I personally consider myself more of a stream hiker or river walker than a fisherman. However, I have found it is easier to get people to walk streams with me if we are also fishing. I also enjoy the meditation of the fly fishing movement. These days I do more fishing with a Tenkara rod than a traditional rod but it is all mostly the same. It is just smaller and less effort to use for a quick session.
I mostly stick close to town but Big Blue is worth the drive. It is a beautiful stretch of valley and can be hiked or fished. The trail is about 10 miles. You could make a fishing and backpacking adventure out of it. You could follow it up to Uncompahgre and sac a 14er. I have a soft spot for loops when backpacking and this would make a fun one. You could travel the valley on the way in and the ridge on the way back.
All this to say that it is a pretty hike and a wonderful place to fish. I assume it is stocked because there are plenty of fish in the river and the marshy ponds.
I will give away all my secrets here. I am not a great fisherman because I do not have a great memory for things like fish or flies. I am also not that dedicated to catching the big one. I get bored fishing lakes and ocean waves make me sick (in a boat but not on a board for some reason). BUT I love a beautiful stream and here is the fly combination I always use: I fly something that is or looks kind of like parachute adams (whatever size) and then I drop a bead-head pheasant-tail nymph about a foot and a half off of it. That is it. If I run out for some reason, I will put whatever else I have on the line indiscriminately and kind of hope I lose it. I am sure this combo is never perfect but I find it good enough for me and I do not have to think about it. If you happen to have a better combo I should use for the second half of my life, let me know sometime and I will switch.
I will try to post a bunch of other options close to town but thought I would start with this highlight.
