As part of our mission to make fly fishing an accessible joy for all, we want to encourage and foster the next generation of saltwater fly fishing anglers. In 2024, we are therefore welcoming anglers under the age of 18 to join the Orvis Saltwater Fly Fishing Festival competition for one day on Friday 30th August. Here, Aaron Rawling, Managing Director of Orvis UK shares a few words about this year’s Youth Ticket, and why it is so important.
Introducing young people to the art of fly fishing is more than just teaching them an enjoyable activity; it’s about providing them with the opportunity to explore the outdoor world, appreciate their surroundings, and get to grips with some of life’s most valuable “tackle” – patience, curiosity, and camaraderie.
I have met many people within the fly fishing sphere who say the sport has been life-enhancing for them. When faced with challenge – be it situational, familial, or personal - an angler will often take to the water. Here, they find their calm.
It’s a game of patience; taking the time to learn the tricks of the trade, practicing techniques, and mastering the art of casting before you feel you earned that catch. It’s a time for curiosity; questioning the movements of various species, finding new methods, visiting new places. And it’s a space for camaraderie; celebrating the catches of others, sharing experiences, and meeting people, new and old. Once you’re hooked, you’re hooked for life.
The point is, though, that every angler started somewhere. Everyone remembers how their fly fishing journey began – be it by standing by a parent’s side as a child, watching and learning, following a friend’s ventures, reading books, or otherwise. Every story is unique but every angler remembers where they caught their first fish, how, and who they were with.
By introducing the Youth Ticket to our Orvis Saltwater Fly Fishing Festival, we aim to give the next generation the opportunity to start somewhere too. Whatever their situation, we want to inspire young people to love this sport so that they too can wade into a world of thought and focus, particularly when the real one is so filled with distraction. We want to teach them what it means to be a part of a passionate community, and we want to provide them with the tools they need, both in terms of fly fishing and beyond, to carry into the future.
Our Youth Competition ticket is brand new for 2024. Youth anglers must be able to fish independently, under the supervision of an adult at all times, in order to enter. All youth anglers will be assigned a fishing mark to enjoy for the day, which is separate from the main event.
Tickets for the Orvis Saltwater Fly Fishing Festival are still available, book now!