Fellow smolt enjoyers, once again we had a school of minnows entered in the November Smolt of the Month contest. Picking just one winner is always a little struggle, but our tiny team of small fish enthusiasts have come to a decision.

The November Smoltie goes to… Patrick and Rachel Murphy and this toddler-sized perch, landed with the help of Rachel’s newborn, Henry. With a fish this big, it takes teamwork to make the smolt work. Small fish for the family!

Patrick writes: “While fishing for trout with my daughter Rachel at Smolt Lake, Buckinghamshire, UK, she hooked into this monster perch that smashed the spider pattern she was using. The bend in her 6wt was impressive, but fortunately Rachel was 37 weeks pregnant at the time so with the help of my grandson Henry she was able to land this monster :)”

Above: The November Smolt of the Month, a massive Buckinghamshire perch. Photo: Patrick Murphy

We’re sending pint-sized congratulations to Patrick and Rachel; enjoy those minuscule bragging rights. May your 2025 be filled with all of the small fish your dreams are made of. Go smolts!

All monthly winners are 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 receive prize packages including a Stealth Work Station from Patagonia Fly Fishing and good goods from The Flyfish Journal.

And, of course, those minuscule bragging rights..

A big thanks to our prize sponsors Decked and Patagonia Fly Fishing.

Head to the the main Smolt of the Month contest page for more information on how to enter your enormously small catches and review past Smolt of the Months. Each monthly contest entry window will be open for the duration of each month, so go small or go home and get after it!

We’ve also compiled a runners-up list with a few outstanding entries in no particular order:

Above: Perhaps the smoltiest sculpin we’ve ever seen. Photo: Danny Miller

Danny Miller writes: “I caught this monster while fishing above Smolt’s Bridge on the Smolting Fork, near Smoltdale, CO. using a 5 wt Orvis rod. The little guy took my size 20 black zebra midge dropper and I thought I had picked up a little moss on my drift under the bridge. I was surprised to find this little sculpin on the hook when I retrieved my fly to clean it off. After carefully measuring and weighing the beast I released him back to the river to fight another day.”

Above: A decidedly smolty small big mouth billy. Photo: Christopher Ray

Christopher Ray writes: “My daughter’s fish on a fly rod 🙂 She found this little guy in a trophy rainbow fishery in Central Oregon. Go figure.”

Above: Norwegian smolt. Enough to feed the entire family. Photo: Morten Stickler

Morten Stickler writes: “The late season sea trout fishing on the coast of south east Norway changed into the smallest cod ever caught on fly. Cod is protected in these areas due to overfishing and decoration of their spawning areas. Cod released quickly after picture to the FFJ.”

Enter your own miniature monster moments here!