We could all use a little fun and community these days. While most fly fishers are fortunately still able to spend time on the river or behind their vise, the Coronavirus pandemic has led to a lot of uncertainty and isolation. And although everyone is absolutely concerned about those who are battling the virus, the social and economic impacts of the fallout are no less real.

Pig Farm Ink, known for fun and unorthodox Iron Fly tying events, has been building community for years. Vedavoo, maker of American-built bags and packs, has been organizing artist-driven fundraising since it’s founding. They have come together to create the Online Iron Fly, a four-week competition meant to bring people together.

Iron Fly events are usually held in local restaurants and breweries, and they follow the same model as Iron Chef. Tyers of all skill levels have to create a fly using mystery ingredients. Talent is relative and fun is paramount. The Online Iron Fly will be a little different, but will retain the soul of the events. Tyers will submit their flies via Instagram. Judges will come from across fly fishing, and prize-awarding sponsors will all be companies within fly fishing that have been impacted by COVID-19.

Each week anyone and everyone has an opportunity to be a part of the Online Iron Fly. All you need to do is follow a few guidelines (below) and make sure your fly gets submitted on time.

WEEKLY SCHEDULE (all times EST)
– Wednesday, 9AM: Challenge details announced on Pig Farm Ink and Vedavoo Instagram accounts
– Thursday, 12AM: All submissions must be in by midnight
– Friday, 9AM: Best flies of the week announced  on Pig Farm Ink and Vedavoo Instagram accounts
– Friday, 9PM: LIVE challenge to determine weekly winner

EVENT SCHEDULE
– Week One: April 1-3 Only tie with materials found in your bathroom.
– Week Two: April 8 – 10
– Week Three: April 15 – 17
– Week Four, Final Challenge: April 22 – 24

Regardless of your skill level, you should consider entering the Online Iron Fly. While there is the possibility that you’ll come out with some great fly fishing gear, it is certain that you’ll see some real creative and hilarious flies. Most of all, you’ll be supporting the fly fishing community – a diverse group of people who genuinely helps and cares for one another. And even if it is just online, we all can use more of that these days.

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PRESS RELEASE

OVERVIEW
Pig Farm Ink (pigfarmink.com) and Vedavoo Gear (vedavoo.com) are leading a 4-week tying challenge – the first virtual event for Pig Farm Ink – and one that will be COMMUNITY WIDE without borders or limitations. It is our hope that this will become an annual tradition.

GOAL
Promote HOPE through an event that can bring together fly tyers of all ages and skill levels. This will be a program that is NOT limited to a specific geographic area – but rather OPEN to anyone from anywhere on the globe. We will be channeling the bulk of the program through INSTAGRAM via the Pig Farm Ink account – @pigfarmink

We are all in this together. Like the Phoenix in Stockton’s art, we will all rise from this.

PROGRAM OUTLINE
Each week, a tying challenge will be presented. Anyone who wants to participate will be able to – tying their submission flies, and posting them to their instagram account.

Any submissions must be submitted and posted to Instagram on Wednesday or Thursday (each week). On Friday morning, two winners will be announced from the submissions received.
– Must be following @pigfarmink and all sponsors
– Must tag @pigfarmink and all sponsors on submission
– Must use hashtag #OnlineIronFly

On Friday evening – beginning at 9PM EST – the two winners will compete in a LIVE tying challenge. The details for this challenge will be announced at the beginning of the challenge, and will be known ONLY by those organizing the event beforehand.

A panel of judges from our industry will select the winner. Each week, the panel of judges will represent a segment of participants in the greater industry.

Weekly winners will get a prize pack from a group of small businesses affected by this.

In week four, the three winners will be presented with a final challenge on Wednesday – and submit their flies by Wednesday at Midnight EST. The online community will then vote on their favorite flies – narrowing the field to two competitors who will face off in a final live challenge.

The overall winner of the four weeks will receive the title and trophy – a one-of-a-kind piece we are helping to coordinate – a one-of-a-kind bag with the event logo artwork by Matt Stockton chain-stitched onto the piece by Pumpkinseed Chainstitch.

SPONSORS
ALL sponsors for this event are small businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and will
be announced each week.

ARTWORK
The original phoenix and fish art used for this event was produced by Matt Stockton.