Enhancements made to Midwest Walleye Challenge

Walleye anglers have a new way to compete, connect and contribute to fisheries science and management across the Midwest.

The third year of the Midwest Walleye Challenge introduces County Captains and Weekly Challenges — features designed to spark friendly rivalry, boost participation and strengthen local pride across participating states.

The Nebraska Walleye Challenge is a citizen science fishing event that brings anglers and biologists together to support walleye fisheries. Open to anglers of all skill levels, the event awards $10,000 in prizes, including “Tough Luck” prizes, for anglers who report trips even when no fish are caught.

The collection of catch data during the Nebraska challenge, which runs April 1-June 28, can help the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission learn more about Nebraska walleye fisheries. In the process, Nebraska anglers can see how their walleye fisheries compare to others in the Midwest.

County captains will serve as local leaders, rallying anglers in their counties to climb the leaderboard, regardless of where they fish. Weekly challenges will spotlight different goals throughout the season — from most fish reported to most water bodies fished — giving every angler many chances to win.

Here’s how it works: There is a $25 entry fee. Anglers record their walleye catches in the mobile app MyCatch. They must photograph their catches on a measuring device using the app. Once the fish is reviewed and meets rule requirements, it will appear on a live leaderboard. Weekly and grand prizes will be drawn. Anglers should report all fish they catch — and zero-catch trips — so biologists can better understand fish population structure.

For more information and to sign up, visit OutdoorNebraska.gov and search “Midwest Walleye Challenge.”

Anglers interested in captaining counties already not represented should contact Event Director Jim Clarke at jim.clarke@anglersatlas.com.