MICHIGAN, USA — The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is teaming up with MyCatch by Angler's Atlas for a statewide walleye fishing challenge that runs through June 30.
The fishing tournament includes all inland waters and gives anglers an incentive to share general fishing report data with Michigan DNR biologists.
It's all done through an app, called MyCatch, that will log anonymous location data so anglers won't have to worry about giving up their fishing holes.
This will help biologists better assess and manage walleye populations throughout Michigan.
"We're interested to see what new information we can learn from Midwest Walleye Challenge participation,” said Seth Herbst, manager of the DNR Fisheries Division’s Research Section. "We have hundreds of waters in the state where we manage for walleye, but because of the vast amount of lakes and rivers in Michigan we have a limited ability to monitor the status of those fisheries."
Organizers said specific catch locations won't be listed on public leaderboards.
"The challenge provides a unique opportunity to supplement our survey data and have a better understanding of the status of walleye populations throughout the state. In particular, we are excited to learn whether our walleye stocking efforts are resulting in successful trips for anglers. The more anglers who join this challenge, the better data we’ll have for future management decisions," Herbst said.
THE CHALLENGE
This year's challenge includes several states across the Midwest and into Canada. It's all part of a larger fisheries research project funded by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.
Michigan anglers compete against other Michiganders for biweekly prizes, while all catches from across the Midwest can qualify for the grand prize drawings at the end of the vent.
Participants can choose from free entry option to qualify for noncash prizes or pay the $25 fee to qualify for all prizes, including cash payouts.
All Michigan fishing rules and regulations apply.
HOW TO SIGN UP
You'll have to download the MyCatch app by Angler’s Atlas.
It runs from May 1 through June 30.
The total prize value for those who pay to sign up is $25,000.
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