Courtesy art

LANSING – Every year, thousands of anglers submit their biggest catches for Master Angler honors — and a patch to prove it. The DNR’s Master Angler program results for 2025, available now, can be a great resource for finding big fish, the best times to fish for them and the most successful fishing methods.

The revamped Master Angler online application reduced errors and duplicate entries and made the submission process easier for anglers. Last year, 4,391 entries were approved from 3,577 anglers — a 25% increase in entries over 2024. While most awards went to Michigan residents, anglers from 30 other states across the country fished Michigan waters and participated in the program.

Lake Michigan had the most awards, but Master Angler fish were caught at 760 different bodies of water. The top five species submitted were:

– Bluegill

– Crappie

– Pumpkinseed

– White bass

– Yellow perch

The Master Angler program includes more than 45 species. Applications for fish caught between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2026, will be accepted until Jan. 10, 2027.

When you’re ready to submit your catch, make sure you avoid the top two mistakes that can get your entry denied:

Not ensuring that the fish meets the minimum length requirement for the species.

Not including a photo of the fish on a standard measuring device, such as a tape measure.