Claim Your Profile
How to claim a "shadow" profile on ProAngler and activate your account.
Claim Your Profile
ProAngler frequently looks across all of social media and identifies active fishing professionals, guides, content creators, or brands. We reserve handles that match usernames used on other platforms and then create profiles (with temporary data) that are designed to be "claimed" by these folks. We call these shadow profiles.
If ProAngler has created a shadow profile under a handle (username) that you think; "hey, that's me", then claim it. You can claim ownership of that profile and start building a place where you Own Your Story.
A shadow profile is a placeholder page created from public information. It belongs to no one until claimed. All claims go through a verification process. Claims can be challenged and reversed under arbitration. Note to scammers: we are always on the anglers side and we love lifetime bans..
Overview
The claim process has three stages:
- Verify your email - confirm you have access to the email associated with your claim
- Admin review - our team verifies username ownership and WILL ask for additional information
- Activate your account - set a password and take control of your profile
Stage 1 - Submit Your Claim
- Find your profile on ProAngler (e.g.,
proangler.com/yourhandle) - Click the "Claim this profile" badge below your follower count
- Enter your email address and click "Send verification code"
- Check your inbox. You will receive a 6-digit code (expires in 60 minutes)
- Enter the code on the verification screen
Once the code is verified your claim is submitted and your profile enters "Under Review" status.
You will receive an email confirming your claim is under review. This email confirms we received your request and that our team will be in touch.
Only one claim can be active on a profile at a time. If a profile already shows "Under Review" it means someone else has submitted a claim. Please contact us here if you believe this is an error.
Stage 2 - Admin Review
Our team reviews each claim to verify ownership. This typically involves cross-referencing the claimant's email against known contact information for the profile.
We will, most likely, ask you to confirm ownership of the account the shadow profile was created from.
There is no set timeline for review. You do not need to do anything during this stage, you will be notified by email once a decision is made.
Stage 3A - Approved
If your claim is approved:
- You will receive an approval email containing a magic link
- Click the link. It expires in 24 hours
- You will be taken to a password setup page showing your profile handle
- Enter and confirm your password
- Your account is then activated. You will be redirected to your settings page where you SHOULD reset your account PIN to ensure ownership of the profile.
Setting PIN numbers will help prevent an account take over. Even if someone guesses your password.
On first login you will see a profile setup banner in your account settings. We recommend completing the following items before sharing your profile (see our "Getting Started" guide for details):
| Task | Where |
|---|---|
| Upload a profile photo and banner | Account Settings |
| Update First and Last name | Account Settings |
| Update Title | Account Settings |
| Write a bio | Account Settings |
| Set your security PIN | Account Settings |
| Add social media links | Account Settings |
| Turn-off all plugins (turn-on later when you have time to edit) | Plugin Settings |
| Turn-on "Youtube Videos" plugin (if you're a YouTube'r) | Plugin Settings |
| Edit "Youtube Videos" plugin (add your channel ID) | Plugin Settings |
Stage 3B - Rejected
If your claim is not approved:
- You will receive a rejection email explaining that ownership could not be verified with the information provided
- Your profile returns to Unclaimed status and can be claimed again.
- If you have additional evidence of ownership (e.g., links, channel IDs, press references), contact us here and our team will take another look
A rejection just means we couldn't confirm ownership within a reasonable amount of time. Rejections happen regularly when requests for additional information are ignored.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: My verification code expired, what do I do?
A: Go back to your profile and start the claim process again. A new code will be sent.
Q: I didn't receive the magic link email after approval.
A: Check your spam folder. The email comes from noreply@proangler.com with the subject line Your ProAngler profile claim has been approved. If you still can't find it, contact us here.
Q: My magic link expired before I could use it.
A: Contact us here - our team can issue a new link.
Q: I claimed the wrong profile.
A: If not approved yet. Just do nothing. It will reset after rejection. If approved, you have two options. Change your handle (to the one you want) in settings or contact us here and asked to be removed from the profile you claimed. We will reset the profile to its original state.
Q: Can I claim a profile if I already have an account?
A: No. The claim process is for new users only. If you are already have an account, you can't claim another.