RULES

• Must be a current member of WAM to participate​
• Each fish meeting the minimum length criteria submitted for an award must be accompanied by a photograph of the fish on a tape measure and you holding the fish.
• Photograph must display the fish laying on a tape measure with the mouth of the fish closed and flush with the beginning of the tape.
• No adhesive rulers are permitted, as they tend to shrink over time. Must use a bump board, ruler, or tape measure ONLY
• Quickly photograph the fish on the measuring device and return the fish back to the water immediately
• ​Do not provide a picture of a fish hanging from a stringer or scale or any device to the like.
• All master angler qualified fish must be released back into the water
• The fish must be submitted for consideration no later than 30 days after the catch.  However, fish caught in May must be submitted in May and cannot be carried over to the Angler of the Year and Rookie of the Year contests for the following contest year.  
• ​The annual Master Angler Program will run from June 1st to May 31st each year.
• Fish MUST be caught during the season in which they are open. i.e. a Walleye caught in Minnesota on March 10th would not be eligible for an award as the season is closed.

​AWARDS

​Master Angler Award:

This award will be given to each member for any qualifying fish in each category. Only one submission per species will be accepted each year. You will receive recognition on social media and a special pin (via mail) commemorating your Master Angler catch. 

Angler of the Year Award:

This award will be given to the angler who has achieved the most  Master Angler Awards. If there is a tie, all participants will receive the award. The winner will be announced at the Open Water Tournament and receive a plaque and jacket commemorating their achievement.  NOTE: All core category fish and up to three Specialty & Rough category fish are eligible towards your total count for this award.   You are only eligible to win this award once every three years.

Rookie of the Year Award:

This award will be given to a new member who has achieved the most Master Angler Awards during the program year of June 1st to May 31st.  For example, if someone registers for WAM in January, they have five months left in their rookie year.  If there is a tie, all participants will receive the award. The winner will be announced at the Open Water Tournament and receive a plaque commemorating their achievement. NOTE: All core category fish and up to three Specialty & Rough category fish are eligible towards your total pin count for this award.  

The Specialist Award: 

This award will be given to a new member who has achieved the most Master Angler Awards during the program year of June 1st to May 31st in the Specialty & Rough categories. The winner will be announced at the Open Water Tournament and receive a plaque commemorating their achievement.  You are only eligible to win this award once every three years.

WAM Necklace:

This custom necklace is awarded to a member who has achieved six master angler awards. These master angler awards can be multi-species or all of one species (still a maximum of one species award per year). This is a cumulative award from program inception on 6/1/2017. Meaning if it takes you until 2025 to achieve this, we will maintain the records as long as the program is still in place, you will receive your award.

​Elite Master Angler Award: 

This award will be given to a member who has eight of the core multi-species master angler pins, and one from the specialty category (trout, catfish, salmon or sturgeon).The award for this achievement will be an Elite Master Angler Jacket. This is a cumulative award from the program inception on 6/1/2017. Meaning if it takes you until 2025 to achieve this, we will maintain the records as long as the program is still in place, you will receive your award.

​Personal integrity from each member demonstrates our commitment to providing fun, exciting and educational fishing opportunities. To encourage all club members to participate and strive for the Angler of the Year, members will be limited to winning Angler of the Year to one award every three years.  Please note that WAM reserves the right to change or discontinue the program at any time.

​Note:  All fish listed from the Core and Specialty categories are eligible for pins.  For example, a brook and a brown trout are both eligible for a pin.