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| As everyone knows, these are trying times in our great country, and it seems that everywhere we turn we see or hear depressing news. The government is flawed, the economy is in the dumps, drug wars on the border, it’s raining, it’s snowing, and walleye tournaments are done. Admittedly times could be better, but not all is gloom and doom and the sun will most likely rise again tomorrow! So that being said, let’s look at the world of walleye tournaments, and at least reflect where we stand from a realistic point of view right now, and project a bit to what the future can be. This is a mini blog that pertains to the relatively new Anglers Insight Marketing (AIM) Pro Walleye Series tournament tour.
Let’s start a little over two years ago. AIM was not in existence. As most of you know this was a business started and owned by anglers. Some were hard-core tournament types, while others just had a desire to see this sport take a turn in the right direction. The overall desire of this organization is to get walleye tournaments headed down the right path, one of having fun, having fair competition, fair payouts, and growth, while doing as much as possible to respect our favorite fish (walleyes of course), and show case anglers, sponsors, and the sport. During this time frame I’d like to recap what has been done.
AIM started the Catch, Record, and Release (CRR) ideology as it pertains to a major circuit. This was highly criticized at first, but after fishing this format for a year now, it has to be considered one of the most fair, and fun ways to run an event. CRR allows for 7 fish to be counted, without the worry of slot limits, or “no cull” restrictions. The result of this format has made AIM tournaments more exciting, and dramatic. More so than any events that we’ve previously had in the past… as major comebacks, huge weights, and more skill with a reduction of luck are all part of every competition! Ask any angler who has fished an AIM event, and they will tell you that these events have been the most fun they’ve had in years and the way of the future. The weigh in process was a challenge. However, with much hard work from our truly talented technical team, AIM weigh ins (with all of the great video and big fish photos on stage) have been every bit as entertaining as when actual fish had been brought to the stage. And with this format, the fans actually can see all of the big fish that were caught, even when they were in the slot size category. These fish would have never been viewed by the public with previous formats. In addition, CRR has made a positive impact with local fisheries managers, lake associations, and host communities, because of a virtual lack of fish mortality.
There is no doubt that the economy has taken its toll on many tournament anglers, and their ability to compete in events. All events saw a decrease in participants last year, and there is no sugar coating that fact. AIM would have loved to see more anglers in each event last year, as would have all tournament circuits (many bass circuits included). Fortunately many of the most recognized anglers in the sport fished the AIM tour, and the tournaments had lively, hard hitting and exciting competition with some real eye opening results- like the discovery of just how good the Saginaw river system is for fish (after twenty years of tournaments where the bay was thought to be the only place to win an event), and Todd Riley’s unbelievable catch on Lake Winnibigoshish! Wow, what a catch! Co-Anglers had a blast, and events were exciting. But over the course of the year it became very obvious that to maintain decent paybacks (even when paying back 100 plus percent of the entry fees) that a different methodology of payback had to be initiated so competing anglers could better cover their expenses. Historically, high paying first place paychecks have been the norm. Subsequent placing paybacks for lower places had huge reductions, and many anglers had to go home without covering their expenses. Last October, AIM called a meeting of all of their anglers to discuss the state of their business. Collectively, the anglers decided on a payback schedule with a reduced first place, but much better payback down the list so that the last money finish would allow the angler to cover their entry fees and expenses. Now, if you cash a check, you’ll at the very least break even, with most anglers making money. Instead of taking a top spot to break even as in the past, the new AIM break point goes significantly down the list so more anglers can make a go of it. Field size is not as much of a factor, and even if the economy limits angler participation, payouts will be good. The coolest thing about this is that the anglers chose to go this route, and after all they are the customers as much as the sponsors are! Word seems to be getting out about these paybacks as right now the AIM office has as many anglers, or more, signed up for each tournament as we had fish each event last year… with literally a month and a half before the first event in Saginaw!
AIM also looks at sponsors a little differently than other previous tournaments. Anglers can wear any logo on their jerseys and represent any sponsor that they want. No restrictions, like a true professional sport. Fishing oriented sponsoring companies do not have huge sponsor fees, and are not allowed to have exclusivity. Because it is affordable to be part of AIM, they are encouraged to showcase their products though their sponsored anglers and the quality and fish catching capabilities of their product line. Companies like Lund boats, Crestliner boats, and Mercury outboards (along with others) have already shown confidence in their pro staffs and strength of their products to be part of the AIM circuit, while at the same time encouraging other companies to join them in supporting the growth of walleye tournaments as a true competing sport! The AIM organization is working hard to bring on more companies like these, in an affordable way, to help take this sport into the future.
This year AIM is proud to offer a special event in Brimley, MI with the support and fantastic help from the Bay Mills Casino who is supporting this event with a huge increase in the cash payback for the anglers that are competing in the tournament. The payback in this invitational event is well in excess of the usual 100 percent that is usually paid.
The newest news is the groundbreaking partnership with the state of South Dakota. AIM anglers are working hand in hand with South Dakota to showcase their fantastic fishing and outdoors opportunities; and the South Dakota Walleye Classic and Festival is the center of attention! With the help of the AIM anglers South Dakota would like to see this event become the “Sturgis” of the outdoors world, and after participating in this unbelievable event last year I’d say they are well on their way. This was the most fun event that I’ve attended in 10 years and should truly become a yearly destination on any outdoorsman’s calendar. There will be three AIM anglers that are sponsored by the state, including fully wrapped boats, along with their presence at various travel and sportshows during the year. Fifty of AIM’s anglers will be sporting South Dakota logos on their vehicles, boats, and jerseys and many will also be helping with the various shows, and with a special Pro-Celebrity tournament right after the Akaska event. These anglers will be directly benefiting in this partnership by having a greatly reduced entry fee at the South Dakota Walleye Classic and Festival/AIM event, therefore again, cutting some of the angler cost and increasing the percentage payback! This has never been done in the history of walleye tournaments, and we applaud the State of South Dakota for working with the AIM group!
If all of this isn’t enough, the JJ Keller Fishing team has also just announced their partnership with the AIM Pro Walleye Series, and will be sponsoring a $10,000 award to the AIM Angler of the Year! Because of this new addition in sponsor prizes, AIM will be returning to a 50% cut in the Pro Field on the last day instead of the original plans of a tougher cut. The reason for this is so that anglers can have a better chance of improving their standings in the Angler of the Year race and the ranking for the 2011 Brimley invitational event. The anglers expressed a desire to have more anglers compete on the last day and AIM responded! The additional good news is that 50% of the co-anglers will now be able to fish on the last day also. In addition, the JJ Keller Foundation will offer a total of $25,000 dollars ($5000 per community) for local charities as a way to give back to these communities that have been so supportive of fishing and the AIM tour! Just imagine as an example; now a local charity could go out into the community and ask for pledges… say for instance, twenty five cents per pound for the winning AIM weight, and any money that they raise for the charity up to $5000 will be matched by the JJ Keller Foundation! Wow, we’ve never seen anything like this in walleye fishing! This is the type of thing that big time sports venues would do in a community! And on top of all of this, the Keller Fishing team, through Brian Keller’s PK Media is supplying additional help to our already powerful media team to increase the amount of online video coverage that AIM already has in place.
During all of this, the grass roots tournament anglers are not forgotten and in fact are an extremely important part of this new AIM movement. We have an affiliation with close to 100 various tours, large stand-alone events, and fishing clubs, all which hold tournaments during the course of the fishing season. Already close to 100 clubs in the course of only one year! As many of you know, the Teams of the Year from many of these fine tours where invited to the AIM championship last year. This year we are going to ratchet it up a notch, but that’s news for another press release to be announced soon!
As you can see, the walleye tournament world is not dead, it just needed to have a new direction, and I would hope that all of you would agree, that this has been a fun and interesting two years, and that perhaps the future can indeed be bright. I would encourage all of you to participate in the AIM events. Enter as a Pro. Enter as a Co. Or come, watch a weigh in and see what we’re all about. I don’t think that you’ll be disappointed!
Gary Parsons
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| Gary, great article. For those of you who have not particpated in an AIM event at some level, weather as a pro, co or just to watch it, you owe it to yourself to check this out. I fished as a co last year in two events and I am planning on doing the same this year. You can check the web live at home, see where the pros are fishing on the last day, live on the water interviews while the fisherman are fishing. Then you get to the weigh ins and as I said last year, this is truely a show. Pre show things going on, music playing over the speakers, interviews being showed, right up until the first pro and his co walk up on the stage. Pictures of all the fish that were caught and best part of all, released right where they were caught. You have the likes of Tommy S, Keith K, the Glorvigan's doing the announcing, make it humorus and very entertaining. So if you can attend an AIM event or participate in an AIM event near you please do. It is a blast. Not to mention, the pros are a very good group of guys that will talk to anyone that approaches them. Bring the kids, as the events I went to had kids seminars - kids love it. | |
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| Great article Gary, I just wanted to point out one more thing and that is the fact that these host Comunities were we held our first year of tournaments want AIM to come back. Not just because of the revenue factor, but because of the way it is run. When you have the likes of Scott Matheson, Randy Reek, Steve Worrall, and all the rest of the people who make this all work, whats not to like. They are the driving force in this new organization and with the grace of God will give walleye fisherman the opportunity of traveling to new destinations, fish great bodies of water, and compete against the best in the world. John Schneider | |
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Member
Posts: 148
| Thumbs up Gary!!!! I have been fishing Tournaments since 1979. Last year i fished the aim tournaments. I had so much fun, to be truthfull, i was almost was giong to pull the plug on tournament fishing, just got burn't out. But after seeing what AIM wanted to do, I had to fish it. The fisherman and women who invested with aim, My hats off to you. Everyone is so great to work with. This is the future of fishing, It gives us fisher people more exposer, and for our sponsors. It was impressive how many people follow us on the internet during a tournament. I'm glad to see more sponsors cumming on board. This really helps all of us, were can you go and be able to fish with the top pro's at a cheap price. Learn the new techniques, or to learn how to do it the right way. This helps our sponsors (1 )they get to see what we use, Rods ,tackle,line, locaters, trollingmotors ect, (2) they will most likely to purchase those item's becaused they used them, (3) they get to ride in different boat each day ( what great exposer for the boat company's) It become a Diasy chain effect.Company"s spend alot of money on advertising, Seeing the prouduct, using the product, When it comes time to purchase , the pro's educated them so that they can make there choice.(sorry for my typing) FISH ON GOTTA GO  Jim Pyle NPAA 811 | |
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Member
Posts: 2680
Location: Essexville, MI./Saginaw Bay. | Gonna break a vow and chime in on this post.
One of the things very cool and different with the AIM tourneys versus the older format styles, besides the removal and possible mortality of thousands of local fish, is the Real Time (Video/GPS/Verbally on-the-spot Instructional) fishing information sharing that goes on all during the event, even when the participants themselves are still on the water fishing. Who else does this?
It was always nice seeing those big fish on stage during weigh-ins, but the actual, useful shared information with Joe-public on the techniques used to take them wasn't worth anybodies time showing up at the weigh-ins to learn anything. This real time teaching feature is very different and very refreshing. I believe it takes what some have perceived about Pro fishermen as being arrogant, raping the resource and closed mouth about anything that would help locals catch a few more walleyes, and turns it on it's ear. Buco success to the boys from AIM.
Also Gary I think you posted Saginaw as the first event and I think you meant Bay City. 
Edited by walleye express 4/15/2010 1:23 PM
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State of the Walleye Tournament World