There is something about the Festival that keeps anglers coming back year after year. At its heart, it has always been about friendship, shared experiences and simply enjoying time on the water together. For many, the competition is only a small part of the weekend.
That said, for those who do want to test themselves and see how they measure up, the challenge adds an extra layer of excitement. Reading the tides, adapting to changing conditions and making the most of every opportunity along the coast can be hugely rewarding.
We spoke to just a small handful of past winners to share their advice for anyone thinking of giving the competition a go for the first time.
Lewis Clark, Multi-Year Winner 2023-2024
“The bass in the harbour enter the shallows in the summer months, particularly during the first few hours of the flooding tide, so my advice would be to look under your feet first. I like to scale down my tackle to 6# and 7# rods, floating lines, long 10lb flurocarbon leaders and single size 8 or 10 shrimp patterns. A SloMotion Shrimp is a great fly, but you can use any concoction of rubber legs/antennae, dubbing colours and foam/shellback backs, as long as you can land them on the water quietly. Edging out slowly, cast alongside marginal weeds or rocks and retrieve in short strips with definite pauses in-between. This isn't just a tactic for small bass; I had four 50cm+ bass on such flies last summer from marks in this year's Festival, often sight fishing to individuals. Good luck!”
Steve Lawes, Longest Bass Winner 2023
“I was fortunate to win the Longest Bass trophy in 2023 with a 59cm fish. My advice for a first timer at the Festival would be: if possible, fish with someone else, ideally a friend or two, as it makes it a much more enjoyable weekend and you can help each other and ensure you all stay safe. Saltwater fly fishing is very tide and weather dependent, so I would also recommend having a clear plan for a number of different marks that you plan to fish, depending on the wind direction and state of the tide that day.”
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Steve Richards, Multi-Year Winner 2021-2025
“Preparation is key to success. Not being local to an area means I need to use other methods to understand the area I am fishing. Google Earth, YouTube and forums are all great for building knowledge of your chosen spot for the Festival. I am always happy to chat to other anglers and offer advice. Tight lines!”
Tom Lambert, Multi Species Winner 2025
“I won in 2025 and won the multi species prize, and I guess the longest other species. My advice would be not to stay in one location for too long. Plan your day so you go to multiple locations at what you think are going to be the best times in the tide for each location. Then once that time has passed, move on. I think we are all guilty of this.”
Tim Robinson, Longest Mullet Winner 2022
“I was very lucky and managed to get both the first and runner up prize for longest mullet at the 2022 Orvis Saltwater Fly Fishing Festival. For those attending the festival competition for the first time the size of the fishing area can be very intimidating to say the least! The aim of course is to find the fish with bass often being the primary target, and despite their abundance they can prove be elusive. The Orvis Festival will provide a list of useful marks but also consider looking over the area on a map or Google earth to look for promising locations.
On the water look for baitfish, working birds, moving water and underwater structure and if you have no success then keep moving until you find them. Also remember that marks will fish differently depending on the state of the tide and its size. Mullet are usually obvious and fairly easy to spot creating ‘nervous’ water and moving close to the surface. Once you have found the bass then they will usually be obliging and take your lure, however the mullet will normally be a lot more challenging! If you are attending on your own then try to buddy up with someone who has attended the festival before. Just put out a request on the festival WhatsApp group. It will be more fun and safer as you should always be wary of the mud and the potential to be caught out by the tide. Good luck and tight lines!”
Phil Bowley, Longest Mullet Winner 2025
“If you have not fly fished in the salt before, I would take the opportunity to attend the excellent workshops that run during the Festival. The Orvis guides provide masses of practical advice and equally, do not be afraid to ask other attendees. If you can, try to buddy up with someone attending who has fished the Festival before. Always exercise caution and only wade or fish where and when it is safe to do so.
The Festival runs over a huge area of open coastline and inside the harbours, so deciding where and when to fish can be pretty daunting. You will need to take into account the tides and wind direction. Each year a list of suggested Festival marks is posted on the Orvis Saltwater Portal, which will help you plan your days. Google Earth is a great tool to help check out marks if you do not know the area, and you can also take a look at videos of the Festival from prior years, which are readily available on YouTube.”
Ready to Put Their Advice Into Practice?
If there is one clear takeaway from some of the past winners, it is that success at the Festival rarely comes down to chance. It is about preparation, planning around the tides, staying adaptable and making the most of your time on the water.
Whether you are aiming for the leaderboard or simply looking to challenge yourself in a new environment, the Orvis Saltwater Fly Fishing Festival offers something few events can. It is an opportunity to learn, explore new water and share the experience with a community of like minded anglers.
So if you think you have what it takes, there is only one way to find out. Book your ticket to this year's Orvis Saltwater Fly Fishing Festival now!