Travel Manitoba’s Master Angler
The Project
The Manitoba Master Angler Program, administered by Travel Manitoba, is the oldest of its kind in North America, boasting over 60 years of history. It aims to honour anglers who catch trophy fish in Manitoba with certificates of achievement and a variety of eligible badges.
This initiative encourages both conservation and sport fishing, with almost 90% of recorded catches being released back into the wild.
Annually, the program sees more than 10,000 trophy fish from 30 qualifying species caught and recorded, highlighting its popularity and success among anglers.
Challenge
A primary challenge was to modernize the submission process for anglers to record their catches. Initially, the submission was paper-based, limiting the efficiency and accessibility of the program. Furthermore, anglers often fish in remote areas with limited or no internet connectivity, posing significant hurdles for real-time catch recording and submission.
The Solution
To address these challenges, the solution involved developing a comprehensive online submission tool and mobile application that allowed anglers to document their catches even in remote locations without immediate internet access.
The mobile app, available for both Android and Apple iOS devices, enabled anglers to submit their catches directly from their fishing locations, whether on a boat or at a lodge. This functionality not only improved the user experience by simplifying the submission process but also ensured that anglers could participate in the program without connectivity constraints.
The transition from paper-based to online submissions, recommended and implemented by Pattern in collaboration with Travel Manitoba, dramatically enhanced process efficiencies.
The Results
The initiative has been met with positive feedback from users, with over 18,000 Master Angler submissions through the website since its inception in 2013. The application’s design, featuring offline capabilities and subsequent online submission when connectivity is restored, directly addressed the challenges faced by anglers in remote areas.
The app’s success was recognized with the Canadian e-tourism award for Best Mobile App, further cementing its impact and importance within the angling community.
