Lake Champlain Pro Disqualified After Vermont License Violation

A Lake Champlain tournament just gave every angler a plain reminder: know exactly where you are fishing and have the right license in your pocket.

Major League Fishing disqualified Chad Mrazek’s Day 1 catch from the Pro Circuit event at Lake Champlain after confirmation that he competed in Vermont waters without a valid Vermont fishing license. He was cited by Vermont authorities on the opening day, bought a valid license afterward, and fished Day 2, but the rulebook still caught up with him.

MLF’s 2026 Pro Circuit rules require pros to possess a valid license for the waters they fish. With the Day 1 weight removed, results were recalculated, Mrazek fell out of the payout, and he has to return $10,000. The Angler of the Year standings also changed, moving Jimmy Washam into the final championship qualifying spot.

This is not complicated. State lines, boundary waters, and tournament pressure do not erase license requirements. Legal fishing means legal fishing, whether you are a weekend bank angler or a pro with money on the line.