Posted 7/22/2012 7:42 AM (#105203) Subject: Team Okada Wins AIM Oconto Pro Team Challenge
Location: Rhinelander
The field left under near perfect conditions today with an easy wind forecast at 5 to 8 out of the SE, sunny skies, and warm temps. Expectations are high, and if the bite improves, it's anyone in the top ten's (or even top 15) game.
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Posted 7/22/2012 7:47 PM (#105211 - in reply to #105209) Subject: Re: AIM Oconto Pro Team Challenge Final Day
Location: Rhinelander
Okada and Okada came from behind to take the AIM Pro team Challenge Title on the Bay of Green Bay out of Oconto for their first major win. The father/son team had fished the MWC for several years, and were reunited at the AIM Pro team Challenge to take home a check for $23,000.00.
Team Okada CRR'd 132.52 pounds to beat a hard charging Blosser/Blosser team by almost 2 pounds. The final weight for today for the Okadas was 53.09, caught trolling cranks to avoid the perch and other smaller fish prevalent in the area they were fishing.
Blosser and Blosser bumped Team Kemos into third, finishing with 130.61. Tommy and Telly Kemos weighed in a virtual CRR weight of 124.48. Josh and Robert Blosser were fishing close to team mates Okada and Okada, and were well ahead of them early on according to reports from the stage. The Okadas 'ground it out' throughout the day, putting enough big fish in the net to force the Blossers out of the win. team Blosser took home a check for $10,000.00 for the second place finish, and Team Kemos took home $7500.00
Fourth went to Dempsey and Goecks, fifth to Keller and Eaton, sixth to Leanna and Knowles, seventh to Cardenas and Mickish, eighth to Nicklash and Besaw, ninth to Schneider and Meisner, and Adler and Shoenwalder rounded out the top ten.
Watch for the Team Okada winning interview to be up on the AIM website very soon.
See the final standings at the AIM leaderboard at www.aimfishing.com.
The AIM pro Challenge format was extremely well received, and reports are AIM may be considering the format for several events in 2013. One sentiment was unanimous; Oconto would be a preferred AIM pro team Challenge location again for next year.
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Posted 7/23/2012 7:44 PM (#105232 - in reply to #105231) Subject: Re: Team Okada Wins AIM Oconto Pro Team Challenge
Location: Rhinelander
Stinger Unplugged
Posted 7/25/2012 8:49 AM (#105236 - in reply to #105203) Subject: RE: Team Okada Wins AIM Oconto Pro Team Challenge
Congrats Joe!!! Way to go buddy! I knew I should of fished it with you when you asked me at Cabelas. lol Now you can bring some of that cash into Cabelas and stock up on cranks. Great job to you and your dad!!
Craig
aka Stinger
Joe Okada
Posted 7/25/2012 11:17 AM (#105242 - in reply to #105203) Subject: RE: Team Okada Wins AIM Oconto Pro Team Challenge
Thanks guys,
Dad and I had a great time up there. AIM provided some great coverage of the event, Oconto enjoyed having AIM in town, Yamaha set up an impressive footprint at this event, and I'm glad we were able to have a good showing for them!
With Kemos, the GB stud in the lead, and Blosser whacking big ones right in front of me, there were several times the last day I wondered if we were going to have enough to get it done. Congrats to the other top teams, it really wasn't a gimme out there. The quality bites were fewer and further apart than what we saw in practice.
I'll be in Escanaba for the next week, if anyone's in the area and interested in taking a ride in the Yar-Craft, shoot me a message on FB. I gave several demos in Oconto, and everyone seems very impressed with how this boat handles. Unfortunatly, I no longer have an excuse not to go practice in the big stuff anymore
Stay tuned for updates while we're up there, and fingers crossed for King to bring home AOY next week!!
Team Okada Wins AIM Oconto Pro Team Challenge
