Fly Fishing Photography in Estes Park, Colorado

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

Photograph of a fly fisherman kneeling on ice while casting into the Big Thompson River near Estes Park, Colorado.

Estes Park Fly Fishing

Winter fly fishing near Estes Park, Colorado

Winter fly fishing - Estes Park, CO

Photograph of a fly fisherman netting a trout in Estes Park, Colorado

Winter trout fishing in Colorado

Rainbow trout caught in winter near Estes Park, CO

Rainbow Trout - Estes Park

Photograph of a fly fisherman in a snowstorm in Colorado

Fly fishing in the snow

Colorado winter fly fishing

Winter fly fishing in Colorado

Photograph of a fly fisherman crouching in the river to avoid being seen by fish

Colorado Fly Fishing

Photograph of a mallard swimming by a fly fisherman

Mallard

Photograph of a fly fsherman removing a hook from the mouth of a rainbow trout

Removing hook from Rainbow Trout

Black and white photograph of a fly fisherman in Big Thomson Canyon near Estes Park

Black and white photo of fly fishing in Estes Park

Long exposure photograph of water flowing on a river

Abstract river photograph

American Road Trip

Road Trip Photography - America - Open Road

Winter is such a special time in the West. Especially if you’re lucky enough to be in it when a massive snowstorm hits. Such was the case this past week in Wyoming where the snow never seemed to stop. I drove up there to do some shooting and for a backcountry snowboarding hut trip in the Tetons. Jackson Hole and the surrounding area never disappoint in the snow category. Snowboarding is my “selfish time”, meaning I generally put the camera away and just ride, so there are no images of powder to share. However, the image below made in Afton, Wyoming is a great example of the odd things you see while on the road that are only made possible by the hand of mother nature.

Winter in Afton, Wyoming

Road Trip Map

Mojo and I did it again. Another lap around the country filled with good times, foul weather, family, friends, and if all went even remotely well, a solid handful of images that I’m happy with. These trips never stop surprising me and hopefully they never do. Some days on the road you’ve got to scratch and claw to find just one decent frame. There were numerous times I asked myself “Is this America project done? Have I seen all there is to see?” Of course that’s complete nonsense. It was just frustration and exhaustion talking. A person could spend a lifetime traveling this great country and never see all it has to offer. The flip side is those days where you can’t seem to stop shooting. Those are a gift. You find that honey hole, you’re seeing really well, and the frames just start stacking up. That’s the best feeling in the world because you know it’s fleeting. You know it might not happen again for a couple days or 1,000+miles. There are so many factors at play that you can’t possibly pretend to know what’s going to happen out there. That’s the best part though. The not knowing. The hunt. It’s a drug.

Have a lot on the plate right now but will be going through this batch of images soon, so check back to see what I came up with out there.

Bishop, CA

Snowboarding is a very selfish act of mine. Aside from photography it’s the thing I love doing most in the world and the only activity where I allow myself to put the camera down. Went up to the Mammoth Lakes this past week to take advantage of the huge dump of snow they finally got and did a couple days of backcountry riding. The camera stayed in the bag except for the trip there and back. Made these two images just outside of Bishop, CA. Happy with them and happy to have made them. The snowboarding leaves me feeling extremely fulfilled, but I’d still feel guilty about being on the road without making any frames at all.

Click here to see more from my “America” series.

Silverton Mountain

Silverton Mountain in Colorado is unlike any other place you can ski/ride in the U.S. Think of it as the exact opposite of Vail. First of all, just getting there is a commitment, as it's about a 6.5 hour drive from Denver. The last part of the drive titled "The Million Dollar Highway" is about as much fun as you can have on a mountain pass. Switchback after switchback, with very few if any guardrails, and long steep drops off the side. The town itself is the kind of place you can see having gun fights in the street back in the day. That kind of town. Drive about 15 minutes out the back of town, and there is a parking lot. Next to the parking lot is a trailer with skis/snowboards piled on it. Next to that is a 2 person chairlift and a yurt for a lodge. That's it. No bougie villages with people wearing fur boots while sipping on a Hot Toddy. Just friendly people that want to ride. And all those people are earning there turns, because that 2 seater lift only goes 3/4 of the way up. From there, your guide leads you on a hike up ardigeline to the place he chooses for you to drop in. And did I mention that they are only open Friday-Sunday? Which means the snow piles up all week, so you're always getting fresh turns. On top of that, the guides section off the mountain, to keep things fresh for the next two days. The terrain is steep and technical. And fun. If you're a serious skier, you should get to Silverton. I loved it so much and wasn't even in great skiing shape when we were there. It was only my second day riding for the year, and I was just finishing up a month long cross-country road trip. Hell of a cap, but definitely wish I was in better shape. Either way, it was a great time, and I can't wait to go back in March. Did a little bit of shooting while I was there too. Hard not to. On day two, the light was so good, I didn't have a choose. It was partly cloudy, so the sun was peaking in and out of clouds. Creating some surreal conditions. Silverton rocks.