This year’s competition has been set with a view to encouraging more members to have a go and enter at least one category. While the standard across the board is pretty high, it is the same few regular entrants who win (moving up the categories). Indeed, congratulations to Maurice Lemon, who has been a serial winner for at least 20 years on and off! While we would never discourage repeat winners from taking part, I am sure that there are other sufficiently tal- ented fly tyers out there who could offer them a serious challenge.
It would be great if we all made a concerted effort to take part and gave our judge and Chair, Peter Gathercole, a real headache! We’d also end up with improved tying skills and a good number of flies suitable for fishing purposes, so why not give it a go?
Many congratulations to the winners and runners up in the 2025/26 Fly-Tying Competition, who were announced in the Summer issue of Flydresser.
Competition Categories and Flies
| Category | Fly | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Novice Trout | Red Tag | Spring 2026 Flydresser |
| Novice Lure | Mini Humongous Booby | Autumn 2025 Flydresser |
| Open Trout | Mayfly Sub Imago Emerger | Summer 2026 Flydresser |
| Open Salmon | Generic Steelhead Fly | Winter 2025 Flydresser |
| Prize Winners Trout | Reverse Parachute Fly | FDG Grayling Awards Syllabus |
| Prize Winners Salmon | Wilkinson Shrimp | Autumn 2004 Flydresser |
| Dry Fly | March Brown | Autumn 2025 Flydresser |
| Creative Fly | A saltwater fly to represent a ragworm. | See Summer 2025 Flydresser for inspiration |
The dressings you must use for the competition flies and the images that competition entries will be judged against can be found in this document, while the original articles can be found in the Members section of the FDG’s website, in the Fly Patterns section. Look for the ‘2026-27 Fly-Tying Competition Patterns’ folder at the top of the list.
The Grayling Awards Syllabus can be found and downloaded from the Members’ Area of this website, which can be accessed using your name as printed on your membership card for the username and your membership number for the password.
How to Enter
A brief overview of how to enter is set out below. The full competition rules and entry forms can be found below, or can be obtained by sending an s.a.e. to the General Secretary. Please read the full rules and follow the instructions carefully to avoid being needlessly disqualified.
- For all categories other than the Creative Fly, you must submit three identical samples of the fly for the category or categories you wish to enter, placed in a suitable clean container (one per category) labelled only with your membership number. For the Creative Fly, you only need to submit one sample. All samples must be tied by yourself.
- You must include one duly completed entry form for each category entered.
- Entries must be received by the General Secretary at the address shown below by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday 31 March 2027. Ideally, please post earlier as late submissions will not be accepted.
- The Novice categories are open to tyers who have been tying for less than two years and who have not won a prize in a previous FDG or other national fly-tying competition.
- The Open categories are for FDG members who have not won or been a runner up in an FDG competition in the relevant category.
- The Prize Winners categories are only for FDG members who have previously won or been a runner up in the corresponding Open category.
- The Dry Fly and Creative categories are open to all FDG members.
- If you would like your entries returned, please provide a suitable stamped and self addressed envelope with your entries.
- Fly-tyers in the Prize Winners Trout Category who wish to have their entries assessed for their Grayling Guild Award should indicate this on the entry form.
Where specific hooks or materials have been listed, use your judgement or seek guidance from the General Secretary on suitable substitutes.
Address for the General Secretary: Chris Reeves, 2 Briar Close, West Byfleet, Surrey KT14 6QF.
Improving the consistency of your tying
If the idea of tying dozens of flies to obtain three identical specimens puts you off competitions, look up Tim Benn’s excellent article, ‘Prizes and Surprises‘ on Donald Downs’ advice for tying competition flies, published in the Winter 2012 issue of Flydresser and available as an extract here. Also, do make use of the Guild Fly-Tying Award booklets for help with any unfamiliar techniques and, if you live close to a Branch, take advantage of their tying evenings.