The 2026 Midwest Walleye Challenge is set to bring even bigger competition in the 2026 season. New for this season, the Midwest Walleye Challenge will feature both individual and team competition.
The Midwest Walleye Challenge is hosted by Anglers Atlas and the MyCatch app. The event takes place in South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan from April 1-June 28, 2026. This is a citizen science event, with the information from all the trips, walleyes caught, and locations fished shared with state biologists to better manage the fisheries.
In 2025, a total of 104 anglers participated in the event in South Dakota. These anglers logged 1,926 hours of fishing across 54 waters and reported 1,822 walleyes. The largest walleye was 29.3 inches, and the average fish was 16.1 inches.
South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) fisheries managers use this data to learn about walleye populations in lakes that are not surveyed annually, and compare angler catch rates and sizes with existing sampling data.
Entering every fish is important, as walleye lengths can identify a fish’s year class. This is used to determine natural recruitment, stocking success, and other year class data. South Dakota waters will also be compared with results in other participating states.
The event is entirely online and open for waters across South Dakota. Eligible species include walleye, sauger, and saugeye. Anglers log their trip when they head out on the water, and measure and log all the fish they catch through the myCatch app.
Midwest Walleye Challenge Basics:
- Event Timeframe: April 1-June 28, 2026
- Open Area: All Waters in South Dakota
- Eligible Species: Walleye, Sauger, Saugeye
- Entry Fee: $25 per angler
- Fish Submissions: MyCatch app
Common Questions About the Midwest Walleye Challenge
How much is it to enter?
Anglers pay $25 to enter the contest, and are then entered to receive a $20 Tackle Warehouse gift card, weekly, and grand prizes.
Are fishing spots shared on the map or with others?
No, data is only shared with fisheries managers on a waterbody wide level. No exact locations are shared, and other anglers cannot see where you are fishing in the competition.
Which fish should be recorded in the contest?
Any walleye, sauger, and saugeye caught can, and should, be entered in the event. Fish of all sizes are valuable for fisheries managers, and provide information on recruitment, growth, and year-classes present within the system. Additionally, the more fish entered the more chances at winning a prize.
Is the app hard to use?
No, the MyCatch app is extremely easy to use and fish can be submitted quickly. Simply place the fish on the measuring board, raise your phone over the fish, and submit the results. Location will be logged automatically, and anglers will have waypoints placed on the fish they catch for their own reference on the map.
Is this only for tournament anglers?
No, the Midwest Walleye Challenge is designed for everyone. Whether you fish every day, or once a month, this is an opportunity to get involved in fisheries management, have fun, and win prizes.
Do anglers need to live in the same county as their captain?
No, anglers can join any team they wish as long as the captain is part of that respective county.
Join Team Lip Ripper Fishing
Anglers wishing to participate in the event are encouraged to join Team Lip Ripper Fishing. Anglers can select their team upon registration, and the more members on the team the better the chance of winning!
