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CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) today announced that Scott Lattea from Harrison County has become the state’s eighth Master Angler Award recipient.
Lattea completed this feat by catching 22 fish species on 11 waters across West Virginia.
“Receiving the Master Angler Award takes dedication, skill and a willingness to try new techniques,” said WVDNR Director Brett McMillion. “We congratulate Scott Lattea on this impressive achievement and encourage anglers across West Virginia to take on the Master Angler challenge.”
The Master Angler Award is one of the most prestigious achievements for anglers in West Virginia. To earn this recognition, participants must complete six slams, each requiring them to catch a set number of fish species that meet specified length criteria within a designated time period.
“There were several fish on the list that I had never caught, and I had to learn a lot of new things to get them all caught,” Lattea said. “I think my favorite slam was the predator slam, and musky was the most challenging. I will definitely be going back to try and catch a lot more of those fish.”
Lattea completed his first slam (trout) in 2022 but did not attempt to complete other slams until June 2025. He completed his final slam in December 2025 by reeling in a fallfish on the Cacapon River.
Anglers must legally catch each fish in West Virginia, ensure each meets the minimum length for its species and submit a time-stamped photo of their catch. All slams must be completed within a calendar year to qualify.
Previous Master Angler Award recipients include Zach Adkins of Grant County, Jonathan Paine of Randolph County, Alex Foster of Kanawha County, Jesse Truman of Kanawha County, Ken Neer of Monongalia County, Steven Cooper, Jr. of Upshur County and Carson Shock of Putnam County.
All anglers 15 years and older are required to have a West Virginia fishing license and a valid form of identification. Trout stamps are required while fishing for trout. Licenses and stamps can be purchased at 160 retail locations across the state or online at WVfish.com.
