The 2025 Youth Catch & Release Fishing Contest is officially open! If you’re under 18 and have a family member who is a TLA member, you can enter to win great prizes.

This year’s contest will feature a new prize for the first entry received once the contest starts—get out there early! We will also have a grand prize for the biggest bass entered (either smallmouth or largemouth) and a prize for the most spectacular fish entered that is not a bass.

To enter, just catch, measure, photograph, and release a fish from Turtle Lake from opening weekend through Labor Day (Saturday May 10th through Monday September 1st, 2025).

Participants can enter fish in four categories this year: 

1. Grand Champion Bass (smallmouth and largemouth)
2. Grand Champion Other Fish (any species other than bass, winner judged by contest director)
3. First fish of 2025 entered in the contest (must be caught on or after May 10th, 2025)
4. Monthly random winners for fish entered in June, July, and August

Participation prizes for all entrants will be mailed out once their first entry is received, limit one participation prize per contestant for the year. Entries for participation prizes can be any species out of Turtle Lake, and you do not have to measure the fish to get a participation prize–measurements are only required for the Grand Champion categories above.

Please practice good catch and release skills and minimize the time the fish is out of the water before releasing it. Keep the fish wet and don’t lay any fish on the ground or put the fish on a stringer before you release it. Let’s keep these fish healthy!

To enter, submit your online entry form with the following: 

1. Your name and age 
2. The name of your relative who is a member of TLA 
3. The date of the catch/release 
4. The length of your fish if you wish to enter the Grand Champion categories
5. Most importantly, your photo with the fish.

Questions? Email fish@turtlelakeassociation.org.
Have fun, and good luck fishing!