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| Message Subject: VIDEO:AIM 2009 Tournament Format Release | |||
Juls_OH |
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Member Posts: 389 | FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Anglers Insight Marketing Announced 2009 Tournament Format. Plymouth, WI – December 5th, 2008- Anglers Insight Marketing LLC™ (AIM™) announced today the format for their “AIM Pro Walleye Series™” tournaments to be held during the 2009 season. Anglers Insight Marketing (AIM) will conduct a series of 4 Pro-Am walleye fishing tournaments in 2009. The AIM Pro Walleye Series will host fields of 100 of the top walleye fishing professionals and 100 Co-anglers at each tournament. Scott Matheson, the President and CEO of Anglers Insight Marketing reports, “The AIM Pro Walleye Series tournaments will all be three day events. The full field of 100 boats (Professionals and Co-anglers) will fish the first two days. The Professional provides the boat, all the fishing tackle and bait for the day. Each day the Co-angler will be paired with a different Professional and have the opportunity to learn individual strategies and cutting edge presentations. The top ten Professionals – based on cumulative weight over the first two days – will fish the third day of the tournament with one of 10 Co-anglers who were randomly drawn during the rules meeting prior to the event.” Anglers Insight Marketing is also announcing paybacks of not less than 100% of Pro entry fees which will ensure a minimum of $150,000 in prize monies with a full 100 boat field. “From the start, one of the objectives of AIM was to build a platform that meets the financial needs of the professional anglers. A key commitment has always been to pay back at least 100% of their entry fees, and our plan is to exceed these paybacks as our base of sponsors continues to grow.” reports Scott Matheson. Pro Angler entry fees for the 2009 AIM Pro Walleye Series have been set at $1,500 per event. For anglers who are not AIM owners or “Life Members” there will also be a $250 membership fee per event. The planned payout schedule for the Pro entrants is expected to be released at the Anglers Insight Marketing Annual Meeting on January 2, 2009 in Milwaukee WI. Co-angler entries have been held to just $250 per event which will help attract a broader base of new Co-anglers to the sport. Co-anglers will not be competing for prizes based upon their placement in the event, but instead will be awarded prizes at a random drawing to be held at the weigh in during the second day of the event. The AIM Pro Walleye Series will also incorporate other innovations, including a new “Catch, Record, Release” format (CRR). The concept is to have the Pro and the Co-Angler measure the length of each walleye caught before immediately releasing the fish. The lengths will be logged and photos will be taken to validate measurements. At the “weigh-in”, the lengths will be converted to weights and counted in the cumulative total for the pro. The photos and weights of walleyes will be displayed both on stage and on the AIM website to give viewers an idea of the quantity and quality of fish caught by the anglers. “CRR will bring us back to the head-to-head competition that this sport needs” emphasizes professional walleye angler Gary Parsons, “It will eliminate the guesswork that slot limits and culling restrictions have brought to walleye competitions. We’ll be back to fishing on great bodies of water where the angler who catches the biggest fish – wins!” Catch, Record, Release will also eliminate the concerns by local anglers and fisheries managers of excessive fish harvest or mortality of released fish. Further information about AIM as well as up-to-the-minute updates about tournaments can be found at the AIM web site: www.aimfishing.com. Anglers Insight Marketing, LLC (AIM) is a unique tournament organization which is owned by stockholders, the majority of which are Professional walleye anglers. AIM Professionals are among the “All Stars” of professional fishing, with cumulative HUNDREDS of years of tournament experience, including countless tournament victories, series championships, and Angler of the Year titles. This insight and knowledge is now being employed to provide the finest tournament experience for the participants, and the maximum exposure for the host tournament sites and corporate partners. | ||
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| tyee |
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Member Posts: 1406 | CRR! Thanks for the formal announcement! This is very inovating and possibly the best move the Sport Fishing Walleye world has made in many many years. I wish you great success with this and hope it catches on!!!!!! Good Luck Tyee | ||
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| stacker |
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Member Posts: 2445 Location: Fremont, Wisconsin | Wow, that does not resemble a walleye tournament that we have known to date. Not good or bad, just different. I am guessing that many people will have speculation about many parts of this plan, but, as a fisherman, I would think 1750.00 to fish a tournament that a .01 of 1 pound cannot make a financial difference to me seems....... From a contestants stand point, it seems like a great venue to showcase sponsors. I do not know of a way to measure fish that will create a mathamatical equation that can seperate contestants by less than 1/4 of a pound. It seems as though fishing is simply secondary to everything else. I am sure this will come in handy to the full time or the aspiring to be full time pro. I am not sure how many people will watch the events or with what impact the sponsor dollars will have on the market place because of the viewers. Even in racing they are still racing. The anticipation has seemingly been removed for the fans. Edited by stacker 12/6/2008 11:49 AM | ||
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| Jim Ordway |
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Member Posts: 538 | I see your point Denny. This is a bold and differentiating move on the part of AIM. New ideas can be a bit scary until they are implemented and proven. In the old format, most of the exitement was at the scale. I would speculate that it will now be a computer generated formula converting inches to pounds I will be interested to see how the measuring and photo aspect of the process is certified. The new process is good for the fish and good PR. It all will be interesting. I too wonder if the fees are not a lttle high, but the market will tell the answer. The drawing for the co-anglers is ok. I have done many on the co side and came to understand that winning is just a stroke of fate in that seat. Take care, | ||
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| sworrall |
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Location: Rhinelander | http://walleye.outdoorsfirst.com/articles/12.06.2008/1881/.Anglers.... | ||
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| TJ DeVoe |
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Member Posts: 1040 Location: Stevens Point, WI | I think the decision to implement this new "Catch, Record, Release" format is a great innovative step within the tournament scene. I think the most important aspect is that the anglers are behind this format, then it will work. If you don't have the sponsors behind it, then you won't have the anglers, then you don't have a tournament circuit. I really don't think it will be hard finding co-anglers wanting to spend two days in a boat with the most serious professional walleye pros out there for $250. Can't wait to hear more. | ||
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| sworrall |
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Location: Rhinelander | Fans watching the event in person and electronically will be a primary focus, from what I understand. There's never been anything like this, and I think it's about time! | ||
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| Horshak |
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Member Posts: 921 Location: Manitowoc, WI | Time will tell on how this will evolve. Definitely a new spin on tournament angling as far as CPR goes. No dead fish equals great PR. On the other hand, as a fan of watching weigh ins, this will seem like listening to bowling on the radio. Just my 2 cents. | ||
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| sworrall |
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Location: Rhinelander | Don't jump to any conclusions, I'd hate to see you have to eat serious crow...I'd wait until AIM actually lets us know how the weigh ins will be run, and TONS of other details. Horshak, I'm betting you'll be glued to it.... | ||
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| Juls_OH |
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Member Posts: 389 | sworrall - 12/6/2008 10:11 PM Don't jump to any conclusions, I'd hate to see you have to eat serious crow...I'd wait until AIM actually lets us know how the weigh ins will be run, and TONS of other details. Horshak, I'm betting you'll be glued to it.... Steve, When do you think that info might come out? I would have thought if they didn't want negative talk about it, that they would have divulged that specific info right away. The info they did release leads to only this kind of speculation in my opinion. I do agree with you that there is TONS of details missing. I just think it could have been handled better from a PR stand point. You can't blame these guys for their comments when all they can go on is what they were given...right? Juls | ||
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| tyee |
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Member Posts: 1406 | "Not Good, Not bad Just different", "Like listening to Bowling on Radio". Everyone is anxious to hear what is in store for these 100 professional anglers that have invested in their own future. My advice is to WAIT AND SEE! I suspect with the level of profesionalism these guys portray it will be nothing less than great for the sport of Walleye fishing! We can sit here and critique it till our fingers are blue and I'm sure many will do just that? I only hope that once it is ironed out the others will follow. CRR is a great concept and I'm sure there will be plenty of naysayers out there but only time will tell and I'm betting that Time will tell us that this is the direction of ALL competative angling. Good Luck Tyee Edited by tyee 12/7/2008 9:03 AM | ||
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| sworrall |
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Location: Rhinelander | Sure I can. So far, AIM has announced their format, two event locations, and what the events and company are all about. What's going to happen on that stage will be different, and the concept/practice of immediate release on the water was coming anyway, JK had attended a Bass event and acted as an observer in a contestant boat to look at that concept for the PWT for obvious reasons, and the Muskie world has been doing that in a couple circuits for a couple years. The negative from dead fish at tournaments immediately and from post release mortality is what caused the uproar in Wisconsin from Lake Associations and allies that changed the landscape of tournament angling here for good, and perhaps not for the better. I suspect AIM is holding some of the weigh in/coverage details close to the vest because the details are so revolutionary and cutting edge they need to, for obvious reasons. I don't understand why anyone would see this as anything but an overdue opportunity to grow the sport. Oddly enough, I see folks who CLAIM they wish the sport to grow slapping (not just on this forum, by the way) at the strongest attempt in 25 years to make that happen. The call has been made for a new and revolutionary paradigm in competitive angling forwarded by sponsors, fans, and the Pro Walleye anglers, and AIM is answering. Here's what I know: AIM is about the ANGLERS and the Promotional Partners they work with...not the event owners and their TV show and/or magazine/products. That's certainly different than anything out there right now and in the past. AIM is thinking out of the box, looking to expand the horizons of this sport in a very tough economic atmosphere. AIM is releasing pertinent information as they complete each stage of business/organizational development and have all the details set in stone; no speculation will be released from that office. AIM is a newly formed organization, and is lead by a talented group of Pros and a Director who will not allow the organization to get ahead of itself RE PR or any in other facet. I'd think you will see much more soon, but I personally doubt you'll see much about the weigh ins other than you should definitely ( if you are not fishing the events) tune in. AND...be prepared to be entertained! | ||
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| Steve Fellegy |
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Member Posts: 150 Location: mille lacs, mn. | I am upset!! Who does Irwin Jacobs think he is ?! I have yet to see him and the FLW send a press release out, outlining his /FLW/Genmar business plan. Don't they realize that they owe US that?!! And the Packers and Vikings? Who do they think they are not allowing the public and the competition to know the play-book before each season/game! Yup--Juls is right--bad PR if ya ask me!! Must be the same PR guys runnin' AIM too. lol lol (just kidding--tongue in cheek?) Edited by Steve Fellegy 12/7/2008 10:38 AM | ||
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| Juls_OH |
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Member Posts: 389 | Steve Fellegy - 12/7/2008 11:36 AM I am upset!! Who does Irwin Jacobs think he is ?! I have yet to see him and the FLW send a press release out, outlining his /FLW/Genmar business plan. Don't they realize that they owe US that?!! And the Packers and Vikings? Who do they think they are not allowing the public and the competition to know the play-book before each season/game! Yup--Juls is right--bad PR if ya ask me!! Must be the same PR guys runnin' AIM too. lol lol (just kidding--tongue in cheek?) I'm not asking for a business plan Steve (s). I'm asking how the photos will be handled on the water and at the weigh in. I highly doubt that at this late stage if AIM were to give out that info, the other organizations are going to change how they do things just to steal AIM's "cutting edge" ideas. It would however shut a lot of nay sayers up and return the atmosphere to positive rather than negative. Simply saying..."wait and see" doesn't cut it when people need to make decisions. As far as I know, AIM doesn't have enough members to fill a full field yet, so in order to get those remaining spots filled, the info is needed. I won't say anything about the payouts, because I know that's going to be discussed in a private meeting held at the NPAA meeting. I hope that is going to happen after the meet and greet, so that the guys/gals coming in to meet their idols aren't disappointed to find them stuck away in another room that they can't go in. As far as the other organizations, they have brochures with rules/procedures listed. I can get all the information about the event I need there. I would know exactly what to expect before putting my 1700.00 in the pot. I don't need to know what Irwin Jacobs does in the background...as I also don't need to know what AIM does in the background either. Juls | ||
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| sworrall |
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Location: Rhinelander | And, as I tried to patiently say, most of that information is either already available or will be...soon. I'd argue with you on the weigh in details. What difference does that make what the exact procedure might be if the weigh in is obviously going to be fair, accounts accurately and on a level playing field for each and every fish, actively involves and is exciting for the audience and allows for events now off limits to tournaments? It's described pretty well in the press release what to expect. Do/Did the FLW or PWT brochures describes exactly how each and every detail of each weigh in is going to occur? And, I'd point out, you didn't ask about CRR procedure or payouts in your last post. Juls: 'I'm not asking for a business plan Steve (s). I'm asking how the photos will be handled on the water and at the weigh in.' Press release: 'The AIM Pro Walleye Series will also incorporate other innovations, including a new “Catch, Record, Release” format (CRR). The concept is to have the Pro and the Co-Angler measure the length of each walleye caught before immediately releasing the fish. The lengths will be logged and photos will be taken to validate measurements. At the “weigh-in”, the lengths will be converted to weights and counted in the cumulative total for the pro. The photos and weights of walleyes will be displayed both on stage and on the AIM website to give viewers an idea of the quantity and quality of fish caught by the anglers. “CRR will bring us back to the head-to-head competition that this sport needs” emphasizes professional walleye angler Gary Parsons, “It will eliminate the guesswork that slot limits and culling restrictions have brought to walleye competitions. We’ll be back to fishing on great bodies of water where the angler who catches the biggest fish – wins!” Catch, Record, Release will also eliminate the concerns by local anglers and fisheries managers of excessive fish harvest or mortality of released fish. ' Payouts: Press release: Anglers Insight Marketing is also announcing paybacks of not less than 100% of Pro entry fees which will ensure a minimum of $150,000 in prize monies with a full 100 boat field. “From the start, one of the objectives of AIM was to build a platform that meets the financial needs of the professional anglers. A key commitment has always been to pay back at least 100% of their entry fees, and our plan is to exceed these paybacks as our base of sponsors continues to grow.” reports Scott Matheson. Call Cody Roswick for the NPAA meeting schedule or look for it at the NPAA website. As far as the 'Nay Sayers' go, they are a dime a dozen from behind a computer monitor and quite often anonymous. Most change opinions like socks when the wind blows the other direction. Holler for massive and comprehensive change, see that someone actually is DOING what they have been yeling for someone to do for years, then complain when the process takes more time than they would like. That's the way it is, I guess, but those who slam AIM now because they don't understand the process yet will, I bet, be all over the opportunity to praise AIM if they get this right...and I am very confident after making many calls to the folks from AIM ....they will. I'd challenge anyone with direct questions to place a call to the AIM Offices. | ||
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| SilverandGold |
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| Juls- Will you be fishing the AIM events? Will you be fishing the FLW events? You are not an investor in AIM. I don't know why you are so concerned about this. You are a mod on another board and there is a lengthy discussion there, but you do not comment. You come here, to a thread that is clearly more positive about AIM than the other, and you jump on them for lack of specifics. Why are you concerned? Just go do your own thing and let AIM be. Nobody at AIM is witing with baited breath to see if Julia Davis is going to donate money to the prize pot, though I'm sure that they will take it. My guess is that they are not paying beyond 50 places anyway. Good thread Steve and we appreciate you stepping up for AIM. Moving ahead, not backward! | |||
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| Juls_OH |
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Member Posts: 389 | As patiently as you can? Wow...that's pretty condescending....lol Anyhooo....I read the press releases, so I really didn't need you to quote them again. The quotes didn't tell me anymore than they did the first time I read them. I think you're mistaking my qeustions as bashing. You couldn't be further from the truth. I want to see AIM succeed. I want there to be competition between the two circuits. That's the only way to make them keep growing. The answers are not "obvious" and with the little information that is provided by AIM's press releases there are still a lot of questions that need answers. There really are...no matter if you want to agree with me or not. I have contacted AIM before by phone and email...didn't get a response to either of those attempts, so I don't see what good it would do to try again. Over and out. I'm not commenting on this subject again. I'll just wait for the first event, since that's the only way we'll get to see what's actually going to be happening, and how they plan to execute a photo weigh in. I figured you would have some more insight into the actual way the fish will be recorded to make it an "accurate and level playing field" and how the weigh in will be worked and would share that, but if it's some big secret...so be it. I won't lose any sleep over it. Juls | ||
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| Juls_OH |
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Member Posts: 389 | If I didn't want AIM to succeed, I wouldn't have been the one to get it posted over on this site. And, even though Steve added his link...his link wasn't up on the front page when I posted the announcement. I looked there first. So, your snide comments are out of line. Again, asking questions is not bashing. But, if they are too tough for you, then I guess you would see it that way. later, Juls | ||
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| sworrall |
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Location: Rhinelander | 'As patiently as I can' is remarkably different than 'I tried patiently to say' and I wasn't being a bit condescending. You said what you said, I responded in kind. I KNOW you want AIM to succeed. I just tried to answer your first comment from my perspective, then follow up with you on your second. I disagreed with what seemed to be a defense that because AIM is releasing information as it's ready to be, and not by some one else's schedule, it's OK to anonymously beat the hell out of them. I don't think it is 'OK', and I said many who do so anonymously will just as quickly praise them when the process is complete and AIM events are underway. I was at the St. Paul Ice Show shooting video when the release arrived, so it was a few hours behind in getting posted. I posted the link because that is what we always do when a news item goes up and there is a reference to it in a thread here. As to the other comments I think you are catching some flack by association from what's going on elsewhere, but that's just a guess. I never have had a problem contacting AIM folks, I'd suggest you try again, by all means. | ||
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| Guest |
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| "Pro Angler entry fees for the 2009 AIM Pro Walleye Series have been set at $1,500 per event. For anglers who are not AIM owners or "Life Members" there will also be a $250 membership fee per event. The planned payout schedule for the Pro entrants is expected to be released at the Anglers Insight Marketing Annual Meeting on January 2, 2009 in Milwaukee WI." What is the "life membership"? Since there seems to be a clear over lap with the NPAA members and the AIM investors, having the AIM meeting right before the NPAA meeting seems to make sense. Based on the information I received the NPAA meeting starts in the evening on the 2nd with a social event and the main part of the NPAA meeting is Saturday and Sunday. I do think both organizations despite the obvious connections will have to be careful on how dealings between the two are handled and communicated. Re-reading all the post, and other post at the other place, not sure why everyone is so defensive. The approach AIM is taking is clearly out of the box thinking, and very different. In trying to drive their agenda, and innovation they should expect people will either like their ideas, or not. I would think the more dialog good or bad will ultimately benefit AIM as they move their concepts forward. Not sure if this person represents the organization as an investor, SilverandGold, but comments / questions like these are not helpful from my point of view “Will you be fishing the AIM events? Will you be fishing the FLW events? You are not an investor in AIM. I don't know why you are so concerned about this.” I am neither right now, not an investor (never had the opportunity), and not sure about fishing yet. I do fish FLW, but hoping AIM gives me another real option. So, I read everything, with great interest and concern. It would appear maybe that if you are not an investor, or have a “life membership” (not sure what this is?) your ability to provide input feedback is going to be treated with indifference. Hopefully the leadership of AIM understands that part of their success will be closely tied to how they treat people, their investors, tournament players, and the general public. Maybe it would be good as comments are posted for people to declare if they are an investor, sponsor, life member, Pros, Cos, or potential participants. Might help everyone on understanding the feedback, questions or comments people are providing. My position on what has been communicated to date leaves me still interested, but still wanting more details and facts. | |||
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| SilverandGold |
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| “Will you be fishing the AIM events? Will you be fishing the FLW events? You are not an investor in AIM. I don't know why you are so concerned about this.” She clearly stated that she will be waiting for the first event to see how it is "executed". So, that seems to me that she is saying that she isn't fishing in it. I suspect that she's not fishing any events at all. So, why keep chopping this thing if she isn't going to be part of it? She seems to think that she needs to be the one to gather the info and provide it. That's incorrect. That's AIM's job. | |||
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| sworrall |
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Location: Rhinelander | Guest: Good post, with some great points, a couple of which I'll respond to. I am commenting form the Media perspective. From what I know, feedback is and will be welcomed by AIM from all who might fish and watch the events, and I'd bet anyone offering feedback to AIM directly will be treated with due respect. AIM and the NPAA are completely different organizations with different goals, but those goals do dovetail in benefitting both if achieved by both, or either. I believe it is AIM's stated position there is a clear differentiation between the two organizations. Perhaps you might give Scott Matheson a call regarding the investor/life member/etc. details, I'm sure he'd be delighted to answer your questions. A link which provides his number: http://www.aimfishing.com/item/1865/ | ||
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| thumper |
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Member Posts: 744 | "The top ten Professionals – based on cumulative weight over the first two days – will fish the third day of the tournament with one of 10 Co-anglers who were randomly drawn during the rules meeting prior to the event.” Do I read this right- The final day 10 co's are drawn before fishing begins? Are they made aware of who is fishing the third day beforehand? Co-Angler prizes are given away at random, and not based on performance? While I'm sure they will have no trouble getting co's, it does seem to take some of the fun out of it. Co's used to be able to get a little excited themselves, get a taste for the competition, and a sense of accomplishment with a good finish, even if they were only indirectly responsible. I do suppose it makes the co's a little more arbitrary when it comes to rules infractions or the measurement photos, as their finish does not depend on the weight. I am a big fan of the changes of the pro side and wish them the best. | ||
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| saugers2 |
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Member Posts: 82 | We have held "bump & run" bass tournaments at a club level on bodies of water that have restrictive limits or size laws. We just measured and recorded length and converted.....we used honor system for a while since it was just a club event with low payouts. Some people in the club had concerns, so I started researching a method of photographing the fish on a ruler.....had a plan to make rulers with large numbers, each person would be given a SDI card blanked and dated by Tournament Director, and a slip of paper or laminated card with the date of the tournament and a code designated by the T.D. Pics of fish on ruler with card in background.... SDI cards would be turned in and viewed on computer, and wieghts verified. would be very easy to do, and is a great way to host tournaments at certain bodies of water. We discussed this at length but in the end decided that it was just "club" tournaments after all and just went back to the honor system. I say "Good Work, AIM!" Its going to be different, but different does not equal bad in this sense. Edited by saugers2 12/8/2008 8:57 AM | ||
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| Caveman |
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WisFisher - 12/8/2008 8:43 AM In general it seems as if this site has a problem with women in the fishing industry, mods are calling a specific women that the don't like and trying to emphasize the point the she may not be a succesfull fisherMAN. | |||
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