May 10, 2026
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is partnering with MyCatch by Angler's Atlas on a statewide walleye fishing challenge that includes all inland waters in the state.
The challenge runs May 15 through June 28.
The challenge provides a unique opportunity for anglers to assist with walleye conservation efforts in Michigan and provide critical information on fishing effort and catch from inland waters that the DNR would otherwise not have.
The Challenge.
As part of the challenge, anglers report their catches of walleye and their fishing trips in the MyCatch mobile app. The app uses anonymous location data, so your best fishing spots stay secret, while Michigan DNR fisheries biologists get valuable information — generalized lake and river catch data entered via the app — to better assess and manage walleye populations. This year, the challenge will include two new features: County Captains and weekly challenges aimed at boosting angler engagement in participating states.
This year's challenge includes several states across the Midwest as part of a larger fisheries research project. States participating and promoting the challenge include Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Nebraska, and South Dakota.
Michigan anglers compete only against Michigan anglers for weekly prizes, as well as grand prize drawings at the end of the event. The addition of County Captains, who will serve as local leaders to encourage anglers in their counties to participate, and weekly challenges with different goals throughout the season provide new ways for anglers to engage in the challenge. Full details about prizes and qualifications are available on the prizes tab of the main event webpage.Participants must pay a $25 fee to register, which qualifies them for prizes, including cash payouts. The entry fee also includes a $20 Discount Tackle gift certificate for every angler who reports a valid trip.
All Michigan fishing rules and regulations still apply, and anglers are required to have a valid fishing license (or valid exemption) to participate in the challenge.
Questions?
For more information on the Midwest Walleye Challenge, email Angler's Atlas at events@anglersatlas.com.Sault Tribe Guardian Advertising follows.
