Fly Fishing the Big Thompson River

If you’re a fly fisherman living in or visiting the Denver/Boulder area, then you’re a happy person. The diverse river access within 30 minutes to a couple hours is incredible. A couple weeks ago I was out shooting on a stunning section of the Big Thompson River outside of Loveland, Colorado with a couple guides from Front Range Anglers - John Brown and Charlie Schaefer. Both really solid guys and extremely talented/knowledgable about everything fly fishing. If you’re in need of a guide, give their shop a call. They’ll take good care of you.

The day we went out was their day off, so they were checking out a particular section of the Big Thompson to see how it was fishing, to know whether or not it was worth bringing clients there. As things turned out, the river was fishing great! John and Charlie both got into a lot of trout, with a handful of them around or above 20 inches. Some really beautiful specimens. Even the “smaller” trout they netted would be a big win for most people. Any day on a river is fun, but it’s always extra special when you get a mix of weather, fall color, and the fish are hungry. We did some hiking up and down the stretch which presented a lot of different water with some incredible backdrops that made for great photography, but there was a lot of learning to be had too, just by watching them fish. They were both euro nymphing the entire time, using one fly - a mop or an egg. It’s amazing what you can soak in if you just sit and watch. I’ve only been back in Colorado a few months now and still have to pinch myself every time I’m on a river. I love it here so much.

Click HERE to check out more of my fly fishing photography and contact me directly to inquire about prints - rob@robhammerphotography.com