Illinois anglers eager to showcase their skills in catching walleye, sauger, or saugeye are gearing up for the virtual Midwest Walleye Challenge set to take place in 2024. Started by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and in collaboration with other states, provinces, and experts at Anglers Atlas, this year's competition looks to provide invaluable insights into the region's fisheries.

Kevin Irons, Assistant Chief of the IDNR fisheries division, spoke on the significance of such competitions in advancing understanding of Illinois' fisheries. Irons says competitions like this are incredibly valuable to the understanding of Illinois’s lakes and ponds, reassuring anglers that sensitive location data will remain confidential.

Utilizing the mobile app MyCatch, participants will record the length of each fish caught by capturing a photo on a measuring device. Once reviewed and meets the rules, the catch appears on a live leaderboard, creating a competitive atmosphere.

Sean Simmons, founder and president of MyCatch, expressed excitement about expanding the innovative tournament format beyond Iowa, emphasizing its potential in other Midwest states and Canada.

The competition offers two participant categories: a $25 entry fee category with cash and non-cash prizes and a free category with non-cash prizes. Prize categories are tailored to meet the data needs of fisheries biologists, including awards for "Tough luck" (zero catches) to identify locations lacking fish presence and "Most waterbodies fished" to enhance data collection amount. Longest fish caught and random-draw prizes further incentivize anglers to report their catches, ensuring a comprehensive representation of the walleye fishery.

Illinois anglers are encouraged to sign up online, marking their participation in a groundbreaking event that not only celebrates the thrill of angling but also contributes to vital fisheries management efforts across the Midwest.