Colorado - Photography

If you’re looking for a special place to fly fish and have considered the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, just do it. Just go. Stop screwing around and do it. Be warned though, it’s not for everyone. You’ve got to like getting your ass kicked. We did the S.O.B Draw route, and don’t mind saying it’s a tough hike with a full pack. Technically you can’t even call it a hike because there is no path, just a scramble the whole way up and down, with several places that will require taking off your pack just to get down those sketchy sections. They say it’s 2.1 miles with 2,000 ft of elevation, but it seems like that’s just to where the “trail” hits the river. From there you’ll need to keep following the river to find the designated camping spots. If you’re a psycho, you could make it a day trip, but what the hell is the point of that? We did 2 nights and wished for a 3rd.

Cheesman Canyon Fly Fishing Photography – Prints & Licensing

That old saying, “you get what you put in,” always seems to ring true with fly fishing — especially in Cheesman Canyon. Some folks only fish a couple of minutes from their truck, others hike deep into the canyon for solitude, but no matter how far you go, the river has a way of revealing something new.

The South Platte River in Cheesman Canyon, Colorado is a local favorite for anyone living in the Denver/Boulder area and a destination for people flying in from out of town, for good reason, it’s got great fishing and incredible views. As a photographer it’s one of my favorite places to shoot. The canyon walls, shifting light, and relentless water create a stage that’s never the same twice. These photographs are my attempt to capture that feeling — part of an ongoing collection that’s available as fine art prints and for licensing to magazines, brands, and editors.

Why Cheesman Canyon Inspires Me

Standing knee-deep in the South Platte, you start to feel the rhythm of the place. You have to work to get there and landing fish is never ever a given. A cast that feels ordinary in tamer water takes on a different kind of weight here. Photographing it is no easier — reflections, shadows, and current can ruin a frame in a second.

But that’s why it’s worth it. The challenge makes the images stronger, and the story behind them richer.

Moments from the River — Cast, Water, Light

Every frame I made here comes back to the thing I hold in the highest regard when it comes to fly fishing photography, and that’s authenticity. I photograph real people really fly fishing for real fish. None if it is posed or planned out. Each photograph is a reminder that Cheesman Canyon demands patience. Both from the fisherman, and from the photographer.

How These Images Work for Brands, Magazines & Editors

These aren’t just personal snapshots — they’re images built for storytelling.

They work especially well for:

Magazines & editorial features on fly fishing, conservation, or outdoor life.
Gear & apparel brands needing authentic lifestyle and environment shots.
Travel and adventure outlets highlighting Colorado’s rivers and landscapes.
Lodges, outfitters, and conservation groups looking for fine art displays.

Every client’s needs are different — usage territory, exclusivity, duration, and medium all shape licensing. If you’re building a feature, campaign, or branded content and need images from this series, just reach out.

Behind the Lens: Gear, Challenges & Intent

Cameras don’t like rushing water, and neither do tripods in slick current. But the mistakes — falling in, missing a cast — are part of why I keep coming back.

I look for the action, but just as important are the moments between action. The way light reflects off a canyon wall, or the way an angler waits with rod tip down. Sometimes the strongest images come after the catch, when the canyon quiets down again.

That’s what I try to photograph — not just the fish, but the entire experience of being there.