Swing the Fly welcomes contributions from both professional and amateur writers and photographers alike. We welcome the submission of all quality content for review and are happy to work with you and provide constructive feedback to achieve a finished product. While we cannot guarantee the publishing of all submitted content, we promise to review every piece with our utmost attention and get back to you in a timely manner. Thank you for your interest in contributing!
We publish in two locations:
The Swing the Fly: Anthology printed book is published annually. The deadline for consideration in the 2026 printed book is May 1, 2021. Final selections will take place after the deadline. All content received prior will be considered at that time.
STF Online Journal — we publish both member-only and and free-to-read articles in the online journal.
Beginning May 1, 2025, Swing the Fly Online Journal will begin releasing ALL new content covering a wide variety of topics, from perspectives on our sport to people and places and history to flies, techniques, and more, every quarter. We are looking for unique angles on our sport, not typically just a story about your fishing trip unless it is relatable to a majority of readers.
Favorite sections include Fly Tying, Great Lakes, Atlantic Salmon, Trout Spey, West Coast (U.S.A, BC, AK), Conservation, International, Art, Poetry, & Fiction Cover.
Do not feel constrained by the categories of content above, these are just general suggestions. We welcome creativity! We are looking for unique angles on our sport, not typically just a story about your fishing trip unless it is relatable to a majority of readers.
Swing The Fly Content Standards include:
We do not promote “hot spotting” articles (including “destination” types promoting an “unknown” or “under-appreciated” fishery) and we do not publish photos of poorly handled fish.
Generally speaking, we are looking for the following formats, but, again, we’re always open to ideas:
Feature Article -Approximately 1200-2500 words and least 6+ images of the highest quality. Share a technique, a story, an important piece of Spey history, profile a person. Let’s hear it.
Shorts – 100 to 1200 words and 0-10 high quality images. (We will consider about anything here.)
Poems -Anything goes!
Photo Essay -15+ images of outstanding quality with an introduction of 150-300 words and a short caption for each image that is selected for publishing. Some examples are a specific place/river, season, or unique angle on our sport.
Fly Tutorial Step-by-step fly tutorials are an STF favorite. Tie a fly and document each step with a clear, crisp photo and and write out an accompanying instruction to go with each step. Make sure your instructions are simple and clear. Each photo should be numbered to match the instruction step. An intro about the fly is also helpful.
Photos
Should be of the highest resolution possible (3+ mbs) if being considered for the Anthology book..
Most modern smart phone photos can be used if your phone is set to the highest resolution setting possible.
Photos can be sent by Google Drive, WeTransfer or Dropbox.
Fish Photos -We only publish photos of fish that have been properly handled and are close to/preferably in the water.
Material Rights
Swing the Fly retains the right to publish any accepted materials in the magazine, website, social media and elsewhere at our discretion.
If accepted for publishing, you should not submit the same work elsewhere for a grace period of 2-years.
If the work you are submitting to Swing the Fly has been published elsewhere (like a blog) prior, please declare so at time of submission.
Compensation is available for both the Anthology and the Swing The Fly Online Journal. We also welcome any submissions that are given pro bono and greatly appreciate the support. All published submissions qualify for a 1-year membership and a copy of the Anthology. Compensation must be agreed upon at time of acceptance of your submission. Please state any special requests as the time of submission.
Instructions for Inquiries/Submissions:
Deadlines:
Beginning May 1, 2025, submissions for consideration for publication on SwingTheFly.com are:
- For Summer Journal: Submit by June 1st for consideration for publication on August 1st.
- For Fall Journal: Submit by Sept. 1 for consideration for publication on Nov. 1st
- For Winter Journal: Submit by Dec. 1 for consideration for publication on Feb. 1st
- For Spring Journal: Submit by March 1st for consideration for publication on May 1st.
Have an idea but aren’t sure if it fits for Swing the Fly? Email Digital & Conservation Editor Daniel Ritz at DanielR@SwingTheFly.com , and inquire first!
If you have already prepared something that you wish to submit:
1) The final draft of text (including bio, photo captions, etc) should be sent in a Microsoft Word Document or Google Docs document attached to the email.
2) Photos can be sent via WeTransfer, Dropbox, Google Drive, etc. Or attached to an email if you are just sending a few.
3. Please include a 75-word or less bio and a bio photo.
Any requested exceptions to the above rules should be clearly agreed upon via email at time of submission.
Send your submission ideas, finished manuscripts or any questions at all related to submitting content to Swing The Fly Digital Editor Daniel Ritz at DanielR@swingthefly.com.
Thank you for your interest!