
Back on March 20, to celebrate impending Opening Days in many states, we launched the “New Season” Photo Contest, which required entrants to post their favorite fly-fishing photo of 2019 to the Orvis Fly fishing Facebook or Instagram page, along with the hashtag #NewSeasonRecon. We got more than 600 entries, and whittling those down to 10 finalists was quite a task. Now YOU get to choose the winners!
Take a close look at the 10 photos below, and then choose your three favorites, using the widget at the bottom of this page. The photographers are competing for some great prizes:
First Place: A Recon Fly Rod of your choice.
The redesigned Recons are made-in-the-USA high-performance rods at mid-range prices.

Second Place: Mirage LT Reel of your choice.
The Mirage LT is everything its big brother is, but designed to balance perfectly with lighter rods.

Third Place: Hydros Trout Fly Line of your choice.
This is the most versatile weight-forward trout line in the Hydros Fly Line Series.

We’ll also give a pair of made-in-the-USA Orvis Nippers to one randomly selected voter at the end of the contest.
Important Note: To be eligible to win the nippers, you MUST leave a comment about the photos in the comments section below. (That’s the only way we’ll know who you are, since the poll widget doesn’t collect data on voters.)
Voting ends at 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, April 8th, and we will announce the winners on Friday, April 10th. (And then Vermont fishing season opens the next day!)
So choose our three winners, hit the “vote” button, and then leave a comment below!










great photos , hard to pick just three .
See the catching of that fish is what it is all about. The way you keep that fish on the hook is marvelous fun to watch but doing it Is breathing in all that fresh air. Wishing we could do now.
Great photos thanks for the giveaway.
The Tetons shot is my backyard!!!! Love it best!!!!
All great shots but I voted for the 3 I felt offered something a bit different!
Hard to pick just 3, but I gave it my best shot
All great shots. I picked 2 that made me wish I was there and one that made me smile.
I like the fishing photos rather than the pictures of the fish. Thanks for the contest and all the photos.
These photos are a breath of fresh air during these uncertain times.
Henderson – because being there is half the fun
Riverwade – because the prize on the line is half the fun
Farbstien – because things happen that adds up to more than 100% fun
Made my choices. Awesome photos!
Brilliant pics I’m Very jealous they make you want to go fishing even more
Great pics! Looking forward to getting out!
Well done! Timing is everything.
voted; picked 3 but liked them all.
Reinforces the Orvis lifestyle. Different places and time with family.
The entrees have really stepped up their game! They all look like they are ready for a catalog.
All are nice. I get the itch to get out.
Having just gotten home from the hospital with our first baby girl, Mansfield gets my vote.
ALL these pics are deserving,but bummed they did not pick mine for top ten…..
Nice!
Roosters boost my jealousy level…
A great selection of 10 photos to choose from, hard to whittle down to the best 3. Congratulations to all 10 as they are all winners in the Orvis lifestyle!
Beauty’s
That flying pike looks like a freshwater cuda…
Wow, those are some awesome photos, it was hard to pick!
Flying fish!
Voted
I voted. Loved all the pics!
Awesome variety of shots! Kris Magenheim’s photo is my favorite
Tough to pick three out of this group, but riverwade, magenheim, and henderson are my finalists.
My favorite is the daddy daughter one! I love taking my daughter fishing.
These photos reveal the majesty of the sport. I’m hooked for life.
Although all the photos are amazing, the 3 I picked I found a little above the rest. Zack Mansfields picture with the little one shows that above all we all started somewhere. I only wish I had had those opportunities when I was young.
Beautiful photos, good luck everyone!
Beautiful photographs good look at these during the tough time
Go Fish
Once again a wonderful group of photos, hard to choose!
Love seeing a release photo make the cut!
Found it easier to pick this time, for some reason.
Such a great way to capture the craft of fly fishing. Great shot!
Can’t wait to get out. Beautiful pictures.
Great catch.
Fish on, hold,work it, bring it in.
Passing on a tradition of life’s lessons.
Fishing is theirapu
These are all great photos…..but I did narrow it down to 3
Great pictures!
That fish flop pic from Zack is hilarious!
Beautiful photos! Love this sport!
Great pics. Keep up these fun contests.
Kris Magenheim’s photo is .
Apparently comments don’t display emojis. 🙂 The photo is phenomenal.
Love the toddler.
These are all great, just wish I was in the pics…fishing
Congrats to the finalists! Love Rawfly’s shot
Congratulations to all the finalists and whoever the winners will be!
Beautiful photos!
You’re soulless if that little girl isn’t in your top three … just sayin’ …
Amazing photos. Hard to choose.
All these photos were exceptional “catches”.
River wade was chosen because of my love for the Roosterfish
Just what I needed – spectacular photography of fly fishing to chase the winter/coronavirus doldrums and inspire hope for this summer’s fishing adventures.
I love pictures of people and scenery. Especially children in nature fishing…
Farbstein – If fish could only talk…looks like one pissed little pike. He’ll be ready to go again in the new season.
All great pics. I’m a sucker for the scenery too.
Nice selection of photos. Really needed to see these today. Thanks for a moment of escape – feeling re-centered!
Good luck to all the finalists !!!
All great photos. It’s a shame all couldn’t win.
These are great! What a nice distraction during these times. Please, do more things like this, even if it is not for a free rod.
Awesome pic
Kris M.’s portrait of a fly angler should be a framed piece on my office wall – beautiful!
Tough to choose. We are lucky to be able to.
Difficult to choose but I like the actual fishing ones.
Awesome pictures all around!
They are all great photos. But the Kris Magenheim photo just jumped out at me in a way that the rest of them didn’t.
MK Smith
All very great entries…Bravo to all the great photographers who made the final cut…Very hard to choose 3..
Thanks Orvis for another great contest, and another chance to win some of your great gear…
Cheers,,,And Tight lines
Loved them all, hard to pick! Great job!
Love the outdoors. This best describes it. Beautiful!!
The pull of the current at your knees vs the pull of the trout on your line, there’s nothing like it !
Beautiful photos. Hard to pick just 3!
All great photos! I would rather be fishin’.
Looking forward to life returning to normal so we all can enjoy moments like these again. Stay safe and healthy at home everyone.
Stunning and inspiring!
All the photos were awesome !!! Very hard to choose, This gives us anglers hope that we all can enjoy the outdoors and fish in your favorite areas in these hard times. Never give up !!! Life is to short !!!
Great pictures, timing is everything!
Great pictures!
All beautiful
Scenery spectacular!
Haha, oh Mister Farbstein, we had many of those “oh, snot!”moments this past year. I liked that photo the best because it’s the only photo that relates most to the viewers.
Amazing photos
Nice pics.
Wish I knew about the contest sooner , I’ll look for it next year . In the meantime I’m voting .
Not so into the trophy fish shots, but really like that bow with the hot-spot nymph. Dad and daughter is best, just looks like the great sum-up of what it’s all about. Nice job all!
The three I picked were because seeing a fish leap like that and hearing the real scream is what makes my heart flutter! The scenery when you fly fish is always stunning no matter where you are! And finally get them interested when they are young, don’t waste money on dolls, toys or useless stuff, waste money on fly fishing gear!
Awesome photos…Than You for Sharing
Great pictures!
I love MK smith’s photo.
I really like the fishing photo with the Tetons in the background. I’ve taken this photo a hundred times and none of them comes close to this pic. I like crimson gill plate on what appears to be a Yellowstone Cutthroat is awesome. The “fish on” pic is perfectly timed with great lighting.
Loved all of the photos!
Love to be at any of these spots right now!
All of the pictures are great – really hard to pick just 3 – !!!
The shot has to have proof of fly fishing.
So tough to choose. Amazing photos!!
All photos deserve credit
Great photography!
The pure joy of fishing was captured in these photos!
I love the majestic landscapes with fly fishermen in the foreground, especially when they are casting. And who doesn’t like a close up of a big trout with a tiny nymph in the corner of it’s mouth. Classic… Thanks Orvis for another great year’s worth of pictures.
Great shots!
Tough to pick just 3! Good luck everyone.
Nice to see all these great photos !
Thanks for sharing the images
Just voted for my 3 favorites. Between winter and Covid, they all provided some positive relief and future opportunities.
Really good idea Orvis. Fly fishing is a beautiful thing, no matter the angler’s experience level.
GREAT PHOTOGRAPHY
It was hard to pick only 3 but Zach Mansfield’s shot with the smiling toddler was easily my favorite.
Keepemwet rooster, kid with dad’s fish, waterfall background are my faves. All photos are Excellent and I’d love to see all of them win. Thanks for the contest. See you on the water.
Just beautiful photos!!
Great Pics
Hard to choose just 3. Amazing fish, beautiful sceneries, long lasting smiles.
Some very nice camera work, can’t beat a good action shot or some amazing color.
Hard to pick only three!
One a beautiful fish, one a beautiful place to fish, one a way to share fishing
Some nice photography
Great pictures.
Great pictures! I think they’re all winners!
This is fun. Flyfishing is fun. Thanks
Fly fishing is food for the soul.
Beautiful pics documenting the sport of fishing. There’s just something about the fish jumping in front of the fisherman in MKSmith photo.