Small fish enthusiasts, after a year of tiny fish, 12 Smolts of the Month, countless awesome photo submissions, and unmeasurable amounts of fun, we're excited to announce the grand salami, the little kahuna, The Flyfish Journal's Smolt of the Year!
The academy of all things smolty has chosen Andy McKinley's amazingly tiny baby baby tarpon from the backwaters of the Belizean smolt-o-sphere.
Above: The Magnificent Smolt of the Year trophy, blindingly bright in the smolt-o-sphere sun.
Andy writes of this enormous silver prince: "Here is my entry for the Smolt of the Month. On a trip to Belize for a week of chasing the coveted 'grand slam,' I tend to spend the after hours off the flats on foot, looking for anything that might hold fish. I typically make at least a few casts in any likely looking body of water. From dock-caught bonefish to some cool backwater juvenile tarpon spots, there is a lot to explore. This was from a literal roadside ditch that looked brackish and barren, but on a half-hearted first cast this 10-inch baby tarpon ate. A 3-weight might have been a more appropriate rod."
Above: The March Smolt of the Month, and newly awarded Smolt of the Year. Don't overlook the roadside ditches, they hold monsters. Monsters! Photo: Andy McKinley
In addition to the monthly prize package that Andy already received for winning the March Smolt of the Month contest, Andy is taking home the grand prize package from Decked—a full set of their D-Co Cases (valued over $900)—as well as a trophy custom-made by The Flyfish Journal staff.
And those tiny ass bragging rights!You can relive all twelve Smolt of the Month winners and some amazing honorable mentions from each month's contest below.
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
This concludes the reboot of the Smolt of the Month contest for now, but rumor has it there may be more fun contests down the line, so stay tuned for more.
A huge (tiny) thanks goes out to our prize sponsors:
Get Decked, and Get After It at decked.com/flyfish. Made in the USA, shipping is always free.
Patagonia Fly Fishing, supporting the people working to protect the wild fish and clean water we love.