By Louie Stout

I know you guys are catching walleye. So why aren’t you entering them in the Midwest Walleye Challenge?

As of Thursday, only 24 Hoosiers had entered and logged 146 fish from 32 Indiana bodies of water. Oddly enough, southern Indiana – mostly Brookville Reservoir - has dominated the Hoosier entries.

However, some entries have come from Clear and Crooked lakes in Steuben County. Strangely, none have been entered from the St. Joseph River, Maxinkuckee or Winona lakes where walleyes are frequently stocked.

The ongoing competition is open to anyone. It offers a free division and another with a $25 entry fee. It runs through June 30.

Biweekly prizes are offered in a variety of categories, which can be found on the website listed below. There’s even a category for getting skunked in which random drawings will be held.

You can register at https://www.anglersatlas.com/event/769/2024-indiana-midwest-walleye-challenge-2024.

All you need to do is register and download the app on your smart phone, post a photo of your catch and submit it, along with a few details. You can enter as many fish as you wish and you can release the fish or keep them – your choice.

Anglers can submit catches and their time on the water for multiple categories, including a “Tough Luck” category for those who log fishing trips but don’t catch anything, a “Most Waterbodies Fished” category for those who log trips from multiple rivers, lakes, and streams, and a standard “Longest Fish” category, in addition to random prize drawings for everyone who takes part.

You not only create a chance to win something but you’re helping the Indiana DNR.

“That helps us look at catch rates to determine how the stocking program is going,” said Matt Linn, DNR research biologist.