The admirable ranking of “Master Angler” is bestowed upon individuals with talent enough to land trophy-size fish of different species. When an angler catches 5 trophy-size fish of different species (see Trophy Freshwater Fish Size Chart). Then he/she is automatically recognized as a Master Angler I. There are 5 successive levels of Master Angler recognition. To ascend in rank the angler must catch 5 different trophy-size fish for each level of recognition. At each level the angler will receive a different Master Angler certificate and patch. There is no separate application to fill out. Our computers count the number and type of trophy fish each angler registers and lets us know when someone qualifies.
- Master Angler I = 5 trophy fish of different species
- Master Angler II = 10 trophy fish of different species
- Master Angler III = 15 trophy fish of different species
- Master Angler IV = 20 trophy fish of different species
- Master Angler V = 25 trophy fish of different species
- Master Angler VI = All 30 trophy fish of each species in the program
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.