What is the Guild Fly-Tying Awards Scheme?
The Guild Fly-Tying Awards Scheme is an opportunity for members to test their fly tying abilities against a national standard at their own pace and ultimately receive a recognised award. The scheme is meant to be informative, enjoyable and to encourage co-operation and camaraderie amongst those taking part.
Participation is entirely voluntary. No branch or member is under any obligation to take part.
How does it work?
For members of Guild Branches
When the Awards were set up, branch secretaries were sent an electronic copy of the Bronze, Silver and Gold syllabi – these are often used to design and run some of a branch’s fly-tying lessons. The booklets are also available from the Guild Awards Manager (awards@flydressersguild.org) and in the Members’ Area of this website.
Candidates should keep a record of their progress, which should be signed off by an instructor at appropriate stages and be submitted to the assessor with the flies presented for assessment. The form is set out in the Appendix to each booklet.
Candidates will be required to present their assessor with three examples of each of the patterns required for the level they are being assessed. Candidates must submit their flies in such a way that they are protected in transit, while allowing the assessor to inspect each fly closely, without damaging it.
Suitably qualified assessors can perform Bronze and Silver level assessments for members of their own branch, although where possible, instructors should have their own candidates assessed by another assessor within the branch. Alternatively, Bronze and Silver level awards may be submitted to the Guild Awards Manager who will arrange their assessment. Gold and specialist awards (e.g. Grayling) must be submitted to the Guild Awards Manager.
For Non-branch members
Any member of the Guild who is not a member of a Branch (or is a member of a Branch that is not participating in the Guild Awards Scheme) who wishes to take instruction for a particular award level should contact the Guild Awards Manager who will arrange for an appropriate instructor to contact them.
The instructor will mentor them through the flies and process for that level. The candidate should keep a record of their progress, which should be submitted to the assessor with the flies presented for assessment The form is set out in the Appendix to each booklet. The candidate may also be asked to submit flies (or photographs of them) from time to time, for the instructor to check that the correct standards are being attained.
Alternatively, they can just request an electronic copy of the relevant syllabus from the Guild Awards Manager or download them from the Members’ Area of the website.
Once the candidate feels ready for assessment, they should contact the Guild Awards Manager who will put them in touch with an appropriately qualified assessor.
Candidates will be required to present their assessor with three examples of each of the patterns required for the level they are being assessed. Candidates must submit their flies in such a way that they are protected in transit, while allowing the assessor to inspect each fly closely, without damaging it.
The syllabus
Electronic versions of the Guild Awards syllabi can be found in the Members’ Area of the website.
In addition to the Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards, there is also a Grayling award syllabus available as an extra challenge for those who complete the Bronze award. Further awards will be published in due course.
Instructors and Assessors
Branches currently running the Guild Awards Scheme have a list of recognised instructors and assessors. Any branch wishing to start an awards programme for the first time or appoint new instructors or assessors should first contact the Guild Awards Manager. Prior to doing so, it would be helpful if they could ascertain whether those instructors or assessors are willing to mentor or assess non-Branch members of the Guild.
A list of instructors and assessors is available from the Guild Awards Manager.
Guidance for instructors and assessors can be found in the Members’ Area of the website.
Background and acknowledgements
Back in 2007, the Game Anglers Instructors Association (GAIA) was the only body issuing any qualification for fly-tying – an instructor’s badge. The Guild’s Executive Committee thought there should also be a qualification for members who wanted to achieve a similar standard of skill through a structured learning programme but did not wish to become instructors, in the same way that students take an exam or degree course but don’t also have to become teachers to get a certificate or qualification.
The Guild’s current awards system is based on a pilot scheme developed by the Thames Valley Branch of the Guild. We also drew upon materials prepared to apply for accreditation under the Open College Network (OCN) which would raise fly tying from a hobby to an acknowledged skill (NVQ). Whilst the OCN were supportive of this and much work was done towards achieving this objective, it was later decided that the practicalities, logistics and costs involved precluded us from following that route.
We would like to thank all those involved in the process of developing the Guild Awards.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get started on the scheme?
Simply download the syllabus from the Members’ Area and tie the assessment flies. If you are a non-branch member or a member of a branch that is not taking part in the Guild Awards, you might want to let the Guild Awards Manager know that you have started the relevant award and may ask for help and guidance if needed.
How do I get my flies assessed?
If you are doing Bronze or Silver awards and are in a branch with an assessor, you can ask them to do the assessment. If you’re successful, they will then notify the Guild Awards Manager and your certificate will be sent to your branch, along with your badge. If you’re unsuccessful, they will let you know which areas need improvement.
If you’re not a member of a branch, are in a branch with no assessor or do not want to use the branch assessor, then send you flies to the Guild Awards Manager who will arrange an assessment.
All flies for Gold awards must be sent to the Guild Awards Manager for an external assessment. There is no in branch assessment of Gold award flies.
What is the cost of doing the scheme?
There is no charge for the electronic booklets containing the syllabi, assessment of your submissions and posting of certificates and badges – these costs are covered by your FDG subscription. The cost of hooks, materials and posting of your flies to the Guild Awards Manager are for your own account and are not reimbursed. Please ensure you use the correct postage as we do not pay any shortfall and will refuse underpaid post. If you would like to receive your flies back, please indicate this and include a suitable self-addressed envelope with the correct postage.
Can I tie a variant of the award syllabus fly?
You should stick as closely as possible to the patterns in the booklets. You may substitute a material e.g. orange bucktail for red but you should limit these as much as possible. The syllabus is technique based and this is what the examiner will be looking for you to demonstrate. If you make any substitutions, they must follow the style of fly being tied and use the technique being assessed. You must be able to explain your reasoning for the changes to the assessor.
Can I appeal against an assessment?
We do have an appeal procedure, which in summary involves your flies plus the original assessment being sent anonymously to a second assessor. The outcome of the second assessment is binding on all parties and there is no further appeal process. We would hope this would only be used in exceptional circumstances.
I am not in a branch but would like to do the scheme – is this possible?
Yes, absolutely. The scheme is open to all members of the FDG. If you are confident to tie the flies, then simply go ahead and submit to the Guild Awards Manager. If you would like some help, then contact the Guild Awards Manager and we will try and arrange a remote mentor. You can then use an online meeting or photos to get help. You will need to send the flies to the Guild Awards Manager for assessment.
I am not an FDG member - may I participate in the Award scheme?
No, the Guild Awards Scheme is only open to fully paid up members of the Guild. For details of the cost of membership and how to join, please go to our Join the FDG page on this website.
I am an experienced tyer - do I have to start at the beginning of the scheme?
Yes, the scheme is progressive so with the current awards you need to do Bronze, then Silver and Gold. The only exception is if you’re a registered APGAI fly tying instructor, then you may enter the scheme at Gold level. The FDG will check that you are APGAI registered.
For awards other than the Bronze, Silver and Gold, you must have passed at least the Bronze award, unless exempt as above.
Do I need to tie all the flies in the booklet?
Each syllabus includes a number of set flies that must be tied for assessment. At the end of each booklet you will also find a number of additional flies using the same techniques as those being assessed. These flies are included only to provide variety whilst practicing the designated techniques (no one needs 50 Soldier Palmers!). They should not be submitted as part of your assessment and whether you tie them or not is up to you.
I tied half the flies in a level and then suffered a medical incident which has left me unable to tie. Can I submit a partially tied award?
In exceptional medical circumstances where more than 50% of a level has been completed and there is evidence of having attained the award tying level from other flies, the Guild Awards Manager may, together with General Secretary and/or the assessor, give a dispensation for the award. It is not anticipated there will be many uses of this ruling.
Have there been any recent changes to the scheme?
January 2023: The Guild Awards Scheme overview on the website, the Bronze, Silver and Gold Award booklets and the Assessors’ Guidance have all been updated to reflect the assessment process that was being applied in practice. No amendments have been made to any other aspects of the programme.
January 2023: The Grayling Awards booklet has been updated to reflect that the Bronze level fly tiers are eligible to take on this challenge too.
July 2016: The hook size for the woven nymph in the Gold award is now size 12. This is due to Partridge resizing their hooks.