Following the decline in entries and feedback received from some members, the Executive Committee discussed various options and decided to make a couple of changes to this year’s competition, to encourage entries from members who are working towards their Bronze or Silver Awards, or are thinking of doing so:
- to encourage more Novice entries, the Novice Trout category fly has been taken from the Bronze Awards book. If members wish their Novice Trout entries to be assessed for their Bronze Guild Awards, they should indicate this on the entry form; and
- the fly for the Novice Lure category has been taken from the ‘practice’ flies in the Bronze Awards book. Similarly, the flies for the two Open and the Dry Fly categories have been taken from the Silver Awards ‘practice’ flies, so that members can use the Fly-Tying Competition to hone their skills for those respective awards.
With categories for various levels of ability, every member should be able to enter at least one category. 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 2024/25 Fly-Tying Competition, who were announced in the Summer issue of Flydresser.
Competition Categories and Flies
| Category | Fly | Flydresser Issue |
|---|---|---|
| Novice Trout | Soldier Palmer | FDG Bronze Awards Book |
| Novice Lure | Viva | FDG Bronze Awards Book |
| Open Trout | Blae and Black | FDG Silver Awards Book |
| Open Salmon | Silver Stoat | FDG Silver Awards Book |
| Prize Winners Trout | Grey Wulff | FDG Autumn 2025, p.45 |
| Prize Winners Salmon | Beauly Snow Fly | FDG Autumn 2025, p.45 |
| Dry Fly | Parachute Adams | FDG Silver Awards Book |
| Creative Fly | A fly tied from materials salvaged from outside the fly-tying world (other than the hook and tying thread) |
Information on the flies and their dressings can be found in this document and more details for the Novice, Open and Dry Fly category patterns can be found in the sources referred to in the table above.
The Bronze and Silver Guild Awards books 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 Saturday 28 March 2026. 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. Novices who wish their Novice Trout entry or entries to be assessed for their Bronze Guild Award should indicate this on their entry form.
- 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.
Should you have any difficulty obtaining any materials, you can seek guidance on suitable substitutes from the General Secretary..
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.