2015 Fly Fishing Photo Contest: The Results

All the official selections from our 2015 photo contest

by Chad Shmukler - Wednesday, Dec 9th, 2015

Each year we say a lot of the same things in summarizing our annual photo contest. Things like that we received a lot of great entries, that the decisions were difficult, and that we're privileged to be in the position of to amass and share such a fine collection of fly fishing imagery both now and throughout the coming year. And we'll say it all again this year. Not because those are the sort of things you're supposed to say, even if it they are, but because they're true.

As we've noted repeatedly throughout this year's contest promotion, this year's collection of prizes — highlighted by a grand prize that includes a 6 day / 7 night trip to The Palometa Club in Ascension Bay, Mexico and including over $10,000 in prizes all told — is by far the largest we've ever had the pleasure of giving away. Thanks to the generous sponsors that made this year's contest possible — The Palometa Club, Tailwaters Travel, Stickman Rods, Abel Reels, Airflo USA, Smith Optics and Simms Fishing — we've spent the last month or so poring over contest entries, faced with the burden (read: fortunate luck) of having to decide which photographers walk away rewards like these:

Grand Prize: A 6-day/7-night trip to The Palometa Club in Ascension Bay, Stickman Rods T-10 fly rod, Abel Super Series reel, Airflo Chard's Tropical Punch fly line, Smith ChromaPop Polarized Blue Mirror sunglasses, Simms Fishing sun protection apparel.

First Prize: Stickman Rods fly rod, Abel Super Series reel, Airflo Chard's Tropical Punch fly line, Smith ChromaPop Polarized Blue Mirror sunglasses, Simms Fishing sun protection apparel.

Second Prize Airflo Chard's Tropical Punch fly line, Smith ChromaPop Polarized Blue Mirror sunglasses, Simms Fishing sun protection apparel.

Third Prize: Airflo Chard's Tropical Punch fly line, Smith ChromaPop Polarized Blue Mirror sunglasses, Simms Fishing sun protection apparel.

Fourth Prize: Airflo Chard's Tropical Punch fly line, Smith ChromaPop Polarized Blue Mirror sunglasses.

So what do you do when you've tallied all the votes and two images tie for the grand prize? Go back to drawing board? Revote? Break up the prizes? As it turns out, it's not that complicated after all.

Without blathering on any further, let's get to it. For a refresher on this year's prizes and official photo contest rules, head to the official contest page. Otherwise, view the gallery below for this year's runner up and winning selections.

Thank you to all of this year's judges: Earl Harper (photographer, Harper Studios), Bryan Gregson (photographer, Bryan Gregson Photography), Copi Vojta (photographer + photo editor, The Fly Fish Journal), Jess McGlothlin (author/photographer, Fire Girl Photography), George Costa (Assistant Editor, Hatch Magazine), John Frazier (Simms Fly Fishing), Ákos Szmutni (Stickman Fly Rods) and Red Kulper (Airflo USA).

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This runner-up image from photographer Oliver Rogers perfectly captures the inspiration for of this year's contest: permit. If you've spent any time chasing permit, this shot will undoubtedly make your heart pound.

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Nick Vanhorn captured this image of a what is clearly a fine summer day and an even finer fishing companion.

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Photos of grayling dorsal fins aren't exactly rare and, thanks to the grayling, even the drabbest of all shots often impress. This shot from Justin Hamblin, however, shows off how colorful these fins can be. More importantly, it is unique and hard to look away from.

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Photograhper Trent Sizemore captured this richly textured image early one foggy morning on the Firehole River.

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This image, from photographer Jeremiah Clark, is quite simply one of the finest captures of a tailing redfish we've ever seen.

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Why bother writing a caption for this one, when photographer Courtney Boice did it for us: "Sometimes you need to stand on old cars in the river."

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We get 50 contest entries each year titled either "Last Cast", "The Release" or "Fish On", and they often all blend together. This technically stellar image, from photographer Ed Sozinho, however, has it all and had no trouble standing out from the pack.

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Photographer Martin Christensson captured this image of a single angler scanning the water for sea trout.

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Photographer Arian Stevens seems to have a knack for being in the right place at the right time, or maybe just being particularly good at working a camera. Or maybe it's just the good fortune of living near the Deschutes. Whatever it is, we get the pleasure of staring at another one of his stunning images.

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Another Arian Stevens product, this time from beneath the surface of Nevada's Pyramid Lake.

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This compelling capture of the face of a big brown in the net just under the water is one that, according to photographer Joe Cummings, he's been trying to get for years.

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Taken at the base of Firehole Falls in Yellowstone National Park, this image from photographer Chris Daniel is the result of hard work and a cooperative angler.

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Yeah, sure. You can cast 90 feet. I bet. Why don't you prove it? Photo: Ed Sozinho.

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Guides eye's. They have them, you don't. Photo: Ed Sozinho.

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The lower fly zone on New York's Salmon River is a battle zone, and claiming your water means getting there early and braving the conditions, such as those depicted in this image from Charles Sands.

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Never let anyone tell you that winter doesn't have plentiful hatches. This stellar capture of a feeding trout, was snapped by photographer Anderson Thomas, during an epic BWO hatch on Utah's Green River that happened on a cold and miserable winter day.

SECOND PRIZE: Black White Brown Portrait

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A paper thin depth of field and some creative editing produced this unique brown trout portrait from fishing guide and photographer Joe Cummings.

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Whether you're an accomplished spey caster or a novice, you know what it's like to drive a burly streamer into the small of your back, your head or, if you're really unlucky, your ear. This image from Seattle photographer Dave McCoy is the product of impeccable timing.

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For the past several years, the images that have stood out most to the judges have been those that depict not only the places fly fishing takes us or the fish we chase when we're there, but the people we do it with. This image from Charleston, South Carolina photographer Jeremiah Clark, shows what happens when you try to barehand a redfish that beaches itself in the mud exposed by low tide.

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When flooding rains come, what better to do that grab the skiff? But, a tie for the grand prize? How do you split a trip to Mexico? Thing is, we don't have to. This image, which tied for this year's grand prize, also happens to be from photographer Jeremiah Clark, making a potentially tricky situation ... well, not so tricky.

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