2005 Outdoor Life Fishing Awards Program

Photo by Outdoor Life Online Editor

Sharpen your hooks, check your line and prepare to earn an Outdoor Life Distinguished Angler's Award for catching a bragging-size fish this year.

Land a fish that meets the minimum requirements of the Outdoor Life Fishing Awards Program, and "Uncle" Homer Circle, Outdoor Life Bass Editor and supervisor of the program, will send you an autographed certificate. You don't need to catch a record-breaker, just one that meets the minimum weight requirements for any of the 28 freshwater species listed on the opposite page. Garmin Electronics, Minn Kota Trolling Motors, Penn Fishing Tackle and Shakespeare Fishing Tackle co-sponsor the program.

Keep the entry blank handy and fill it out when you catch a fish as heavy as or heavier than the category weight listed. Mail in the entry form and we'll take care of the rest. If your catch is
the biggest fish entered in a particular category this year, you'll receive
the Biggest in Category Award certificate, a pewter Trophy Fish pin for your hat or vest and an embroidered patch. In addition, Outdoor Life will print your name along with the names of the other category winners.

All that's required is that you catch a qualifying fish on sporting tackle and use a method that conforms to state laws, weigh the fish on certified scales and provide a photo of yourself with the fish. The program runs all year;
entries received after December 31 will be entered in next year's program.

For youngsters under 12, there's the Special Youth Division. Each eligible entrant will receive an autographed certificate from Uncle Homer. Plus, each category winner will receive the pewter pin, the patch and a special parchment award for heaviest in category. We want budding anglers to know we're proud of them, and to show their pictures when possible, so send us a snapshot.

Think about where you're going to catch that hefty qualifier and get after it as soon as the weather allows. Review the list of eligible fish categories and
the minimum weights required to enter the Outdoor Life Fishing Awards Program. Bet there are some fish that size swimming in your local waters. What are you waiting for?

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AWARD RULES
> An eligible fish must be caught on sporting tackle and hooked and landed by the program entrant.

> A fish must be entered for the state or province in which it was caught and
conform to local laws regarding fishing methods and size limits.

> A fish to be entered in the program must be weighed on an accurate scale.

> Fish must be measured by closing the fish's mouth and measuring from the tip of its jaw to the tip of its tail for length, and around the widest part of its body for girth.

> Completed entry forms must be received by program headquarters no later than
60 days after an eligible fish has been caught. Entries received after September 15, 2005, will be entered in the 2006
Outdoor Life Fishing Awards Program. Entry forms may be copied for multiple entries.

> Fish must be weighed and measured in the presence of a witness, who then must sign the official entry blank or a legible copy of the entry blank.

> The entry blank must be accompanied by a clear photograph of the fish being held
by the fisherman who caught it. Photos will not be returned to senders.

> Only U.S. or Canadian citizens may
participate. Employees of Outdoor Life magazine, its parent company, divisions
or affiliates are not eligible to enter. The
program is void where prohibited by law.

ELIGIBLE SPECIES AND
MINIMUM WEIGHTS
Largemouth bass, 5 pounds; smallmouth bass, 31/2 pounds; Kentucky spotted bass, 3 pounds; striped bass, 12 pounds; white bass, 2 pounds; bluegill, 1 pound; redear sunfish (shellcracker), 11/2 pounds; crappie,
2 pounds; channel catfish, 10 pounds; blue catfish, 15 pounds; flathead catfish, 15 pounds; carp, 12 pounds; yyellow perch, 11/2 pounds; walleye, 5 pounds; northern pike, 15 pounds; muskellunge, 20 pounds; chain pickerel, 4 pounds; rainbow trout, 5 pounds; brown trout, 6 pounds; brook trout, 2 pounds; cutthroat trout, 4 pounds; golden trout, 2 pounds; Dolly Varden, 5 pounds; lake trout, 10 pounds; steelhead, 8 pounds; king salmon, 18 pounds; coho salmon, 10 pounds; sockeye salmon, 8 pounds.

Click Here for a printable version of the entry form.

Special Thanks to...