This is a length-based fishing event to be held in all legal to angle waterbodies in Alberta. Refer to the map attached to this event for the official boundaries.
The 2026 AWF Reel Spring Showdown is an online event run through Angler’s Atlas website and the mobile app MyCatch, available for iOS and Android.
Anyone can participate in this event and it is for all ages. Multiple accounts are able to use the same device (see accounts tab).
There is a $65.00 registration fee for adults and a $30.00 registration fee for Youth (15 & under) to enter the event.
Anglers 15 and younger must be fishing with an adult.
Each contestant must have a valid Alberta fishing license or otherwise be exempt from needing one.
Catches must be submitted through the MyCatch app for approval.
In order for catches to be sent properly, you must use the same login email and password for both the Angler’s Atlas website and the MyCatch app.
Contestants must register for this event through the Angler’s Atlas website or the MyCatch app.
You will receive an automatic email confirming that you have entered the event and that your payment has gone through.
If you enter after the event starts, you must wait 1 hour before you can submit a fish for entry.
By participating in this event your name may be publicly visible.
Protecting anglers’ privacy is a priority, and any location data collected during the event will not be released to the public. Our promise to anglers is “Secret Fishing Spots Stay Secret”. See below for further details.
Eligible species include only Rainbow Trout, Lake Trout, Northern Pike, Walleye & Yellow Perch. Catch, Photo and Release is suggested but not mandatory if the regulations allow for harvest in the entry location. If you harvest your catch you must follow all limits pertaining to possession and bag limits at all times.
In order for each catch to qualify, a photograph of the fish on a measuring device must be taken using the MyCatch app (ie. photos cannot be uploaded from a photo gallery or other source).
All contestants must have GPS/location services enabled on your cell phone for their catches to qualify. Your location data will be protected. For more information, see details below.
This is a total length measurement event, not fork length. The total length of a fish is measured from the tip of the nose or jaw to the tip of the tail (see picture below). The tail can be naturally pinched to the width of the measuring board.
Each fish must be entered only once. Fish should be entered as soon as possible after catching and catches must be recorded at the fishing site.
The nose of the fish must be at the start or zero mark on all measuring devices.
The entry photo must be taken from a birds-eye view looking down on the fish.
The mouth is allowed to be open, closed, or anywhere in between, so long as the fish meets the other above requirements.
All fish must be measured with the right side down.
There are to be no fingers placed in the gills or mouth of the fish. Any fingers in the gills or mouth of the fish will disqualify that fish. This rule applies to the Measurement photo only.
If you measure your fish entry on a commercially produced bumpboard, these rules must be followed:
The nose of the fish must be visibly touching the bump end of the board;
The fish must be placed on top of the board;
The entire fish showing the head and tail must be visible in the measurement photo. We must also see past the head and tail in the photo; and
Expandable (sliding) bump boards may not be allowed if the fish passes the expandable section.
If you measure your fish entry on a homemade bumpboard, these rules must be followed:
The measurement rules are the same as above.
You must provide a photo to the organizer of the empty board to verify proof of measurement accuracy, which includes a measuring tape alongside the bumpboard measurements for verification. This photo must be sent to [email protected].
Homemade bumpboards must have a solid edge or "bump" for the fish to be set against and it must line up with the 0 mark on the tape; and
Unverified boards will NOT be accepted
If you measure your fish using a tape measure, these rules must be followed:
The fish nose and the start of the tape must be aligned by placing both against a solid edge;
The fish's nose must be aligned with the zero mark on the tape;
The tape measure must be beside the fish, not on top of the fish or covering it in a way that obscures the measurements;
The entire fish showing the head and tail and past the tail must be visible in the measurement photo; and
*Rapala roll out tapes will be treated as a tape measure*.
Soft fabric or flexible measuring tapes will not be allowed for use.
Sliding/Expandable Bump boards will be allowed if it can be shown in the length submission photo that the board is fully extended
If an entry submission comes in where a measuring rule is not followed, the fish may still be approved but a length penalty will be applied. The penalty will apply to the observable length of the fish at the discretion of the Organizer. The set penalty amount will be 5 cm or 2 inches. The entry may also be rejected.
Fish will be approved for length only to the last physical mark crossed.
Event organizers reserve the right to adjust entries, and have the right to ask for a picture sent to them of your measuring device.
The Approval Team reviews and judges all fish. Once a submission has been approved, it will appear on the appropriate leaderboard(s). Entries will not show up immediately after you sync them.
During the entry process, additional photos and video will be prompted. Specifically a Hero Photo and a Release Video. While these are not mandatory, please include them with your submissions. There is/may be a prize for video submissions.
The app will work even when out of cell range, however for catches to qualify they must be synced with Angler’s Atlas server. To learn how to submit a catch into the event you can watch this MyCatch video for more information: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fS65wMakQHA
Event boundaries include all legal to fish waterbodies in Alberta. See the map attached to this event
The event runs from May 1, 2026 at 6:00:00 am MST through to June 30, 2026 at 10:00:00 pm MST.
All catches made within the start and end times must be synchronized with the Angler’s Atlas server within the event times to qualify.
At the discretion of the event organizer, event days may be shortened, postponed or canceled due to unsafe weather or water conditions.
Prizes for the event will be distributed in accordance with the prizing categories below.
Adult Category:
Overall Longest Rainbow Trout
Overall Longest Lake Trout
Overall Longest Northern Pike
Overall Longest Walleye
Overall Longest Yellow Perch
Greatest Number of Fish Entered
Random Draw Prize #1 from all Entries
Random Draw Prize #2 from all Entries
Random Draw Prize #1 of Videos’ Submitted
Random Draw Prize #1 of Videos’ Submitted
Youth Category:
Youth Random Draw Prize #1 from all Entries
Youth Random Draw Prize #2 from all Entries
Youth Random Draw Prize #3 from all Entries
Youth Random Draw Prize #4 from all Entries
Cash prize amounts are based on participants. If the event doesn’t reach 200, the payout percentages for each paid position will remain the same but will be adjusted according to the number of paid participants.
Fish do not appear on the leaderboards until they have been approved by the approval team, so don’t expect to see them reflected on the leaderboard immediately. To check that your fish was recorded successfully, inspect your Log View on the app (2nd icon from the left at the bottom). If your fish is there, it logged successfully.
A participant can only win one prize placing per prize category.
In the case of a tie, the tie break will go to the first fish recorded by time. If a tie still exists, the tie break will go to the person with the highest number of fish reported.
Awards will be announced after a review process on or by July 7, 2026 and anglers will be contacted directly using the contact information provided in the event registration process. Cash prizes are awarded through e transfer or check. Prizes will be paid out at the end of the event.
Anglers have up to 60 days to claim their prize. Anglers that do not claim their prize within this period forfeit their prize.
By registering and participating in the event, all participants agree to abide by the rules and regulations they have received as set out in this rules document.
For this event, we encourage catch and release fishing but it is not mandatory. You must follow all limits pertaining to possession and bag limits at all times.
All fish entered for this event must be caught via angling i.e. using hook, line, rod and reel. Fish caught by non angling (i.e. use of traps, trap nets or cages) is not permitted. Usage of a landing net to land a hooked fish is allowed.
Anglers can only submit catches that they have caught themselves. This is an individual event, so you cannot enter as a partnership or team. Anglers are free to fish alone or with other event or non-event anglers, but each registered angler may only enter their own fish.
To ensure the best chances of survival for the fish, all participants are to handle fish safely. Blatant abuse to fish or the resource is reason for disqualification (OPTIONAL)
Each contestant must have in their possession a valid fishing license for their respective jurisdiction or be exempt under regulations of their jurisdiction.
Each contestant must conform to the general sport fishing rules and regulations that are in place for the jurisdiction in which they are fishing.
All federal, provincial and local laws must be abided by.
All questions or concerns relating to the rules of this event are to be referred to the Organizer. Their decision will be final in all cases. No other person can be considered a spokesman for the rules during the event. The contact for this event is AWF Conservation Program Manager and can be reached by email at [email protected]
The interpretation and enforcement of the rules is at the sole discretion of the Organizer. The event Organizer may change rules or impose sanctions as they deem appropriate, including but not limited to disqualifications, forfeiture of prizes, and prohibition from competing in future events. All decisions made by the event Organizer are final.
Abuse of event officials and volunteers will not be tolerated.
Any angler found to be cheating will be disqualified from the event. Angler’s Atlas also reserves the right to ban anglers from competing in future events.
In the event of disqualification, any paid entry fees will be forfeited and not refunded.
Any contestant has the right to make a protest against another contestant by contacting an Organizer through email and must be completed and presented within 1 hour of the close of the event. Their decision will be final in all cases. A $150.00 dollar protest fee may need to accompany the protest. The fee will be returned if the protest is found to be valid.
All rules have loopholes. It is our intention to provide an honest sportsmanlike event. In the interest of good sportsmanship, contestants are reminded the spirit of the rule will prevail in all judgments.
All participants are expected to follow high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy, safety, and conservation. Any participant who displays poor sportsmanship, violates these rules, or brings unfavorable publicity to the sport of fishing could be disqualified.
Participants are responsible for their own safety, actions, and property at all times.
All participants must follow boating safety regulations in your jurisdiction.
If there is still ice while you are fishing, practice ice safety at all times! Fishing is only allowed on a minimum of at least 4 inches of ice.
All photo and video submissions may be used by Angler's Atlas or our event partners for future use.
By registering for and participating in this event, participants acknowledge that fishing and boating activities involve inherent risks, including but not limited to injury, illness, death, property damage, adverse weather, water hazards, equipment failure, and the actions of other participants.
Participants voluntarily assume all risks associated with participation in this event and related activities.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, participants hereby release, waive, and discharge Angler’s Atlas, MyCatch, event organizers, sponsors, partners, volunteers, and their respective officers, directors, employees, and agents from any and all claims, liabilities, damages, losses, or expenses arising out of or related to participation in the event, including claims arising from negligence.
Participants agree to indemnify and hold harmless the above parties from any claims brought by third parties arising from the participant’s actions or conduct during the event.
Participants are solely responsible for their own safety, equipment, compliance with all laws and regulations, and for securing appropriate insurance coverage if desired.
The following are not rules - they are simply a reference to best practices of handling fish.
We highly encourage conservation and the proper handling of all fish caught. To ensure the best chances of survival for all released fish, all participants are to handle fish safely.
Whenever feasible, keep the fish in the water while handling as long as possible
Cut the line as close to the hook as possible if a swallowed hook can’t be easily removed
Have the camera ready prior to landing fish to minimize air exposure
Hold large fish horizontally and support its body to avoid damage to the internal organs
Do not hold or support the fish by its gills, gill covers or eyes.
Use wet hands when handling a fish. Handle the fish quickly and as little as possible.
When releasing a fish, never throw it into the water.
“Secret Fishing Spots Stay Secret” — This is our primary commitment to anglers who report their catches through MyCatch. So what does this mean in practice?
Angler’s Atlas does not release MyCatch GPS data to the public. It is treated as confidential and is provided to fisheries researchers under strict conditions.
Every research team we work with must sign a data sharing agreement that sets the terms of use for the data.
Data is anonymized before it is provided to the researcher.
Researchers agree not to share the data with anyone else.
Researchers cannot use the data for any purpose other than the research specified in the agreement.
Exact location data cannot be published as part of the scientific research. Instead, it has to be generalized to a larger region so the location cannot be reverse engineered.
Angler’s Atlas may release data to a law enforcement agency if compelled to do so under court order.
These data privacy rules are designed to protect our angler’s private data, to conserve the fisheries, and to make sure we maintain a trusting relationship with our anglers into the future. If anyone has any questions, please feel free to reach out to Angler’s Atlas President directly by email ([email protected]).
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