The 2023 Iowa Walleye Challenge Is Here; Get Fishing!

I usually don't need another reason to go fishing, but I just found one! The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has officially announced the start of their Iowa Walleye Challenge with a chance to win amazing local and statewide prizes!

According to a press release from the government entity, the Iowa DNR is partnering for a second year with MyCatch by Angler’s Atlas to conduct a statewide walleye fishing challenge, now underway through June 30th. The Iowa Chapter of the American Fisheries Society has also joined as a research partner for the 2023 challenge.

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The Iowa Walleye Challenge uses the MyCatch mobile app to record the length of a fish. Participating anglers are encouraged to report all the walleye they catch in May and June through the MyCatch mobile app. DNR fisheries biologists will use the generalized lake and river catch data entered to assess and manage walleye populations across Iowa. Eligible fish include Walleye, Sauger, and Saugeye species.

Anglers will have the chance to win numerous local prizes, worth over $6,000, in addition to $5,000 in statewide weekly prizes. Anglers who sign up for the catch photo-release tournament by April 24th are eligible to win an Early Bird drawing for a $50 gift card from Kwik Star. 

“Results from year one were very promising. Angler groups and local fishing businesses are excited to pitch in and help with this walleye fishing challenge. Fleet Farm is donating over $1000 for the weekly Most Walleyes caught prize and is also providing digital coupons for all participants.”

-Jeff Kopaska, DNR fisheries research biometrician

Local prizes up for grabs include:

• Bellevue – Mississippi River Pools 12 & 13 (Offshore Resort, Kalmes Restaurant and Catering)
• Cedar Rapids/Iowa City – Lake Macbride (Cedar Rapids and Iowa City Walleye Club)
• Davenport/Bettendorf/Clinton – Lost Grove Lake (K&K Hardware, Duey’s Corner Tap, Walmart, Farm & Fleet), Mississippi River Pool 14 (R&R Sports)
• Dubuque/Guttenburg – Mississippi River Pools 10 & 11 (Mak’s Bait Shack, Murray’s Bait)
• More prizes for the 15 different areas across the state can be found here

Statewide prizes include:

• Longest walleye/sauger/saugeye - $150 awarded each week
• Most walleye/sauger/saugeye - $125 Fleet Farm Gift Card awarded each week
• Tough luck draw - $75 awarded each week
• 1st place longest walleye- $500 awarded at end of the challenge
• 2nd place longest walleye- $300 awarded at end of the challenge
• 3rd place longest walleye- $125 awarded at end of the challenge
• 1st place most walleye/sauger/saugeye- $500 awarded at end of the challenge
• 2nd place most walleye/sauger/saugeye - $300 awarded at end of the challenge
• 3rd place most walleye/sauger/saugeye - $125 awarded at end of the challenge

Anglers can register for the Iowa Walleye Challenge at this web address:

• https://www.anglersatlas.com/event/680/2023-iowa-walleye-challenge-2023

There is a $25 fee to enter the tournament; only paid participants can qualify for prizes. The individual who catches walleyes in the most different locations statewide will win additional prizes valued at over $150.