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Master Angler Awards Program
The Master Angler Recognition Program is designed to recognize anglers for success in their sport, as well as to promote the conservation of fishery resources and quality trophy sized sport fish. The program offers Master Master Angler logoAngler award certificates based on fish length.
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Master Angler Awards
Anglers who catch a qualifying-length fish will receive a Master Angler certificate and patch. Only one patch per angler will be awarded each year. However, anglers who submit more than one entry will receive a certificate for each accepted additional entry.
Rules
- Paper forms will not be accepted.
- Fish must be hooked, played and landed on sport tackle by the entrant. Fish that are snagged, speared or shot with a bow are not eligible.
- Only fish caught in Colorado are eligible for entry and must be submitted within 60 days of the catch.
- The catch must be made in Colorado in compliance with all state fishing regulations and be submitted within 60 days of being caught.
- How to measure: Close fish’s mouth and measure from the tip of jaw to the tip of the tail with measuring device behind the fish and not following the curvature of the fish. This is the total length.
Qualifying Lengths
| SPECIES |
LENGTH (inches) |
| TROUT |
|
| Arctic Char |
18 |
| Brook |
16 |
| Brown |
22 |
| Cutbow |
22 |
| Golden |
16 |
| Grayling |
15 |
| Lake |
32 |
| Native Cutthroat |
20 |
| Snake River Cutthroat |
20 |
| Splake |
20 |
| Rainbow |
24 |
| Tiger |
18 |
| SALMON & WHITEFISH |
|
| Chinook |
28 |
| Kokanee (angling only) |
20 |
| Mountain Whitefish |
15 |
| CATFISH |
|
| Blue |
30 |
| Black Bullhead |
14 |
| Brown Bullhead |
14 |
| Channel |
30 |
| Flathead |
30 |
| PIKE | |
| Northern |
36 |
| Tiger Muskie |
40 |
| PERCH |
|
| Sacramento |
12 |
| Sauger |
16 |
| Saugeye |
26 |
| Yellow |
12 |
| Walleye |
26 |
| BASS |
|
| Hybrid Striped (Wiper) |
25 |
| Largemouth |
18 |
| Smallmouth |
17 |
| Spotted |
18 |
| Striped |
28 |
| Rock |
10 |
| White |
17 |
| CARP & SUCKERS |
|
| Common Carp |
30 |
| Grass Carp |
30 |
| Longnose Sucker |
18 |
| White Sucker |
22 |
| Tench |
18 |
| DRUM |
|
| Freshwater Drum |
20 |
| SUNFISH |
|
| Bluegill |
10 |
| Green Sunfish |
10 |
| Hybrid Sunfish |
10 |
| Redear Sunfish |
12 |
| CRAPPIE |
|
| Black |
14 |
| White |
14 |
How do I apply?
Anglers who wish to receive a Master Angler Award must submit an application detailing the catch.
Heritage Master Angler Length Awards
The Heritage Master Angler Length Awards are a culmination of the largest fish of each species submitted through our Master Angler program from its inception through 2019.