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Smolt of the Month July
The judges quarters during the July Smolt of the Month contest were a mess. There were many solid entries and picking just one winner was a tough decision. But we’ve come to a verdict and are proud to announce the winner of The Flyfish Journal’s esteemed Smolt of the Month photo contest for July, 2024.
The July Smoltie goes to…Anthony Bendik and his son Joe’s first fish on the fly! As this is supposed to be the funnest contest in the land, stoking the fly fishing fire of a beginner is paramount to not only the future of the sport, but also the heart, inspiration and ethos of the contest. Go small or go home!
Anthony writes: “Hello, Enclosed is my son’s first fish on the fly. We were targeting small mouths on a local park lake when my son Joe spotted a small pod of sunfish. After figuring out the puzzle of bug and presentation, Joe was rewarded with his first fish! Believe it or not, the little fella put a little bend in the 5wt.! Thanks for looking and tight lines,”.
Above: Joe Bendik holds up his first fish on the fly, a behemoth of a sunfish. Photo: Anthony Bendik
Solid work Anthony and Joe, and the tiniest of congratulations to the both of you! Enjoy the miniature bragging rights, may your lines be loose with monsters for the foreseeable future!
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.
Head on over the the main Smolt of the Month contest page for more information, and to enter your enormously small catches. Each monthly contest submission window will be open for the duration of each month, so get after it!
We’ve also compiled a runners up list with a few other outstanding entries in no particular order…
Above: An epic catch. Photo: William Ramsdell
From William Ramsdell: “I caught this beast while fishing the Platte River. He hit my dropper rig nymph so hard that at first I thought I had snagged a log. What a proud moment.”
Above: Quite the sharp alternative species. Photo: Will Bohrnsen
From Will Bohrnsen: “The kraken! Landed after a valiant battle on the lower Bois Brule, Wisconsin.”
Above: A beautifully monstrous brookie. Photo: Sean Deines
From Sean Deines: “Appreciation for the smallest of fish when I’m fishing those high elevation blue lines.”