(Area) The Iowa Walleye Challenge runs May 1st through June 30th.
Fisheries Biologist Bryan Hayes says this is a valuable way for the Iowa DNR to gain information on the walleye population. “We’ve partnered with a group called MyCatch that has an atlas and runs online tournaments. The idea is to offer a lot of prizes, get walleye anglers involved, and then we get the data.”
Statistics include the number caught, the amount of fishing pressure, and the sizes of walleye caught. “There’s a $25 entry fee. You download the MyCatch app and as you walleye fish between May and the end of June you record your catch, record the amount of time you are walleye fishing. Prizes are awarded. There are local prizes worth over $6,000.”
Hayes says they did a trial run last year, but are looking for more participation in 2023.
