Frankfort, KY (February 24, 2004) - Fishermen everywhere are starting to think hard about the chance of catching two-pound crappie and six-pound bass at their favorite fishing hole as the onset of the spring fishing season approaches.

Those anglers who do catch exceptional fish from Kentucky waters this spring will be able to apply over the internet for a Kentucky Trophy Fish Award through the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) website.

The Kentucky Trophy Fish / Master Angler Award Program recognizes anglers with certificates and plaques following acceptance of an application and species verification. Applications are available at fw.ky.gov under the fishing tab. Once filled out, the angler can submit it electronically, along with a digital photo of the fish and angler, to the agency’s "One that Didn’t Get Away" e-mail service for the Kentucky Afield Television Show. When submitting electronically, angler and witness names may be typed in rather than signed.

Applications will be reviewed, and approved for recognition within a few days of being submitted. The angler will be notified, and then sent a Trophy Fish Award certificate by mail assuming his or her catch meets the minimum size requirements. Once an angler catches three different species that meet the trophy fish size requirements, he or she qualifies as a Kentucky Master Angler. Master anglers receive individual certificates for each qualifying catch, and a plaque for their overall achievement. There is no time frame in which the three different qualifying species have to be caught, but becoming a Kentucky master angler is no easy task.

A number of the trophy fish taken each year are caught during the early spring, when several species are getting into the spawning mode and often larger fish move into shallow water. Many trophy sized fish that are caught are being returned to the water by anglers these days, which KDFWR officials applaud as good management. Anglers can have a fishing buddy snap a digital photo of the fish in the applicant’s hands, then the fish can be put back in the water and the angler still have what’s needed to apply for a trophy award.

For complete information about the minimum requirements to qualify as a Kentucky trophy fish, visit fw.ky.gov, or obtain a copy of the 2005 Kentucky Sport Fishing & Boating Guide from any hunting and fishing license outlet.

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