2026 Fly Fishing Show Consumer Choice Awards: The Winners

The votes are in, and this one comes straight from the show floor.

The Fly Fishing Show runs a multi-stop circuit each winter, moving city to city with a mix of gear, presentations, casting demos, and conservation groups. It draws a wide range of anglers. New anglers trying to figure things out. Experienced anglers looking to handle new gear before the season. Guides, reps, and brands all in one place. It gives you a rare chance to see everything side by side and make your own call.

The 2026 Fly Fishing Show Consumer Choice Awards reflect what anglers handled and talked through across the tour. For most people, this was a first look. They picked up pieces, checked the details, and decided if it fit how they fish, and ballots came after that.

At the top, Scientific Anglers took Best of Show with the Magnitude Smooth Balance Taper fly line. SA also won both fly line categories along with leader and tippet. The line feels clean out of the box. Low memory, durable coating, and a taper that stays steady in close and carries when you need it.

Across the list, a few brands show up again and again. Fishpond across packs, storage, nets, and tying tools. Temple Fork Outfitters offers rods, reels, and combo kits. Grundens across men’s apparel and wading, including the Vector Zip Waders. Orvis in the saltwater reel category with the Hydros.

Some of this gear has already been covered on MidCurrent. The TFO Dispatch series ran last August and landed exactly where you would expect here. A straightforward, affordable setup that gets you on the water with quality and value.

Fishpond’s Stormshadow lineup also saw broad endorsement. The chest pack stands out for its layout and access. The same approach carries into the rolling duffel. It travels clean and holds up.

The Tacky Pescador fly boxes, featured in the 2025 holiday guide, keep flies in place and do not require much thought once it is in your pack. A full review of the new foam Pescador boxes is coming.

Wading gear showed well. The Grundens Vector Zip Waders bring front-zip access and a build that holds up through long days. The Fishpond Grass Sticks Wading Staff took the eco category with a simple and reliable design built from reclaimed materials.

Rooftop carrying systems also drew attention. Riversmith took the category with the Truck Bed River Quiver. MidCurrent has covered the River Quiver lineup in past guides. Rear-entry reel box, multiple mounting options, and the ability to keep rods rigged and ready. It saves time at the start and end of the day.

Step back and the list lines up with what anglers were looking for on the floor. Gear that adds value on the water. Setups that are easy to fish. Storage that keeps things in place. Travel pieces that remove friction from the day.

That carries into the season ahead. Gear that keeps you organized and lets you stay focused on fishing

Here is the complete list of the Consumer Choice Awards Winners

ACCESSORIES & GEAR

FLY RODS & REELS:

FLY LINES, LEADERS & FLIES:

FLY TYING:

APPAREL & WADING:

PACKS, STORAGE & TRAVEL

BOATS, ECO & MORE