The challenge allows participants the freedom of fishing any body of water in the U.P. — or multiple — over an extended period, as opposed to traditional tournaments that take place in one area on a set date.

“It’s a lot more convenient for more people to get involved,” said Ian Fisher, who brought the virtual tournament to the U.P. less than a year ago.

U.P. Ice Anglers League, now a sub-section of Upper Peninsula Tournament Fishing, was a catch-and-release tournament that ran for the first time from January to March of this year. Participants entered their catches into the tournament by sending photos and videos through an app called FishDonkey, which organizer Ian Fisher said he discovered when he participated in a nationwide fishing tournament using the same app.

Tournament submissions are entered as follows: After catching a fish in an area of their choosing at any point during the competition, an angler places the fish on a bump board, takes a picture to show measurement and then creates a video of the fish being released. Information and media are plugged into the app. For the entry to be accepted, the tournament director reviews and verifies each submission.

Master Angler Award winner Clayton Harris, left, and U.P. Ice Anglers Tournament Director Ian Fisher pose for a picture after the conclusion of a competition that took place this past winter. (Courtesy photo)

During the first U.P. Ice Anglers League, competitors fished for walleye, pike and perch in the predator series and bluegill and crappie in the panfish series. Anglers came from throughout the central and western regions of the peninsula; some anglers from Chassell participated, as did some from Iron Mountain. They could fish any public body of water located in the U.P. but many chose to try their luck on Little Bay de Noc.

The app updated the leaderboard standings throughout the entire tournament run time. At the end of the tournament, a GPS verification was performed to confirm no fishing took place outside of the U.P.’s boundaries.

Competitors were awarded for first through third place positions based on the total of their “stringer of fish” in length. Awards were provided by Blade’s Bait and Tackle, Beavers Lures, U.P. Chimney Inc. and Bark River Glitter.

One additional recognition — the Master Angler Award — was presented to the angler who had an exceptional number of high-ranking catches across all of the species fished for during the tournament. The winner of the Master Angler title for the first U.P. Ice Fishing League was Clayton Harris, who pulled six master angler class fish through the ice.

The tournament had 30 anglers for its first season.

“We were happy with the turnout for our first year and hope that we can build from that next year as we do plan on running this league next ice season,” Fisher said after the contest wrapped in the spring.

Another competition for the open-water season launched after the ice fishing league finished.

This year, Upper Peninsula Tournament Fishing has announced the kickoff of a single event that will take place from Sept. 21 to Oct. 5. Two series — walleye and smallmouth bass — will require an entry fee and will pay out based on angler count to the first and second place positions.

Upper Peninsula Tournament Fishing will have a booth at the upcoming U.P. Ice Fishing and Hunting Expo, set for Sept. 19 to 21 in the Ruth Butler Building on the U.P. State Fairgrounds, to promote their upcoming competitions and share more about the app.

At the expo, “we’re gonna do early sign-ups for the ice one, and immediate sign-ups for the open water one,” Fisher said. “So for someone who shows up at the booth and wants to join, I can walk them through it right there. And then we’re gonna demonstrate the fish submissions, too, so that way if anyone is new to it, they can learn beforehand.”

The next tournament begins the final day of the expo.