Chasing Trout and Capturing Moments: Fly Fishing the Big Thompson River

Rob Hammer November 9, 2024

Big Thompson River Fly Fishing Photograph

A Real Day on the Big T

The Big Thompson River has always felt like one of Colorado’s more underrated fisheries - quiet, accessible, and full of character. On this particular fall day, I was out on the water with a couple guides from Front Range Anglers - John Brown and Charlie Schaeffer, documenting what turned into a textbook session of Euro-nymphing. No setups, no staging, just real moments of passionate fly fisherman doing what they do best.

The river was clear and low, which made for sharp visuals and technical fishing. Golden leaves clung to the canyon walls, and every part of the vibe was a reminder of why people fall in love with fall fly fishing in Colorado.

Focused on the Details That Matter

I approach fly fishing photography the same way I approach a day on the water, with attention to the subtle things. The angle of the line during a drift, the tension in a cast, the texture of the rocks beneath the current. These photographs aren’t meant to glamorize the experience, but to reflect it honestly.

There’s a quiet rhythm to these canyon rivers, especially in the fall. That atmosphere - still, alert, and full of potential is what I try to capture in the frame. Whether it's the guide moving downstream with intent, or the landscape holding everything together in the background, the goal is always the same: make something that feels like what it was really like to be there.

H2: These Images Are Available for Licensing

If you’re working on a story or campaign that needs authentic fly fishing photography, something that shows real anglers in real environments - these images from the Big Thompson River are available for licensing. They’re a good fit for editorial features, conservation messaging, brand content, or anything that values credibility over cliché.

Get in touch - rob@robhammerphotography.com

Click here to view more of my fly fishing photography that is available for licensing

Click here to view my photo essay on Colorado fly fishing artist Martin Gerdin

Black and white photograph of fly fisherman on the Big Thompson River — Colorado Fly Fishing Photography

Photograph of fly fisherman and guide on the Big Thompson River — Fly fishing guides on the Big Thompson River

Colorado fly fishing photo for licensing — Fly Fishing in fall color in Colorado

Fly fishing in fall foliage — Fly fisherman walking through fall colors in Colorado

Black and white photo of a fly fisherman in Big Thompson Canyon — Fly fishing a canyon section of the Big Thompson River

Photograph of trout jumping out of the Big Thompson River — Rainbow trout jumping out of the river

Fly fishing photograph for licensing — Netting a Rainbow Trout on the Big Thompson River

Black and white portrait of a fly fishing guide — John Brown of Front Range Anglers having a laugh during a day on the river

Black and white photo of two fly fisherman walking up a river - available for licensing — Fly fishing guides from Front Range Anglers

Photograph of a fly fisherman and guide walking up a river in beautiful light — Looking for trout on the Big Thompson River

Photograph of a tree growing out of a rock along the Big Thompson River — Tree roots growing out of a rock

Photograph of a fly fisherman netting a large trout in a rugged setting on a river in Colorado — Charlie Schaefer netting a trout on the Big Thompson River outside Loveland, Colorado

Photograph of a fly fisherman holding a trophy trout on the Big Thompson River — A beautiful Rainbow Trout

Two fly fisherman walking through fall foliage on the Big Thompson River in Colorado — Fall colors in the river in Colorado

Black and white photograph of a fly fisherman holding a rod and reel on the river — Hardy fly rod and reel

Black and white photograph of a fly fishing guide in Colorado available for licensing — One handed

Photograph of a large trout in a net caught by a fly fisherman — Netting a large Rainbow Trout

A fly fisherman smiles while holding a trophy Rainbow trout — Trophy Trout - Colorado

Fly fisherman on the Big Thompson River in Colorado - Black and White Photography — Big Thompson River Fly Fishing

Close-up photograph of a fly fisherman's arm setting the hook on a trout — Setting the hook

Photograph of a Boulder, CO fly fishing guide on the Big Thompson River — A proper bend in the rod

Close-up photograph of a fly fisherman's hand holding a trophy rainbow trout — Won’t forget this one

Photograph of a Colorado fishing guide available for licensing — Charlie Schaefer - Front Range Anglers

Photograph of a fly fisherman trying to net a fish on the Big Thompson River — The big ones put up a good fight

Photograph of a beautiful rainbow trout caught on the Big Thompson River in Colorado — Textbook Rainbow Trout

Aerial view of a fly fisherman walking up river — Fly fisherman moving up river

Photograph of a fly fisherman netting a trout surrounded by fall colors in Colorado — Fly Fishing the Big Thompson River surrounded by fall color in Colorado

Alaska Fly Fishing Photography

Rob Hammer May 6, 2022

Alaska Fly Fishing - Drake Magazine

Fly Fishing Photography - Adventure - Culture

Another post about personal projects…….

If you’re a fly fisherman then you know The Drake for it’s exceptional photography and writing. So I’m very proud to say that this article you see from the latest issue contains not just my photographs but my words as well. A first for me. Beyond that I’m also grateful that the article is about my friend Zach Benson - an Alaskan fly fishing guide, hunter, duck decoy artist, father, and New York State Trooper. It would be hard to find something more satisfying than hanging out with a friend in Alaska and turning that experience into something like a magazine article, ad campaign, image license, etc. As my career goes on though, this type of thing has become a huge focus. Using my passion/skill as a means to help people I care about. People that deserve it. People as passionate about their craft as I am about mine. For many years I got paid to photograph famous athletes, which is really cool as a young photographer looking to make a name for himself. Then as time goes on you realize it’s all bullshit. And most of the time clients want to create boring images that will do nothing but sell a boring product. That’s not to say there aren’t some really great brands out there that are fun to shoot with. For the most part though, nobody wants to take any chances. They want to play it safe. I don’t know what the Drake’s circulation is? Minuscule when compared to that of a company with reach like the Nike’s of the world. Still though, I’d rather shoot this stuff 8 days a week. And just for the record, The Drake didn’t hire me to shoot this story on Zach. It was a self assigned project that I pitched to them and they bit. No pun intended.

Long live the personal project.

Click here to see more of my fly fishing photography

The Drake Magazine

Alaskan Fly Fishing Guide Zach Benson

Chasing Wild Fish - Fly Fishing Photography from Iliamna, Alaska

Rob Hammer April 3, 2022

Authentic Moments of Fly Fishing Adventure in the Remote Waters of Alaska

If you ever get the chance to fly fish in Alaska, don’t think twice, just go. It’s one of the last truly wild places left, and every trip feels like stepping back into a world untouched by time.

Up there, adventure isn’t a side note, it’s part of the deal. The rivers that hold the biggest rainbow trout, the brightest Dolly Varden, and the hard-fighting king and silver salmon aren’t lined with parking lots or lodges. They’re remote, winding through endless stretches of wilderness where the only way in is by float plane. You lift off from the lodge in Iliamna, and before long, you’re flying low over dense forests, braided rivers, and snow-dusted peaks, searching for a sliver of water that could be the site of your next great story.

When that plane skids to a stop on a remote lake or river bend, it’s just you, your gear, and the wild. No roads. No crowds. Just the sound of the current and maybe the distant call of a bald eagle overhead.

Of course, you’re not the only one fishing those waters. Spend enough time wading a remote Alaskan river, and you'll likely be forced out by a grizzly or two doing a little fishing of their own. It's humbling, to say the least. Encounters with bears are a part of the experience — a sharp reminder that you're a visitor in their kingdom. Give them space, respect their presence, and you’ll walk away with stories that last a lifetime.

The fishing itself is nothing short of legendary. Big, bruising rainbow trout that crush mouse patterns in the twilight hours. Dolly Varden dressed in their fall colors, flashing pink and orange like living jewels. Silvers leaping clean out of the water, their sides flashing like mirrors. And kings — heavy, relentless, and every bit as powerful as you’ve heard.

But beyond the fish, it's the feeling that hooks you the hardest. Standing waist-deep in a crystal-clear river, surrounded by wilderness that stretches to the horizon in every direction, you realize Alaska offers something rare: true solitude. True connection to the wild. No cell service. No distractions. Just you, the river, and the fish.

If you’re looking for something more than just another fishing trip — if you want an adventure that shakes you up, fills your lungs with clean air, and leaves you with memories stamped deep into your soul , Alaska’s remote rivers are the answer.

Click HERE to see more of my fly fishing photography.

Click HERE to shop my fly fishing prints and contact me directly about licensing these Alaska fly fishing photographs for editorial or commercial usage