:#E4E4E0}body.sfs .sf-co .sf-band–deep .sf-list li span,body.sfs .sf-co .sf-band–ink .sf-list li span{color:#E9E9E5}body.sfs .sf-co .sf-band–mist .sf-list a:not(.sf-btn),body.sfs .sf-co .sf-band–white .sf-list a:not(.sf-btn){color:#4A2F78}body.sfs .sf-co .sf-band–mist .sf-list li>span,body.sfs .sf-co .sf-band–white .sf-list li>span{color:#4B4F54}.sf-co .sf-barrow .t{background:linear-gradient(90deg,#563A86,#9A86C2)}.sf-co .sf-band–deep .sf-barrow .t,.sf-co .sf-band–ink .sf-barrow .t{background:linear-gradient(90deg,#D9A22E,#F2C14E)}.sf-co .sf-pill{background:#ECE8F3;color:#2E2346}.sf-co .sf-btn:hover{background:#F7D682}.sf-co .sf-card-img,.sf-co .sf-tile{background-color:#43484D}.sf-co .sf-q p{color:#2E3135}.sf-co .sf-band–deep .sf-kicker,.sf-co .sf-band–ink .sf-kicker,.sf-co .sf-band–deep .sf-fact b,.sf-co .sf-band–ink .sf-fact b{color:#F7D682}.sf-co .sf-kicker{color:#563A86}.sf-co .sf-pf-card h3{color:#1C1F22!important}.sf-co .sf-band–deep .sf-btn–ghost,.sf-co .sf-band–ink .sf-btn–ghost{border-color:rgba(255,255,255,.48);background:rgba(17,19,21,.38)}body.sfs .sf-co .sf-band–deep a:not(.sf-card):not(.sf-tile):not(.sf-btn),body.sfs .sf-co .sf-band–ink a:not(.sf-card):not(.sf-tile):not(.sf-btn){color:#F7D682}.sf-co .sf-tablewrap{color:#1C1F22;border-color:#DEDCD5}.sf-co .sf-table td{color:#1C1F22}.sf-co .sf-table th{background:#43484D;color:#fff}.sf-co .sf-table tr:nth-child(even) td{background:#F5F4F0}body.sfs .sf-co .sf-tablewrap a,body.sfs .sf-co .sf-band–deep .sf-tablewrap a:not(.sf-card):not(.sf-tile):not(.sf-btn),body.sfs .sf-co .sf-band–ink .sf-tablewrap a:not(.sf-card):not(.sf-tile):not(.sf-btn){color:#4A2F78}.sf-co .sf-band–deep .sf-q,.sf-co .sf-band–ink .sf-q{background:rgba(255,255,255,.07);border-color:rgba(255,255,255,.18)}.sf-co .sf-band–deep .sf-q p,.sf-co .sf-band–ink .sf-q p{color:#ECECE8}body.sfs .sf-co .sf-band–deep .sf-faq .sf-q p,body.sfs .sf-co .sf-band–ink .sf-faq .sf-q p,body.sfs .sf-co .sf-band–deep .sf-q h3,body.sfs .sf-co .sf-band–ink .sf-q h3{color:#FFFFFF}body.sfs .sf-co .sf-band–deep .sf-pill a:not(.sf-card):not(.sf-tile):not(.sf-btn),body.sfs .sf-co .sf-band–ink .sf-pill a:not(.sf-card):not(.sf-tile):not(.sf-btn),body.sfs .sf-co .sf-pill a{color:#4A2F78}.sf-co .sf-band–deep .sf-card .sf-more,.sf-co .sf-band–ink .sf-card .sf-more{color:#F7D682}.sf-co .sf-bar .sf-crumbs,.sf-co .sf-bar .sf-crumbs span,body.sfs .sf-co .sf-bar .sf-crumbs a{color:#FFFFFF}.sf-co .sf-note{color:#1C1F22}body.sfs .sf-co .sf-note a{color:#4A2F78}@media (max-width:760px){.sf-co .sf-hero{clip-path:polygon(0 0,100% 0,100% calc(100% – 18px),88% calc(100% – 34px),76% calc(100% – 12px),62% calc(100% – 32px),50% calc(100% – 6px),37% calc(100% – 30px),24% calc(100% – 10px),12% calc(100% – 28px),0 calc(100% – 14px));padding-bottom:62px}}

Colorado trout streams

Big Blue Creek Fishing

A Colorado stream in Gunnison County.

Get driving directions

Pick for salmonPiscifun Viper X spinning reel50% OFFSale $39.99 ~~$79.99~~

Photo of Ridgway Reservoir: Unknown, CC BY-SA 4.0

Colorado streams

Getting to know the Big Blue Creek

The Big Blue Creek cuts its stream channel across Gunnison County. Lake City is the closest Census place to the channel, roughly 12 miles away.

Open ground along it includes Uncompahgre Wilderness Area.

1counties

0USGS gauges

0atlas access points

0ramps

CPW Fishing Atlas 2025 layers (special-regulation, Gold Medal and fishing location layers), NHD flowlines, Census places, retrieved October 25, 2026.

Directions to the Big Blue Creek

Public access

Public access on the Big Blue Creek

Uncompahgre Wilderness AreaWilderness

Colorado law gives no right to wade through private land, so stay on public parcels of the Big Blue Creek.

CPW Fishing Atlas fishing location property names and Quality Waters access notes, retrieved October 25, 2026.

Access

Finding the Big Blue Creek

No ramp or atlas location sits on the Big Blue Creek; reach it from public land and road crossings with care for private banks.

Ramps a short tow from the Big Blue Creek

Lake Fork boat ramp on Blue Mesa ReservoirBlue Mesa Reservoir, 19 miles
Dutch Charlie boat ramp on Ridgway ReservoirRidgway Reservoir, 19 miles

CPW boat ramp and Fishing Atlas fishing location layers, USGS gauges, retrieved October 25, 2026.

Limits

Bag limits on the Big Blue Creek

Species	Bag and possession	Season
Trout, arctic char, grayling, salmon and whitefish (not kokanee)	Daily bag 4, possession 8, in aggregate	Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise
Brook trout 8 inches or less (bonus)	Daily bag 10, possession 10	Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise
Kokanee salmon	Daily bag 10, possession 10	Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise
Walleye, saugeye and sauger	Daily bag 5, possession 5, in aggregate	Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise
Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass	Daily bag 5, possession 5, in aggregate	Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise
Smallmouth bass	No bag or possession limit	Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise
Channel, flathead and blue catfish	Daily bag 10, possession 10, in aggregate	Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise
Yellow perch	No bag or possession limit	Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise
Northern pike and bullhead	No bag or possession limit	Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise

On the CPW drainage map, the Big Blue Creek lies west of the Continental Divide. Colorado streams stay open all year; on the Big Blue Creek the bag is the variable.

Colorado sells no separate trout stamp; a CPW fishing license covers trout ($44.87 for adult residents, $124.01 for nonresidents), and anglers 16 and older need one.

Statewide bag and possession chart, 2026 Colorado Fishing brochure (CPW, season March 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027), p. 10, retrieved October 25, 2026. All Colorado limits.

For the salmon herePiscifun AlumiX spinning reel46% OFFSale $64.99 ~~$119.99~~

Nearby

Neighbors of the Big Blue Creek

Colorado lakes in the Big Blue Creek neighborhood

Rowdy Reservoir9 miles
Silverjack Reservoir9 miles
Cooper Lake15 miles
Lake San Cristobal16 miles

Fly shops and bait stores around the Big Blue Creek

Eik Creek Marinamarina, Gunnison, 18 miles
Lake Forkmarina, Gunnison, 19 miles
Ridgeway Marinamarina, Ouray, 19 miles
RIGS Fly Shop & Guide Servicefly shop, Ridgway, 21 miles
Elk Creek Marinamarina, Gunnison, 22 miles

Paid guides within reach of the Big Blue Creek

Crested Butte Angler LLCfishing guide, Crested Butte
Gunnison Valley Anglers Cofishing guide, Gunnison River, Gunnison
High Mountain Drifters Guide Service, LLCfishing guide, Gunnison
Dragonfly Anglers, LLCfly fishing guide, Crested Butte

Communities within reach of the Big Blue Creek

Ridgway20 miles
Telluride29 miles
Mountain Village31 miles
Montrose32 miles

Creeks around the Big Blue Creek

Fall Creek, Gunnison County3 miles
Little Cimarron River4 miles
East Fork Cimarron River6 miles
Middle Fork Cimarron River8 miles

the Big Blue Creek and the counties around it

Gunnison County

Piscifun

A Piscifun kit for days on the Big Blue Creek

Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.

Know your fish

Telling the species of Big Blue Creek apart by photo

Rainbow Trout, Colorado — Rainbow Trout
Photo: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District, Public domain

Brook Trout, Colorado — Brook Trout
Photo: United States Fish and Wildlife Services, Public domain

Walleye, Colorado — Walleye
Photo: Virginia State Parks staff, CC BY 2.0

Channel Catfish, Colorado — Channel Catfish
Photo: Cliff from Arlington, Virginia, USA, CC BY 2.0

Answers

Planning notes for the Big Blue Creek

Where would I look for the Big Blue Creek on a Colorado map?

Its Colorado basin takes in Gunnison County.

Is the Big Blue Creek Gold Medal?

Statewide limits cover its trout.

Does a USGS station report flows on the Big Blue Creek?

No gauge reports for it.

Is the Big Blue Creek mostly private?

Public access: Uncompahgre Wilderness Area.

Is the Big Blue Creek flies and lures only?

Trout, arctic char, grayling, salmon and whitefish (not kokanee): Daily bag 4, possession 8, in aggregate.

Can an out-of-state visitor buy a license for the Big Blue Creek?

Colorado sells no separate trout stamp; a CPW fishing license covers trout ($44.87 for adult residents, $124.01 for nonresidents), and anglers 16 and older need one.

Is there a fly shop near the Big Blue Creek?

Drive 18 miles to Eik Creek Marina.

Which species does CPW list for the Big Blue Creek?

Its fish are not listed.

Which Colorado town sits nearest the Big Blue Creek?

Base yourself in Lake City, roughly 12 miles away.

Put the Big Blue Creek on this season's list

Flows and rules are on this page; check both.

Colorado rivers License and limits