We asked fly anglers from across our portfolio of market-leading fly fishing websites, forums* and their associated social media pages to firstly nominate and then subsequently vote on their favourite fly fishing brands, gear, service providers and personalities across 16 categories in our inaugural Fish and Fly 2016 Fly Fishing Industry Awards. We are delighted to announce all the winners and runners-up in each category and would like to pass on our congratulations to each and every one of them.
* flyfishing.co.uk – theflyfishingforum.com – salmonfishingforum.com – seatroutforum.com – fishandfly.com
FISHING PRODUCT OF THE YEAR
1st: ORVIS HELIOS 2
“We are thrilled to be announced winner of fishing product of the year and also to receive awards in 3 other categories. The fact that these awards are voted for by the angler makes it especially pleasing for all the team here at Orvis. Our continued goal is to produce the very best fly tackle possible at the best price without sacrificing quality or performance.”
Richard Banbury, Orvis UK.
2nd: IN-TOUCH RIO GOLD
3rd: SAGE X
BEST FLY ROD
1st: HARDY ZEPHRUS
“We are delighted to receive this award on behalf of the Hardy brand. With increasing competition, significant advancements in technology, changing trends and fishing styles, we are proud that Hardy continues to be recognised by anglers all over the world. We would like the thank our customers for their support and hope that our range of equipment continues to find its way into the hands of anglers for many years to come.”
Al Cross, Pure Fishing (UK) Ltd
2nd: ORVIS HELIOS 2
3rd: SAGE X
BEST FLY REEL
1st: HARDY ULTRALITE SDS
“We are delighted to receive this award on behalf of the Hardy brand. With increasing competition, significant advancements in technology, changing trends and fishing styles, we are proud that Hardy continues to be recognised by anglers all over the world. We would like the thank our customers for their support and hope that our range of equipment continues to find its way into the hands of anglers for many years to come.”
Al Cross, Pure Fishing (UK) Ltd
2nd: GREYS GTS900
3rd: ORVIS HYDROS SL
BEST FLY LINE
1st: IN-TOUCH RIO GOLD
“This is fantastic news for all of us at RIO, and I am delighted that so many people voted for the InTouch RIO Gold as their favourite fly line. It is the line most RIO employees use too, so very satisfying to know that fly fishers in the UK also love this line. I would like to thank Fish & Fly for organizing this award, and especially to thank all the fly fishers out there who thought of us and who voted for us.”
Simon Gawesworth, RIO Products.
2nd: CORTLAND 444 CLASSIC
3rd: RIO SCANDI 3D SHOOTING HEADS
Special Mention: Barrio GT90
BEST MANUFACTURER OR BRAND
1st: HARDY
“We are delighted to receive this award on behalf of the Hardy brand. With increasing competition, significant advancements in technology, changing trends and fishing styles, we are proud that Hardy continues to be recognised by anglers all over the world. We would like the thank our customers for their support and hope that our range of equipment continues to find its way into the hands of anglers for many years to come.”
Al Cross, Pure Fishing (UK) Ltd
2nd: ORVIS
3rd: SAGE
BEST RETAILER – WALK IN
1st: GLASGOW ANGLING
“We are delighted to receive this very prestigious award and will endeavour to continue to give the very best possible service too all our customers.”
Paul Devlin.
2nd: ORVIS
3rd: JOHN NORRIS
BEST RETAILER – MAIL ORDER
1st: GLASGOW ANGLING
“We are delighted to receive this very prestigious award and will endeavour to continue to give the very best possible service too all our customers.”
Paul Devlin.
2nd: SPORTFISH
3rd: JOHN NORRIS
BEST FISHERY – RIVER
1st: RIVER TEST
“The Test and Itchen Association is delighted to accept this Favourite Fishery Award from Fish and Fly on behalf of the River Test fishery owners the Association represents. The Association has been working for more than 100 years to promote and protect the River Test. It is an iconic chalkstream that provides the discerning fly fisherman with a wide range of wonderful opportunities to enjoy their sport. The Association is determined to ensure that future generations can continue to enjoy what provides so much pleasure today.”
Jeremy Legge, Executive Director.
2nd: RIVER TWEED
3rd: RIVER DEE – SCOTLAND
BEST FISHERY – STILLWATER
1st: TINTO TROUT FISHERY
“I would like to dedicate this win to my late father who put his heart and soul in to this fishery creating his own little piece of Caithness here in central Scotland. I am sure he would be very pleased to hear that his hard work and angling morals have been appreciated by so many. Quality over quantity has been our moral since we opened 25 years ago and will remain our drive in to the future.”
Munro Reid.
2nd: LAKE OF MENTEITH
3rd : FARMOOR RESERVOIRS
BEST FISHING HOTEL
1st: THE ARUNDELL ARMS
“I am delighted on behalf of everyone at the Arundell Arms that your subscribers voted for us to win this award. We have been teaching fishing on our 20 miles of private waters since the 1920s and it is great the UK’s oldest fly fishing hotel is still winning awards like this after 80 years. But it is not just the fishing that makes the Arundell such a special place. I am biased of course but not only are we in a glorious part of Devon but also I think it is the warmth of welcome that all guests receive whether fishing or not that makes our guests return. We have 2 full time fishing instructors on our staff but it is a team effort that makes the whole guest experience.”
Adam Fox-Edwards, Managing Director.
2nd: FOX & HOUNDS, DEVON
3rd: BIRCHWOOD, PITLOCHRY
BEST FISHING TRAVEL PROVIDER
1st: FISHPAL
“We are thrilled to have won the Best Fishing Travel Provider. This award means a lot to everyone at FishPal because we were nominated and voted for by our customers. Thank you.”
Mark Cockburn, CEO. FishPal.
2nd: SPORTQUEST
3rd: FISHING BREAKS
BEST FISHING DESTINATION
1st: SCOTLAND
“We are delighted that Scotland has landed best destination for fishing at the 2016 Fly Fishing Awards. From our beautiful rivers and lochs, which are ideal for freshwater angling, to our unique rugged coastline that makes sea angling a popular choice, Scotland truly is a world-class destination for fishing.”
Malcolm Roughead, Chief Exec. Visit Scotland.
2nd: NORWAY
3rd: NEW ZEALAND
BEST GUIDE OR INSTRUCTOR
1st: PAUL PROCTER
“I’m absolutely delighted to be recognised as a winner in the 2016 Fly Fishing Awards. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the readership for the support and hope to cross paths with many of them in the coming years on a riverbank somewhere.”
Paul Procter.
2nd: HYWEL MORGAN
3rd: SCOTT MACKENZIE
BEST FISHING CHARITY/ORG.
1st: LET’S TACKLE CANCER
“LTC are over the moon to win this coveted Gold medal award, many thanks to FFF for making this possible. The cause went from strength to strength due to the total generosity of forum members, and the very hard work put in by all the wonderful people in the back ground without who today’s total of over £50.000 could never have been achieved. You know who you are, thank you so much.”
Steven Dawson.
2nd: WILD TROUT TRUST
3rd: ANGLING TRUST
BEST FISHING BOOK
1st: NYMPHING – THE NEW WAY by Jonathan White
“French nymphing is one of those once in a generation leaps forward. Since the invention of the French leader, the French fly fishing team have been by the far the most successful team at the fly fishing World Championships and at a personal level, since using French leaders I reckon that I catch about 5 times as many fish as I did before. Winning the Gold Medal for my book in the Fish&Fly Fishing awards is a real honour.”
Jonathan White.
2nd: MEGAN BOYD – THE STORY OF A FLY DRESSER by Derek Mills & Jimmy Younger
3rd: GT – A FLY FISHERS GUIDE TO GIANT TREVALLY by Peter McLeod
(All 3 books published by Merlin Unwin Books Ltd)
FISHING PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR
1st: DAVIE MCPHAIL
“Thank you to everyone that voted for me, I am so grateful. I get asked many questions about fly tying and where I get my inspiration from and it’s mostly from all the questions about tying methods, materials and suggestions on flies to tie from all around the world. I hope to keep working away and helping anyone that asks. If you can pass on what you have learned about fly fishing and fly-tying, you will encourage many more to take up this wonderful hobby and pastime.”
Davie McPhail
2nd: CHARLES JARDINE
3rd: BRUCE SANDISON