As we have shared previously, the Midwest Walleye Challenge will be coming to South Dakota and in addition to being a fun and exciting way to compete with fellow anglers this event will provide valuable information to South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) fisheries biologists.
Learn More: Midwest Walleye Challenge Set for South Dakota
“South Dakota has many waters which cannot all be surveyed each year,” said Brian Blackwell, GFP regional fisheries biologist in a press release. “Anglers can provide walleye lengths to show biologists what is present in more waterbodies than we can reach.”
This is why GFP will be participating in the Midwest Walleye Challenge, which is hosted by AnglersAtlas.com and the MyCatch app. The event will run from April 1-June 29, 2025.
“Reported catches will also provide data on walleye recruitment,” said Blackwell. “We can use this information to see if young year classes are present and to what extent.”
Anglers are reminded to report all catches, including when they don’t catch fish, as this is critical to provide that recruitment information to biologists.
“This is not about just submitting your biggest and best walleyes,” said Nick Harrington, Owner of Lip Ripper Fishing. “This is about having fun and submitting every fish we catch, including those failed trips too. That’s what is going to make this event successful.”
In addition to fish caught, where anglers are fishing is just as valuable.
“Another important use of this data is to see where anglers are fishing and could result in increased fish management and access improvements or projects,” said Blackwell.
Catch locations are not available to participants, and only provided to biologists on a waterbody level so anglers should not be concerned their secret spots will be busted because of their submissions.
This event is a multi-state research project, which assesses walleye fisheries across the Midwest. South Dakota data will be provided to GFP fisheries biologists and also compared to other regional states participating in the challenge, which includes Nebraska, Iowa, Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan.
“I’m most excited to see how we compare to our surrounding states,” continued Harrington. “We often say we have some of the best fisheries in the country, as anglers it’s time we go out and prove it.”
The Midwest Walleye Challenge is only $25 to participate in, and upon entering their first outing participants receive a $20 gift card to Discount Tackle.
“Remember this is a citizen science event,” states Harrington. “It’s cheap and easy to enter and it’s not about catching trophies, it’s about actively participating in fisheries management.”
Price categories include Early Bird, Referral, Tough Luck, Most Fish Caught, Most Waterbodies Fished, Release Video, Longest Walleye, and Random Draw Prizes.
“We think this is a great way to get information from the people who are out fishing,” said Blackwell. “Our anglers love our quality fisheries, and this is a way for them to share their knowledge and data with us.”
Complete information regarding the event, and where to register, can be found on AnglerAtlas.com.
