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From the 1 June nature and fish friend Māris Olte and JSC “Latvijas valsts meži” invites all carnivorous fish anglers to participate in the unprecedented competition “Release the Mother!”, asking to respect and to maintain inexhaustible and even increasing fish resources in water reservoirs. The luckiest participants of summer season already are known and prizes and Honorary Fisherman badges are waiting for them in LVM Boat houses.

Māris Olte reminds that it’s not too late to participate – the tolerant fishing competition in the LVM lakes will continue until reservoirs freeze over. Thus, all anglers are invited to “catch and release” the large, carnivorous fish, take a photo or video of this moment and share it with the contest “Release the Mother!”. The good deeds will be celebrated – authors of monthly largest catch will receive prizes, but other participants will receive incentive gifts and Honorary Fisherman badges or medals that will confirm their entering the family of Honorary Fishermen.

 Gundars Kurzemnieks, the president of Latvian Angling Sport Federation, warmly welcomes the initiative of contest “Release the Mother!”. “I have noticed that the average level of culture in angling is increasing – not only the number of decent anglers is increasing, but also the number of “catch and release” or sport anglers. The way to have abundant fish resources in our water reservoirs as in north and west neighbouring countries goes hand in hand with the development of our country itself. It is possible, that the first step could be the implementation of length limit to large carnivorous fish – pike, zander, perch,” points Gundars Kurzemnieks.

Participants of “Release the Mother!” can receive their prizes in LVM Boat houses:

The Boat house of LVM Lake Kaņieris waits for the owners of prizes, diplomas and Honorary Fisherman badges of the monthly largest released pikes: Rinalds Bērziņš, Staņislavs Pinka, Aivis Štrāls. Incentive prizes and badges for the second largest released pike of June and August goes to Edgars Katamadze and Ģirts Neimanis. However, Toms Klabe and Modris Skulte will receive Honorary Fisherman badges.

In the Boat house of LVM Tērvete Reservoir prizes, diplomas and Honorary Fisherman waits for: Zigmārs Bērziņš un Arvīds Zariņš.

“Each initiative which is aimed to a tolerant angling must be supported. The competition “Release the Mother!” is an unprecedented event in Latvia, that is why our company decided to support it by gifting the “catch and release” anglers with “Rapala” lures. We wish that we also had lakes where catching a large pike is not a very rare occasion. Just like in Finland and Sweden where they have a lot of large fish,” says Mārtiņš Kalniņš, the representative of “Rapala Latvia”.

The winner of the month receives LVM diploma for tolerant angling, the Honorary Fisherman badge, two “Lucky John” lures and “Rapala” shallow waters wobbler lures. Incentive prize winners will get lure from “Lucky John” and “Rapala”.

How to participate:

To participate in the contest, anglers have to go to LVM lakes and have to keep two or three pikes whose length is 50–65 centimetres, other pikes and large perches, which spawn the largest amounts of eggs, when caught are placed in a measurement trough, are measured and released, and these moments are captured in photos or videos so that it could be submitted to the contest. Participants must know how to release fish correctly. Firstly fish is measured by using the ruler of trough, then it is photographed and afterwards a little description of the location with added evidence of fish being released (photo or video) are sent to us. Send your application to e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or fill in the internet form.

Fish and trophy fish contest takes place in the lakes managed by LVM – Lake Kaņieris, Lake Lielauce, Tērvete Reservoir and Gulbju Lake from 1 June until previously announced date in autumn. Measurement troughs are available in all LVM Boat houses.