*The Smolt of the Month contest is currently closed. For now. Stay tuned as we'll likely reboot things soon, and we'll be announcing the Smolt of the Year soon.
Back by micro-demand, The Flyfish Journal is rebooting our beloved Smolt of the Month contest!
It's too easy to showcase hefty trophy fish—give us your tiny, your minute and your nano. Got a smallie smaller than that #12 popper? A striper that looks more like guppy? Hoist that bad boy proudly, snap the pic, send it on its way and send us the photo. We'll share several of the most compelling (of the least colossal) each month via our social media channels and website. And remember to be kind to the little ones—anyone suspected of targeting or harming mini-fishes will be labeled a "Smolt Oppressor" and bad juju will surely follow you all season.
Get out there and get puny!
The contest rules are simple:
The fish must be comedically small and it must be fly caught. Past winners have run the gamut from quotidian to hilarious: bass, trout, snapper—and even goldfish. (You read that right.)
All monthly winners will be eligible to win a grand prize package from Decked—including a full set of their D-Co Cases (valued over $900)—as well as a trophy custom-made by The Flyfish Journal staff, in May 2025. Monthly winners will receive prize packages including a Stealth Work Station from Patagonia Fly Fishing and good goods from The Flyfish Journal.
And of course, tiny ass bragging rights. A big thanks to our prize sponsors Decked and Patagonia Fly Fishing.To enter, send your entries as high resolution jpg photos, along with a 2-3 sentence description of the species, where you hooked it, and the epic battle that ensued to SMOTM@theflyfishjournal.com. Please only one entry per person per month. Include your Instagram @ and we'll tag you.
Note: While we strongly encourage celebration and careful handling of your incidental palm-filling catches, intentional smolt molestation of sensitive species will not be tolerated. If we suspect you're harassing youngins better left alone, you'll be tarred, feathered and forced to only fish with 2/0 or bigger hooks the rest of your angling life. Just follow the golden rule on this one: Don't be a d**k (to the fish).
June Smolt of the Month July Smolt of the Month August Smolt of the Month September Smolt of the Month October Smolt of the Month November Smolt of the Month December Smolt of the Month January Smolt(s) of the Month February Smolt of the Month March Smolt of the Month April Smolt of the Month May Smolt of the Month
Sidechannels is made possible with the support of Decked. Get Decked, and Get After It at decked.com/flyfish. Made in the USA, shipping is always free.
Thanks as well to Patagonia Fly Fishing, supporting the people working to protect the wild fish and clean water we love.