The Traver Award was created in 1994 by Nick Lyons and the Voelker Foundation to encourage and recognize “distinguished original stories or essays that embody the implicit love of fly fishing, respect for the sport, and the natural world in which it takes place.” The Traver stories and essays must demonstrate high literary values in one or more of these categories:
- The joy of fly-fishing: personal and philosophic experience
- Ecology: knowledge and protection of the natural world
- Humor: piscatorial friendships and fun on the water
The 2019 Traver Award will be granted for the winning short work of fiction or nonfiction essay in the English language, either unpublished or published within the previous two years (e.g., for the 2019 award, only works published after January 1, 2017).
“Published” means released to the public in print or digital media, including a blog, website, or social media; any previously published work must include a full copyright release for future publication in the American Fly Fisher and an anthology. “Short work” means less than 3,000 words. To be considered, submit a PDF of your entry and a $25 entry fee (to offset the administrative costs of the award program) below by May 31, 2019.
The 2019 Traver Award winner will be notified in September. The winning entry will be awarded $2,500 from the Voelker Foundation and published in the Spring 2020 edition of the American Fly Fisher.
