How to Master Angler in Manitoba
The Manitoba Master Angler Program is best known for celebrating trophy fish, but it is also one of the most useful tools anglers have for learning what is being caught, where it is happening and what species are worth targeting on your next trip. You can use it to submit your own catch, work toward badges and dig into a massive record book that helps you spot patterns across water bodies and seasons.
This guide walks through the essentials in one place, the key rules and photo requirements, how to submit a catch online, how the L’il Angler program works for kids, where to find the full list of eligible species and minimum lengths, what rewards and badges you can earn, a quick history of the program and how to use the record book as a planning tool for future trips.
Master Angler rules and regulations
Before you submit, it pays to know what the program requires. A clean submission with the right photos and details is the difference between a quick approval and a rejected entry.
Submission basics
To register a Master Angler catch, you must provide accurate information about your fish, including the species, length, date and location where you caught it. Registered fish must be caught in Manitoba in accordance with provincial angling regulations, and the fish must be caught using hook and line.
Qualifying fish must be submitted digitally through the Master Angler Awards website or mobile app. Submissions must be made within 1 year of the catch to be eligible for an award. Travel Manitoba is the sole and final judge of entry acceptance and reserves the right to request additional information or requirements if needed.
Photo requirements that matter most
To qualify for a Master Angler Award, all submissions must include a horizontal measurement photo showing the entire length of the fish against a ruler, measuring tape or bump board. An action photo is optional, but highly encouraged.
There are also clear photo rules that cause rejections. Catches will not be accepted if images show vertical gill holds, eye holds, weigh scale holds, or fish stringer holds. Catches will not be accepted if the submission includes pictures of frozen fish declared as released. Photos that are thumbnails or screen captures from a mobile device or desktop computer will not be accepted.
Photos containing blood will not be posted on the Master Angler website. Also note that all pictures provided become the property of Travel Manitoba and may be used for publishing on the website or in promotional materials.
Important submission note
No changes in the length stated on the application form will be accepted. Measure carefully, take a clear photo, then enter your length accurately the first time.
Badge rules to know
Only one Bronze, Silver, or Gold badge and release crest will be awarded to any one angler, but certificates will be presented for all qualifying fish. Different specialist badges are awarded for each species, one per species.
How to submit your catch
If you have never submitted a trophy fish before, the process is straightforward; it just goes best when you have everything ready before you start.
What you will want ready first
Have these details and photos ready before you begin your submission:
- Fish species
- Fish length
- A horizontal measurement photo showing the entire length against a ruler, tape or bump board
- Date caught
- Location and body of water
- Your name and mailing address
Step-by-step submission flow
- Measure your fish and take the required horizontal measurement photo first.
- Take an optional action photo if you have time; it helps tell the story.
- Start your digital submission on the Master Angler website or mobile app.
- Enter your catch details carefully, especially the length.
- Upload your photos, review your entry, then submit.
If you want to see exactly how the submission process works, check out Aaron Wiebe’s step-by-step video walkthrough. He covers what you need ready beforehand, how to enter your catch details and what makes a measurement photo count, so you can submit with confidence the first time.
The L’il Angler Program
Budding anglers will delight in Manitoba’s L’il Angler program for kids. Geared toward children 12 years of age and younger, the program encourages novice anglers to get hooked on fishing and gain a little recognition. It is easy and fun.
When little anglers catch their first fish, they or their parents send an application form and photo to the program. Travel Manitoba will send the L’il Angler a one-time embroidered crest signifying their first catch, along with a Certificate of Achievement. There is no length requirement, and the fish can be any of those species found in Manitoba.
If a youngster’s first fish happens to meet the Manitoba Master Angler requirements, it must be registered separately and follow the submission guidelines of the Master Angler program.
Key details to remember:
- Applicant must be 12 years of age or younger.
- Limit of one entry and award per individual throughout the entire eligibility period.
- Fish must be caught in Manitoba by angling for recreation in accordance with provincial angling regulations.
- A picture of the angler and fish must accompany the entry. All pictures become the property of Travel Manitoba, including publishing rights and will not be returned.
Eligible species and length requirements
The Master Angler program includes 30 eligible species, each with a minimum length requirement. This is one of the most useful pages to bookmark, because it lets you quickly confirm whether your fish qualifies before you ever leave the dock or ice.
Rewards and badges
Every qualifying Master Angler fish you catch is honoured with a certificate recording your success. A unique certificate is given to those anglers who catch and release a trophy fish. Set aside a special place to display the highlights of your Manitoba angling adventures.
Catch and release is a major part of the program, and the Catch and Release badge is given to individuals who release a qualifying fish. The growing number of badges awarded each year is a strong sign of anglers’ overall commitment to ensuring the future of our fisheries resource.
Released Badge
The Released badge is presented to anglers who catch and release their first trophy fish of qualifying size, in any one of the 30 eligible species.
Bronze Badge
Awarded only once, the Bronze badge is presented to anglers who catch their first trophy fish of qualifying size, in any one of the 30 eligible species.
Silver Badge (The Expert)
This badge honours the skill and scope it takes to catch one qualifying fish from five different species. The combination you choose to become an Expert is up to you.
Gold Badge (The Grand Master)
The right to wear gold is achieved by those who catch a qualifying fish from ten different species. A once-in-a-lifetime award, the Grand Master gold badge salutes the dedication, versatility and level of accomplishment of those who pursue this title.
Platinum Badge (Elite Angler)
The honour of wearing Platinum is awarded to anglers who catch one qualifying fish from 15 different species. A once-in-a-lifetime award, the Elite Angler platinum badge acknowledges the determination, perseverance, and level of accomplishment of those anglers who have reached this prestigious level.
Diamond Badge (Ultimate Angler)
This extreme level of achievement and the right to wear Diamond is reserved for those anglers who register one qualifying fish in twenty different species. A once-in-a-lifetime award, the Diamond level is the most rewarding and esteemed level of accomplishment.
Specialist badges
Specialist badges reward anglers who go deep on one species. Catch five qualifying fish of any one species to receive their specialist award.
Master Angler history
From its modest beginning when the first badges and certificates were issued to 480 anglers catching trophy fish of seven different species, to today with 30 species and nearly 500,000 registered trophy fish, the Master Angler program provides an awards system that recognizes anglers’ abilities and achievements.
From its inception, the program was an instant success, and in 1986, the Master Angler program was computerized due to its continued popularity and growth. The first automated awards were issued in 1987. Presently, nearly 20,000 entries are registered in the program each year, including entries to the L’il Angler Program, introduced in 2002.
How to use the online record book for your next trip
Submitting a trophy fish is only one part of what the Master Angler program offers. The online record book is also a powerful planning tool that can help you make smarter decisions on where to fish next.
The record book lets you explore past and recent trophy catches, and it includes filters that help you narrow down exactly what you are looking for. Depending on what you want to learn, you can filter between date ranges, search by first and last name, angler ID number, achieved award, species, body of water and fishing method, including fly fishing, ice fishing and open water. You can also view different lists, including Master Angler lists, L’il Angler lists and first-time Master Anglers.
Once you have results, you can sort them to compare patterns. Sorting by date helps you spot timing windows. Sorting by length helps you see trophy potential. Sorting by species and water body helps you quickly understand what a lake or river is producing and what anglers are consistently registering from that area.
All of these features help anglers deep-dive into specific species and water bodies, see the sizes being registered from different locations, and make informed decisions on where to travel to chase their next Master Angler fish. Using the date function lets you examine the most recent catch trends or look into the past for historical trends, so you can plan ahead and be ready for peak windows each year.
If there is a specific pin you are working toward, especially a Specialist badge for a particular species, the record book is also one of the best ways to narrow down where anglers have historically been successful with that species and which water bodies consistently produce qualifying fish.
Your next Master Angler starts here
The Manitoba Master Angler Program is easy to join, but it rewards anglers who pay attention to the details. Follow the rules, take the right measurement photos and submit your catch within a year, and you will be set up for success.
Beyond submissions, the record book makes the program even more valuable. It turns thousands of registered trophy catches into a resource you can use to plan better trips, target new species and build your own badge journey, whether you are chasing your first Bronze or working toward Diamond.
Now it is your turn, pick a species, pick a water body and put a plan together. Get out there, fish hard and chase your next fish of a lifetime, then make it official in the Manitoba Master Angler Program.
