Anglers who receive the commendation of Expert Angler are renowned for their angling specialization. To establish a standing as a lifetime “Expert,” anglers must document their fishing skills by landing and registering 10 trophy-size fish (see trophy fish chart) of the same species. When an angler accomplishes this he/she is recognized as a lifetime Expert Angler for that species. The angler receives a species-specific patch and a certificate. There is no separate application to fill out. Our computers count the number and type of trophy fish each angler registers and flags us when someone qualifies as an expert. Expert Angler Awards are available for all of the species in the program with the below exceptions as aggregates.
Expert and Master Angler Details for Black and White Crappie:
- Expert angler status will be an aggregate of all black and white crappie that an angler has caught. Any trophy combination of black and white crappie that sums to 10 will allow an angler to achieve expert angler in crappie.
- If crappie currently counts towards an anglers’ master angler status, he or she will need to catch both black crappie and white crappie to achieve an extra point towards future master angler levels. This will involve an angler to re-catch one or both of the crappie species.
Expert and Master Angler Details for Bluegill, Redear Sunfish, and Other Sunfish:
- Expert angler status will be an aggregate of all Bluegill, Redear Sunfish, and Other Sunfish that an angler has caught. Any trophy combination of Bluegill, Redear Sunfish, and Other Sunfish that sums to 10 will allow an angler to achieve expert angler in Sunfish.
- If Sunfish currently counts towards an anglers’ master angler status, he or she will need to catch both Bluegill and Redear Sunfish to achieve an extra point towards future master angler levels. To get two extra points towards future master angler levels he or she will need to catch Bluegill, Redear Sunfish, and Other Sunfish. This will involve an angler to re-catch one or all of the Sunfish species.
- Species that anglers can catch that would count towards Other Sunfish include Pumpkinseed, Green Sunfish, Flier, and Warmouth.