A Fly Fishing Photo Essay from the Colorado Front Range

Fly Fishing in Estes Park, Colorado

I’ve spent a lot of happy time over the years fishing and photographing rivers in Colorado, and the water around Estes Park always pulls me back. The Big Thompson River, especially as it cuts through the Front Range, has a way of offering both challenge and calm in the same stretch of water. It’s not flashy fishing. It’s honest, technical, and deeply tied to the landscape.

This series was photographed in and around Estes Park, focusing on fly fishing along the Big Thompson River under real conditions. No staging, no models—just anglers working the water as the light shifts through the canyon. I’m interested in the quieter moments: the pause between casts, the scale of a person against the river, and the way fly fishing becomes part of the place rather than something imposed on it.

As someone who fishes as much as I photograph, that authenticity matters to me. Fly fishing has always been as much about paying attention as it is about catching fish. The rhythm of the river, changing weather, and the subtle decisions made on the water are what shape the experience—and that’s what I try to reflect in the photographs.

The Big Thompson River & the Front Range

The Big Thompson is one of those rivers that demands respect. Flows can change quickly, access varies by stretch, and the canyon funnels light in ways that keep things visually interesting throughout the day. Fishing here requires patience and adaptability, which makes it a rewarding place to photograph as well.

These images were made during typical Front Range winter conditions— cold mornings, overcast skies, and snow storms coming in and out. Rainbow and brown trout are the primary species in this stretch, and the river supports a strong dry-fly and nymph fishery depending on the season.

Photographing Fly Fishing in Real Conditions

I photograph fly fishing the same way I fish it: simply and without shortcuts. Natural light only, real anglers, and real water. I’m drawn to compositions that show how small gestures—mending a line, stepping into current, watching a drift—fit into a much larger landscape.

From a photography standpoint, the Big Thompson offers a balance of intimacy and scale. You can work tight when the moment calls for it, or pull back and let the river and canyon do the talking. That balance is important to me, especially when creating imagery that needs to feel timeless and usable across different editorial and commercial contexts.

Image Licensing Applications

The photographs in this series are available for editorial and commercial licensing. They are well suited for:

Editorial features and long-form stories on fly fishing and the American West
Outdoor and fly-fishing brands
Tourism and destination marketing for Estes Park and Northern Colorado
Conservation and public-lands organizations
Lodges, outfitters, and guide services
Digital and print campaigns seeking authentic outdoor imagery

All images were created on location and are grounded in real use, real places, and real moments on the water.

Photo Licensing Inquiries

If you’re an editor, brand, agency, or organization interested in licensing images from this series, I’m happy to provide selects, usage details, and rates.

Contact: rob@robhammerphotography.com

Additional fly fishing and outdoor lifestyle photography can be viewed in the main portfolio on my website.

View More: Rocky Mountain National Park Fly Fishing