2024 seems to have zipped by in a flash! It’s hard to believe that in just two weeks, we’ll be welcoming another new year.
We’re already excited to see what adventures 2025 will bring, but first, we’re taking a moment to reflect on a year filled with excitement, new experiences, and plenty of fly fishing — once the rain finally stopped!
The Year Begins: A Quiet January
January was relatively calm. Stormy winter weather kept many anglers off the water, but the Orvis UK office and our Stockbridge store were buzzing with preparation for one of our biggest moments of the year — the launch of the all-new Helios fly rod.
Launching the New Orvis Helios Fly Rod
Our campaign celebrated that the new Helios delivers four times more accuracy than its predecessor, the Helios 3. But rather than simply tell you, we invited you to test it yourself.
The Helios Test Cast Tour took our trusty Orvis Land Rover from Andover to Glasgow, Staffordshire, London, and the West Country — all so anglers could experience our most advanced rod firsthand.
Weather Challenges and a Busy Spring
Even the power of the Helios couldn’t fight the weather. Flooding delayed the start of trout season, with over 200 flood alerts issued across England and Wales in early April.
Thankfully, our 2024 Orvis Experiences programme carried on undeterred. From Brett O’Connor’s spey-casting sessions in Dorset to Chad Critchley’s reservoir trout trips in Derbyshire, anglers across the UK took part in unforgettable experiences.
At Orvis Stockbridge, the Fly Tying School returned for the spring term, inspiring a new wave of creative fly fishers.
Summer Adventures and Saltwater Fly Fishing
As the sun returned, our attention turned from rivers to the saltwater of the south coast. Highlights included our Beginners Saltwater Weekend and the Orvis Saltwater Fly Fishing Festival on Hayling Island.
With support from our expert guiding team, both events were huge successes. Many new anglers joined in June and returned as friends by September.
We also hosted our first Youth Competition at the Festival, supported by Orvis US instructor Pete Kutzer. The event wrapped up with the YETI® Night Station — an exciting after-dark fishing challenge that kept spirits high, even against strong winds.
Standing Up for the UK’s Rivers
Protecting the environment is at the heart of everything we do at Orvis UK. This year, we proudly supported the UK River Summit for the second year running.
Held on the River Wandle, the Summit brought together over 250 environmentalists, anglers, policymakers, and campaigners. The event encouraged collaboration on river health and inspired meaningful action for UK waterways.
Inspiring Film and Community Events
Autumn brought another exciting partnership — our sponsorship of the UK leg of the 2024 Fly Fishing Film Tour (F3T).
The global tour showcases world-class fly fishing films that inspire adventure and highlight environmental responsibility. Our screening at Stockbridge Town Hall was a full house, followed by an after-hours gathering at the Orvis store for lively discussion and storytelling.
Wrapping Up 2024 and Looking Ahead
And just like that, December arrived once more. Our UK warehouse team is working hard to deliver your Christmas gifts on time, while our Stockbridge store welcomes familiar faces and new friends for some festive cheer.
It’s been a year of growth, connection, and adventure for all of us at Orvis UK. Thank you for being part of it — and here’s to many more moments on the water in 2025.
