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2/14/2007 Master Angler program provides challenge to fishermen
To qualify, an angler must
catch a fish meeting or surpassing the weight standard for that species.
This in itself is an accomplishment, as the standards are high. Then, to be
certified as a Master Angler, the fisherman must catch qualifiers in three
other categories. That calls for versatility as well as skill.
The required four
different categories can be chosen from eight classes of
Ferry said, "
Anglers landing a
qualifying fish in a single category will receive a beautifully enameled
clutch-back pin depicting fish in that specific category and a letter of
recognition. Once the fisherman has caught a qualifying fish in four
different categories, he or she can claim the title of Master Angler. As a
Master Angler the fisherman will receive a hand-lettered certificate
suitable for framing and display. Both resident and nonresident anglers are
eligible for the awards, but a person who has been convicted of a fishing
violation in the past three years is not eligible.
Minimum qualifying
weights, by species:
Black Bass:
largemouth bass 8.0 pounds; smallmouth bass 3.5 pounds; spotted bass 4.0
pounds.
Sunfish:
bluegill 1.0 pounds; redear 1.5 pounds; longear sunfish 0.5 pounds; warmouth
1.0 pounds; rock bass 1.0 pounds; green sunfish 1.0 pounds; hybrid bream 1.5
pounds.
Pikes and True
Perches: sauger 2.0 pounds; walleye 14.0 pounds; pickerel 4.0
pounds; northern pike 10.0 pounds; tiger muskie 5.0 pounds.
Catfish:
bullhead catfish 2.0 pounds; flathead catfish 20.0 pounds; channel catfish
12.0 pounds; blue catfish 20.0 pounds.
Trout:
rainbow trout 8.0 pounds; brown trout 12.0 pounds; brook trout 3.0 pounds;
cutthroat trout 5.0 pounds; lake trout 5.0 pounds.
True Basses:
striped bass 25.0 pounds; hybrid striped bass 13.0 pounds; white bass 3.5
pounds.
Crappie:
white crappie 3.0 pounds; black crappie 3.0 pounds.
Rough Fish:
bowfin 10.0 pounds; common carp 20.0 pounds; gar 20.0 pounds; paddlefish
30.0 pounds; grass carp 30.0 pounds; drum 12.0 pounds; buffalo 30.0 pounds.
It's a challenge, as a
fisherman can see from these minimums. But no one expects a Master Angler
Award to come easily.
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LITTLE
ROCK – Late winter and early spring are often the big fish seasons in
Entry
forms are available at most boat docks and bait shops or by writing the
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, attn: Master Angler Award, 2 Natural
Resources Drive, Little Rock, AR 72205. Applications are also available on
the AGFC Web site at 