I've been chasing this since I was 14, so I decided to make my first Toad Status fish anglers award hang in style.

Award, pics, actual lure hook and knot, & reel.

Funny...I only fished that reel around a half dozen times...nonetheless, it's retired.

Nice

Noooo! Is that the brand new Lew's?!?!?

Cool way to commemorate your accomplishment. Please tell me that reel can be retreived. That part I don't get.

Don't think I would have retired the reel, but, well done, sir.

Great job. I love the shadow box. 

Nice cut the rod up and hang it with the reel too Jk. Congrats man

First congrats. Good job u earned it.

I could of registered all my bigger bass here with the state. I could of got on there list of catches (notable). But I didn't. The problem is everyone would see where I caught them. Even if I lied which I wouldn't it would bring so much more pressure I just refrain from doing it. Things are remembered in my mind. Nobody knows the time I was putting in to do it. Eat, fish sleep 24/7. The day was shower and bed at 8pm, up at 3:30am. Casting by 4:00(roughly) stay till 9:30am. Go home change knots and be ready for the next morning. Repeat for three months or till burned out. After catching my PB10# I was driven.

I cannot wrap my mind around why you would retire a reel. I applaud your fish catch, but that reel should be a tool, not a showpiece. Heck, it might even help you catch one bigger than that! Do yourself a favour and fish with it again . 

I bank fish. I only carry one at a time. I have 3 others mounted up. 2x are newer models. I'm good peeps.

(It can be easily slipped out and back on the rod that caught the fish)

BTW...this is a little hypocritical. How many people on here have 10+ bass reels? Some of you guys have 50+. There's no way you use them all...all the time. 1 retired for a cool memory has little impact.

BTW...this is a little hypocritical. How many people on here have 10+ bass reels? Some of you guys have 50+. There's no way you use them all...all the time. 1 retired for a cool memory has little impact.

Point taken. I don't have 50, but I have more than 10. So I'll just say congrats on the award, and the nice way you've displayed it, and then shut up about the reel. LOL

Looking at your picture, I'm comfortable saying that I've been fishing longer than you've been alive, and I don't have one of those awards.

I bank fish. I only carry one at a time. I have 3 others mounted up. 2x are newer models. I'm good peeps.

(It can be easily slipped out and back on the rod that caught the fish)

BTW...this is a little hypocritical. How many people on here have 10+ bass reels? Some of you guys have 50+. There's no way you use them all...all the time. 1 retired for a cool memory has little impact.

 

I have one baitcaster, and one spinning reel. I personally wouldn't do it, but I'm sure you have your reasons. Once again, nice catch.

Point taken. I don't have 50, but I have more than 10. So I'll just say congrats on the award, and the nice way you've displayed it, and then shut up about the reel. LOL

Looking at your picture, I'm comfortable saying that I've been fishing longer than you've been alive, and I don't have one of those awards.

Ha! I made a point! I've been on here for a couple of years now waiting for this moment!

I'm 39. Been target species specific bass fishing with lures and baitcasters since age 14. Only took me 25 years, hahaha.

Thanks for the props, peeps.

Pretty cool.  What are the criteria for the award?  VA has some crazy stuff to get one of their master angler awards so i am curious if this is similar.

The Master Angler Award, sponsored by the Missouri Department of Conservation, recognizes the accomplishments of anglers who catch memorable fsh in Missouri. To qualify, fsh must meet the minimum weight or length requirements shown on the back of this application. Length requirements are included to promote and accommodate catch and release fshing and are intended to be used for released fsh.

Fish must be caught by legal methods conforming to provision of the Missouri Wildlife Code.

22" / 6# for Largemouth.

Congrats!

Nice! Congrats!! I believe Va has a similar program but one must catch a citation or trophy of every species. I could have had one if I grew up in the smartphone or at least camera phone age.

I just found about this not too long ago.  I don't generally weigh or take pictures but I want me one of those.  I figure I've missed out on about 8 of those by not knowing about it.

Mepps has a cool program that can be sorta like a game. You get a certain size of various species and get an award for each and master level awards for something like your first 4. And so on. The Largemouth bass criteria is pretty small...like 3-4# I'd I remember right.

Not a big honor...just a fun game to play of you have a camera phone.

I take a picture of about every fish I catch Anyhoo.

It's just a way for them to assure you'll use, lose, and buy more of their product.

This is a very nice was to Commemorate a toad. I might be stealing this idea for my first one :] minus the reel, I have less than ten.

I didnt know Missouri did that. Pretty cool. Nice display you made .