The Master Angler Program in Manitoba had been around for 50 years, making it the oldest master angler program in North America. According to the program’s website, over “10,000 trophy fish from 30 qualifying species were caught and recorded - and almost 90% of those were released!” The program was set in place to highlight the top tier fishing that is available to expert anglers in Manitoba. 

To enter your fish, it must be a Master Angler qualified fish. You have to submit: the length of the fish, a photo of the fish against a ruler or another measurement tool, use of a hook and line to catch the fish, state where and when the fish was caught. Every fish that qualifies receives a certificate signifying your successful catch. Plus, Anglers who catch-and-release a trophy fish are rewarded with a special certificate.

Our SavvyBoater customers, Mike and Al, are finishing up a trip in Manitoba and were kind enough to share their angler adventure. Mike said, “We travel 420 miles North to Paradise Lodge on lake Athapapuskow just South of Flin Flon Manitoba for a week of trout fishing. We fish off of the South East tip of McKenzie point on the West side of the lake looking to anchor in 100 to 110 feet of depth. We anchor and use 1 to 2 ounce jigs tipped with a strip of sucker fish fillet.”

Mike and Al focus on finding the rare “big ones” rather than a large quantity of qualifying fish. The minimum length for fish caught in the lake is 35 inches. Fish of that length or bigger receive a badge and certificate from Travel Manitoba. There are several badges anglers could receive, including: the Released Badge, Bronze, Silver (Expert), Gold (Grand Master), Platinum (Elite Angler), Diamond (Ultimate Angler), and various specialist badges. 

                         

Below is a list of length requirements from the Travel Manitoba website.

 Length Requirements

Species	Minimum Length
Arctic Char	51 cm (20 in)
Arctic Grayling	46 cm (18 in)
Black Crappie	30.5 cm (12 in)
Brook Trout	51 cm (20 in)
Brown Trout	51 cm (20 in)
Bullhead	30.5 cm (12 in)
Burbot	76 cm (30 in)
Channel Catfish	86.5 cm (34 in)
Cisco (Tullibee)
Common Carp	76 cm (30 in)
Freshwater Drum	61 cm (24 in)
Goldeye	35.5 cm (14 in)
Kokanee	51 cm (20 in)
Lake Sturgeon	109 cm (43 in)
Lake Trout	89 cm (35 in)
Lake Whitefish	56 cm (22 in)
Largemouth Bass	46 cm (18 in)
Mooneye	35.5 cm (14 in)
Muskellunge	79 cm (31 in)
Northern Pike	104 cm (41 in)
Rainbow Trout	51 cm (20 in)
Rock Bass	25.5 cm (10 in)
Sauger	46 cm (18 in)
Smallmouth Bass	46 cm (18 in)
Splake	51 cm (20 in)
Sucker	46 cm (18 in)
Sunfish	18 cm (7 in)
Tiger Trout	51 cm (20 in)
Walleye	71 cm (28 in)
White Bass	38 cm (15 in)
Yellow Perch	33 cm (13 in)