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| Lund/Mercury Pro Mark Martin Leads Winneconne AIM. |
The first AIM event of 2011 was abbreviated by a day due to a snowstorm, cold weather, and winds, but day two dawned a classic April day in Winneconne, Wisconsin. The sun was shining, the temperatures were moderate…but the bite was tough.
The AIM field of 44 Pros took to the water unsure of the movement that occurred yesterday during the canceled day; the walleyes are post spawn for the most part and moving fast down the system.
The vast majority of the field did indeed have trouble locating active fish, as the AIM leader board results offer, but Lund/ Mercury Pro Mark Martin found them and CRR’d a total weight of 12.27, enough to hold a slim lead of less than a quarter pound over Pro Nate Curell. Mark told AIM reporters he was watching the ‘fish cams’ yesterday on his off day and noticed there were very few fish moving on the cameras, so he selected to stay down river, which in in his case was obviously a good move.
Mark has a couple adjustments to make tomorrow, and is reasonably confident his bite will hold.
Veteran Mercury Pro Dan Plautz is in third, just a little of a quarter pound back. Dan’s no stranger to this water, and will be one to watch tomorrow as the weather becomes more challenging and the bite again changes as a result. Perennial Top Ten Pro Mike Gofron is in fourth, just behind Plautz, local Pro Jimmy Hughes is in fifth, Ross Grothe in sixth, Chase Parsons in seventh, Tom Kemos in eighth, Gary Parsons in ninth, and Jesse Buechel rounds out the top ten.
The top six are all less than one pound out, and if the bite changes up, it’s anybody’s win to take. Weather tomorrow is calling for rain, wind, and colder temps, which is exactly what the pros have been pre-fishing in for over a week. None were willing to commit that the bite will be better or worse, and all felt it’s finding the fish that will be the key on the Winneconne AIM final day.
Watch the AIM website tomorrow morning for interviews, images, and the story of the morning as the Pros take to the water. The final weigh in will begin at about 5 PM at Critter's in WInneconne, and will be webcast live on the AIM website.
Bay Mills Resort & Casino, Lund Boat Company, Mercury Marine/MotorGuide, Yamaha Marine, Crestliner Boats, JJ Keller Fishing Team, The Reel Shot, Navionics, Oahe Wings & Walleyes, Luck E Strike Lures, Worldwide Marine Insurance, Hatcams, Pier of d'Nort piers, G2 Angling, Come By Chance Resort, Reef Runner Lures, The Judge Tournament Ruler, Rite in the Rain Paper, Gemini Sports Marketing, True North Companies, Bigtime Bowfishing, Matthew 419 Guide Service. |
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| Mike Gofron Wins Again! |
Mike Gofron NPAA#93, Antioch, Illinois, won the 2010 Anglers Insight Marketing walleye Championship. This is his second AIM victory in as many years, and his second walleye Championship (also winning the PWT Championship in 2001). His first prize was a $65,000 Lund Pro-V 2075 rigged with a Mercury Verado 300-hp outboard and a 9.9-hp outboard. |  | AIM photo
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The Sept. 1-3 Championship was held on Lake Winnibigoshish in northern Minnesota. Competing against the best walleye anglers in the world, he caught seven walleyes for 36 pounds on the first day, creating an unbeatable margin. Gofron said, "This victory was special, mainly because I learned about this spot last year from fishing friend Dave Anderson. He died last December, and I thought how nice it would be to win on his spot." The winds cranked higher than 25 mph every day and Gofron couldn't fish this area until the first day of the Championship.
He fished a pattern of nightcrawlers behind small spinners over the tops of weeds known as "cabbage." He trolled slowly with his MotorGuide bow mount motor, quietly easing over the shallow walleyes. The water was 8 to12 feet deep. During the pre-fishing time, he experimented with deep-water spots, steep breaklines, water as shallow as 4-feet, flats in the 13 to 15 foot depths, and searched for areas that might prove better than Dave's weeds. None did.
Gofron talked about his search pattern, saying, "I trolled jointed number five Shad Raps (perch color) over and through the weeds, and on the flats adjacent to the weeds with 10-pound Trilene XT. I let out 65 to 100 feet of line depending on depth." Catching a couple of walleyes in an area caused him to fish it slower with spinners.
The other tool that really helped him dial in his presentation was his Lowrance HD10 with "down scan." He described it like this, "With down scan, I can differentiate between bait and bottom clutter. I can also read if the bait is perch or shiners." On the first day of the Championship, he noticed lots of shiners balled up on the 13-foot flats as he approached Dave's weeds. He saw few minnows in the weeds, but caught all his big fish there. "Did those big fish drive the minnows out?" he asked. On the second day, the minnows were back, and the fishing was much tougher.
Gofron has racked up some incredible statistics over the years. He has five AIM finishes from first to fifth place in nine tournaments. On the In-Fisherman Professional Walleye Trail from 1992 through 2008, his list of record accomplishments includes most top 10 place finishes, 37; most times in the top 20, 50 percent of the time; most money finishes, 71; qualified for 16 Championships in as many years; won a prestigious Championship, and claimed Top Gun, Sportsman of the Year and two Angler of the Year titles. He also has a MWC victory, won a gold medal at the ESPN Great outdoor Games, and won many other state and regional events. He is a book author, "My Story, A Walleye Expert Speaks," and in demand as a seminar presenter.
He works very closely with industry partners, and always names his family as his Number One sponsor, but acknowledges that these companies make it possible for him to remain a regular in the winner's circle: Lund boats, Mercury outboards, Lowrance Electronics, Normark/Rapala, Navionics, Off-Shore Tackle, Optima batteries, Fin-Tech tackle, Do-it Molds, Berkley, Abu Garcia, Carhartt, MotorGuide, Plano, South Dakota tourism, ShoreLand'r Trailers, Glyde Ryde, Triangle Sports Shop, Maxim Construction and Fox Lake Harbor.
Concluding the Author's Note in his book, Gofron lives by and fishes by this statement from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, "It has long been an axiom of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important." Gofron can be reached at 847-395-8261 or [email protected]. Order his book at www.mikegofron.com.
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Contact Mike Gofron for an interview or additional questions: 847-395-8261
The NPAA is a non-profit organization focused on growing the sport of fishing and increasing the professionalism of its members. Its supporting partners include: Northland Fishing Tackle, Navionics, Mercury Marine, Evinrude Outboards, Lund Boats, Ranger Boats, Off-Shore Tackle, Fin-Tech Tackle, Berkley, AIM Walleye Series, Masters Walleye Circuit, FLW Outdoors, Frabill, U.S. Forest Service, Liddle Marketing, FPS Financial Planning Services, Do-it Corp., Optima Batteries, John Butts Outdoors, Pasha Lake Cabins, Oahe Wings and Walleyes Guide Service, Outdoor First Media, Advanced Tex Screen Printing, Pro Staff Gear and Worldwide Marine Underwriters. More NPAA member and association news can be viewed at www.npaa.net.
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| Robert Blosser Earns the 2010 AIM JJ Keller Fishing Team Angler of the Year Award |
Plymouth, WI - September 9, 2010 - Anglers Insight Marketing LLC™ (AIM) announces that Robert Blosser earned the highly coveted Angler of the Year Award for the 2010 season. A special trophy and a $10,000 bonus were presented by the JJ Keller Fishing Team, the presenting sponsor of the 2010 award. The Angler of the Year Award represents consistently high finishes at each of the AIM tournaments.
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James Keller (left) of the JJ Keller Fishing team Congratulates Robert Blosser (center) and presents the JJ Keller Fishing Team AOY Check and trophy.
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Robert placed first in the AIM Pro Walleye Series™ tournament in Green Bay, WI in July. He placed eighth at the tournament in Bay City, MI and fifth at the tournament in Akaska, SD. Robert sealed his Angler of the Year title with a second place finish in the AIM International Walleye Championship™ at Lake Winnibigoshish, MN on September 3rd.
Presenting Robert with his 2010 Angler of the Year trophy was James Keller, who also competed in each tournament as a Pro Angler. James Keller also presented Robert with a $10,000 check for his victory on behalf of the JJ Keller Fishing Team.
When asked about his Angler of the Year title, Blosser said, "I'm stoked! Getting my first major tournament win at Green Bay was very special. But adding this Angler of the Year title is more than I could have hoped for in a single year."
Finishing second in the 2010 AOY standings was the AIM Championship winner, Mike Gofron. Third in overall AOY points was Joe Okada, followed by Jarrad Fluekiger and Chad Schilling, respectively.
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. Additional information about the JJ Keller Fishing Team can be found at www.jjkellerfishingteam.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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Additional AIM Marketing Partners:
South Dakota Office of Tourism, Bay Mills Resort & Casino, Lund Boat Company, Mercury Marine, Crestliner Boats, JJ Keller Fishing Team, Navionics, Fin-Tech Tackle, John Butts Outdoors, Rutting Ridge Outfitters,
Oahe Wings & Walleyes, Optima Batteries, Worldwide Marine Insurance,
Pier of d'Nort piers, Me and My Catch photo replicas, Reef Runner Lures, The Judge Tournament Ruler, Rite in the Rain Paper, G2 Angling, E-Z Lube Systems, Transducer Armor, Gemini Sports Marketing, True North
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| Fishing the �Am� Side of a Pro-Am: My Perspective |
It's been a couple years since being intimately involved in the pro walleye game. That changed at the AIM Championship on Winnie. I elected to fish the "Am" side of the tournament, something I have always wanted to do since originating the concept many years ago.
First, a little history lesson. When Al Lindner asked me to take over the PWT at the Rainy Lake Championship, won by Mark Martin in 1990, I said, "Yes." My official duties started then and there, and I was busy reviewing and editing the rules on my northern Wisconsin deer stand that November (remember, that year it got to 60 degrees on opening day?).
The PWT was a pro-pro draw in 1990, and again in 1991. At the urging of Mike McClelland to transform the PWT into a pro-am, I researched the concept, watched the issues of the '91 season unfold, and upon deciding it was indeed the direction necessary, presented my plan to the PWT board of directors, which included In-Fisherman and Cabela's executives. Reluctantly, they agreed.
The rest is history. One of those very close to Mille Lacs told me that we would never get enough Mille Lacs anglers to sign-up for that event. He was wrong; it filled in less than a week. So did all the others. The amateur concept grew the sport, educated and taught many current-day pro anglers, showed tactics to opinion-leaders who went home to their dealers, fishing clubs and buddies and shared what they learned. Many team tournament players couldn't wait to try out the new tactics at home.
Walleye gear and techniques were being invented and innovated on tour. With more people (ams) taking part first-hand, word of tournament-tested "stuff" spread far and wide quickly. I heard it week after week what a bargain it was to fish as an amateur. Many were surprised to win prizes - they thought what happened in the boats was reward enough for entering.
I was able to observe the reactions of amateurs over the years. They were enjoying themselves immensely. I became friends with them, had dinner with them, hunted with some, received valuable insight about potential tournament waters in their regions, and saw several eventually jump into the pro ranks. Tommy Skarlis has often said, "If I had to start all over, I'd fish as an amateur first."
At Winnie, many of the regular PWT amateurs were on hand and sitting next to me at the rules meeting. After conducting more than 100 such meetings, I was now on the other side, and really liking what I saw. Someone asked me what the difference was between fishing the "am" side versus running the whole show. My answer, "Wanna check my blood pressure?"
Nowadays, I guess I am called a co-angler, or "co." I still feel and have voiced the opinion that if I'm fishing a Pro-Am, there is one pro and one amateur in the boat. I was that amateur. And, sitting in the amateur's boat seat with South Dakota pros Lynn Jurrens and Rick Olson (what are the odds of drawing two South Dakota Tourism wrapped boats?), they made the decisions on when to move, the tactics to use, the distance back when trolling, how to manipulate the lures, how to set boards, and I was soaking up their wisdom.
If I was a true co-angler, and an equal in those decisions, maybe I would have been able to share what I knew about Winnie. Maybe even share what I had learned while fishing with Mike Gofron for three pre-fishing days. But, no, I was the amateur, and I loved being precisely that. The rules for being the amateur are simple. An amateur should listen and not share fishing spots, knowledge or anything about the lake with the pro. |  | JK and Pro Lynn Jurrens on the AIM Stage |
Interesting, both Lynn and Rick said it was going to be just like a regular fishing day. In the morning, we walked through the tactics, where to find and/or store rods, net, etc. On netting, both said we'd work through it. We did. I was an active participant in the fishing. However, blade colors, lure choices, depths to fish, controlling the boat, were entirely their calls. I respected them for that. In fact, I learned some things, and will be able to fine-tune my own presentations.
From Lynn I learned how to control depth, which was so critical on the flats we fished. I also learned that it was essential to return and check out spots that had been hot all week. And, when they didn't pan out, to vacate the premises and catch fish where they were biting. Both Lynn and Rick fished weeds early, Lynn by trolling spinners and Rick by trolling Minnow Raps. Both presentations were equal failures on those days. An amateur can see the thinking and strategizing that goes on in the heads of pros. Advice: wait until they make a move, and then ask why. Answers will range from "gut instinct" to "following my plan." |  | JK talks with AIM MCKeith Kavajecz onstage with Pro Rick Olson
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Lynn went to boards, half-ounce weights with spinners and crawlers. Rick and I covered miles and miles of a break, running the 13-foot depth at 2.9 to 3.5 mph. All the fish that were 21 to 24 inches in pre-fishing, shrunk to 13 to 16 inchers on both tournament days. But, for the record, in both boats, we discussed the fishing, amongst dozens of other topics, starting our daily talk-a-thon about 7:30 a.m., and concluding after weigh-in.
Riding with the pros was a treat, even though some anxiety crept into my mind. I know of situations when past amateurs have done the following:
1. Swung at a walleye with the net and missed completely.
2. Did the same, but whacked the walleye and knocked it off the line.
3. Did the same, but got the hooks caught in the net and the fish swam away.
4. Froze with the net in hand and couldn't even get it in the water.
5. Run out spinners on boards, but after the pro caught several fish on his side of the boat, reeled in the first "amateur" line to find no crawler on the hooks. Response, "I didn't know you wanted crawlers on this thing." That was a fault of the pro - something he never did again.
6. Fail to set the hook on a jigging or rigging bite.
7. Let out about five feet of line in a rigging bite on a Mille Lacs flat.
8. Let out hundreds of feet of line by free-spooling and not paying attention.
9. Pump the leadcore rod when fighting a fish.
10. Set the hook repeatedly during a trolling bite.
11. Clip a board on backwards.
12. Clip the "right" board on the "left" side.
13. Refuse to believe the pro when he tells the amateur he has a fish on.
I used to tell pros at PWT meetings that it was up to them to work closely with
their amateurs, and the better the partnership, the better the results. Walleye guides were especially good at this, as were the guys who remained calm under fire. Fishing with Lynn and Rick, they were really good at this. Rick has probably fished with 500 or so different amateurs over the years.
Living in the Brainerd-lakes area, I wanted to learn more about Winnie. I had my map back at the cabin, and watched the GPS and the mapping systems being used by the pros. I now know so much more about Winnie than I could have learned in months on my own. It's only 105 miles from my house to Four Seasons Resort, and I will be there again this fall. In talking with other amateurs, many of them were there for the same reason. Some intended to make it their annual fishing trip next year; others will come back with families; one guy said he knows where to stay when perch fishing Winnie this winter.
Yes, I had a ball. Not only did I make new friends along the way, I was able to catch-up with old friends. I guess friendship and camaraderie are what I miss most about not being on tour regularly. I was also able to observe in a close-up way the inner workings of the Catch-Record-Release methodology, and it really works well. Now, if the AIM circuit hits the US side of Rainy Lake at International Falls or visits Mille Lacs next year, I'll be there. I might even venture to one of the South Dakota reservoirs, especially hearing all the smallmouth bass stories, along with the news that the walleyes are bigger, badder, stronger and more numerous than ever.
Call me an "am" or call me a "co," but whatever you call me, I will be a better fisherman when I return to Winnie.
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| AIM International Championship Day Three Canceled |
The front forecasted to roll through this morning brought winds gusting to the middle thirty mile and hour range, forcing the cancelation of Day Three. |  | High Winds Force Day Three Cancelation
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The AIM Advisory board met this morning with Randy Reek, AIM Tournament Director and concurred that for safety reasons, the day should be called. Scott Matheson, AIM CEO, said it was an unfortunate but necessary decision. The safety of the Pros and Co Anglers comes first, and the weather forecast indicates worsening conditions into the mid day timeframe.
The Awards ceremony is, at this point, still scheduled for 5 PM this evening. Stand by at www.aimfishing.com for updates!
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| Gofron Wins Abbreviated AIM International Walleye Championship, Blosser Takes Angler of the Year |
Mike Gofron finished day two of the AIM Int'l Walleye Championship in first place ahead of Robert Blosser, and spent a considerable amount of time between end of the day on day two and this morning planning out where he intended to fish to take the win home in the big winds forecast for the last day.
When the morning dawned Mike stepped outside, and even on the lee side of the lake by the river, there were whitecaps. Trees were whipping about and rain was horizontal, but he began packing the Lund for the day none the less. His plan was to leave the water that had given him his first place standing due to the heavy weather and hit a few pre-fish spots on the west shore 'out' of the wind.
The call soon came in the last day had been called due to the weather. Randy Reek, AIM Tournament Director, called the event as a safety measure. Several of the Co Anglers had already announced they would not be willing to fish in any case, and the AIM advisory council agreed with the decision. |  | Big Winds On Big Winnie
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Pro Rick Olson told AIM this morning in an interview he felt the lake would have been extremely dangerous this morning, especially if the Pros had to head for the landing the permit was assigned to for the morning's start, and try to check in later in the day when winds would hit as much as 40 MPH.
Mike Gofron CRR'd 17.86 yesterday, extending his lead to over 7 pounds over second place and JJ Keller Fishing Team AOY winner Robert Blosser. Joe Okada continued his hot streak keeping third place, while Brett King moved to fourth and 'Doc' Bruce Samson weighed the yesterday's best total to move to fifth.
In sixth is Nick Schertz, seventh Tommy Skarlis, eighth, Kevin Audrain, ninth, Chris Kindraka ninth, and rounding out the top ten is Scott Glorvigen. |  | Gofron Wins
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AIM Championship Payout:
First Place $65,000 Lund/Mercury package
Second Place $8,000
Third Place $5,000
Fourth Place $4,000
Fifth Place $3,500
Sixth Place $3,400
Seventh Place $3,300
Eighth Place $3,200
Ninth Place $3,100
Tenth Place $3,000
Robert Blosser took the JJ Keller Angler of the Year trophy and a check for $10,000.00, plus the honor of leading the AIM Field into 2011 as the Top Pro on the Circuit. Join us at www.aimfishing.com for more information!
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. |  | Blosser is JJ Keller AOY
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Additional AIM Marketing Partners:
South Dakota Office of Tourism, Bay Mills Resort & Casino, Lund Boat Company, Mercury Marine, Crestliner Boats, JJ Keller Fishing Team, Navionics, Fin-Tech Tackle, John Butts Outdoors, Rutting Ridge Outfitters,
Oahe Wings & Walleyes, Optima Batteries, Worldwide Marine Insurance,
Pier of d'Nort piers, Me and My Catch photo replicas, Reef Runner Lures, The Judge Tournament Ruler, Rite in the Rain Paper, G2 Angling, E-Z Lube Systems, Transducer Armor, Gemini Sports Marketing |  | AIM Championship Top Ten
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| Gofron Takes Lead Into AIM Championship Final Day |
The second day of the AIM International Walleye Championship started out with a shower and ended with a hail storm that nearly unseated the check in boat wreaking havoc on the return check in, but everyone made it in on time and safely. The Sanctioned Series teams had already checked in before the worst of the storm hit, but 50 pro and Co-anglers were in the thick of it as the front passed through. |  | Sanctioned Series Top Three teams
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Sanchez and Roehl took the Sanctioned Series win with 36.79 pounds, weighing 9.88 today and 26.9 yesterday. The win netted them $3500.00. Second place and $2100.00 went to Dagel and Lacoe, third and $1500.00 went to Coupland and Coupland, fourth and $1000.00 went to Ustishen and Ustishen, fifth and $800.00 went to Anderson and Erickson, and sixth and $600.00 went to Colter and Hernesman.
Mike Gofron CRR'd 17.86, to extend his lead to over 7 pounds over second place and JJ Keller Fishing Team AOY leader Robert Blosser. Joe Okada continued his hot streak keeping third place, while Brett King moved to fourth and 'Doc' Bruce Samson weighed the largest fish of the day and the second largest basket to move to fifth.
In sixth is Nick Schertz weighing in the largest basket of the day, seventh Tommy Skarlis, eighth, Kevin Audrain, ninth, Chris Kindraka ninth, and rounding out the top ten is Scott Glorvigen.
The top twenty five Pros will advance to the final day of competition tomorrow morning, hitting the water at 8 AM sharp. The forecast looks very rough, with winds 20 to 30 MPH out of the North West. |  | Gofron Maintains Lead
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The Top Five will be fitted with GPS trackers so AIM Fans can follow their every move throughout the final day. Look for the GPS Tracker link on the opening page at www.aimfishing.com. Top prize tomorrow will be a $65,000.00 Lund/Mercury package. The JJ Keller Fishing Team Angler of the Year will also be crowned, and will take home the honor of leading the field overall into 2011 and a check for $10,000.00.
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. |  | Blosser Leads JJ Keller Fishing Team Angler of the Year Race
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Additional AIM Marketing Partners:
South Dakota Tourism, Bay Mills Resort & Casino, Lund Boat Company,
Mercury Marine, Crestliner Boats, JJ Keller Fishing Team, Navionics,
Fin-Tech Tackle, John Butts Outdoors, Rutting Ridge Outfitters,
Oahe Wings & Walleyes, Optima Batteries, Worldwide Marine Insurance,
Pier of d'Nort piers, Me and My Catch photo replicas, Reef Runner Lures, The Judge Tournament Ruler, Rite in the Rain Paper, G2 Angling, E-Z Lube Systems, Gemini Sports Marketing
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| Robert Blosser�s Goal: Win Angler Of The Year at Lake Winnie |
Who's No. 1? Robert Blosser, of Poynette, Wis
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Who's shooting for a heavy three-day bag to keep him No. 1? The one in the same 32-year-old from that small town near Madison, who sits oh-so-slimly atop the standings for the $10,000 prize, accolades, potential new sponsors, and the title of 2010 J.J. Keller Angler Of The Year.
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How slim? The difference between first and second going into the AIM Pro Walleye Series™ International Championship Sept. 2-4 is only 1.15 points. The difference between first and third place: 6.95 points. But Blosser feels that a consistent bag each day may not win the tournament, but will win the title for him.
"I know it probably will not win the tournament, but my goal is a catch of 25 pounds a day. That should secure Angler of the Year for me," predicts Blosser, whose 12-hour days on the water and top finishes at three successive AIM Pro Walleye Series tournaments-including winning at Green Bay-have gotten him this far.
"You don't get many opportunities to win a tournament, and AIM is giving five of those away this year. But, they only give away one Angler Of The Year.
This is one of the most highly coveted titles in the sport fishing industry and it can help one's career quite a bit," Blosser says.
Here's how he got to be at the top of the heap by that slimmest of margins, especially over his closest two competitors, fellow Wisconsinites Jarrad Fluekiger and Keith Kavajecz: an eighth place at Michigan's Bay City, Mich., winning at Green Bay, Wis., and a fifth place at Akaska, S.D.
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That from an angler who fished just one AIM event in 2010, placing second at Green Bay. Of the five AIM tourneys in which he's competed, including the Bay Mills Invitational at Brimley, Mich. (which did not count towards AOY standings), Blosser's placed in the top 10 four times.
One fly in the ointment: it's also his first trip to Lake Winnie, which he's been learning since starting to pre-fish it on Aug. 24.
"I have fished nearby lakes like Cass and Leech. But I really don't know what it's going to take here. The first two days of pre-fishing here we had a cold front come in which made fishing the main lake really tough," Blosser says.
"We lost five degrees in water temperature just overnight. So I think we're going to see a complete transition throughout the week to the fall bite. I believe there are a lot of fish on the offshore humps, but I think we're going to see them sliding up shallower and into the weeds, starting to transition to their fall feeding patterns.
"I'm anticipating going into the tournament, to look for somewhere around 25 pounds a day, and I should be sitting really well," he predicts.
Of course, that's what pros said last year on this huge lake with so many presentation choices too. Blosser admits that figure might change. "I know Todd Riley blew it out of the water last year with more than 100 pounds over three days. But being a first-timer on the lake and from Wisconsin, I'm not a rigger, not a one-rod type of angler. I like to troll a lot so I'm going to look for a trolling program whether it's in the weeds or the flats, and I'm also planning on spending some time on the offshore structure with chubs or red tails to fill out my bag with a big kicker fish," Blosser adds.
Blosser feels that despite having never fished Lake Winnie, he always manages to peak at the right time. "It seems to be my style to never get it all the way put together until the tournament starts. At every tournament so far it's been 'boom, you find'em' and finally figure out the pattern. I also do have some friends in the area and a couple of good partners, (AIM pros) Joe Okada and Brett King, who have some knowledge of the lake, but the learning curve is steep for me."
Blosser says he has fished other major tournaments since 2007, and currently runs a Ranger powered by a Yamaha F-250, and AIM's unique Catch-Record-Release™ format is the only way to go.
"The fun is back in tournament fishing. You're no longer worried about fish mortality and you don't have to worry about things like slot limits, which take all the luck out of a tournament. Rather than worrying about catching the right size fish, AIM is back to whomever catches the biggest fish wins, and that's what it should be," Blosser said.
"I sure hope CRR becomes the way of the future," Blosser adds. "It's funny: for the thousands of walleyes as I catch, I may keep somewhere in the neighborhood of five a year. CRR helps preserve the resource for future generations, and if we can turn what's an okay walleye lake into a trophy fishery for my kids and their kids, all the better."
Less than a week prior to the tournament's first day, Blosser says he's ready despite the variables that come with fishing a lake for the first time. "I've had a lot of help to get to where I am this year but Angler Of The Year is definitely on my mind and what I'm shooting for."
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| AIM Pro Anglers to Compete for Purse exceeding $100,000 at the 2010 AIM International Walleye Championship� |
Plymouth, WI - August 31, 2010 - Anglers Insight Marketing LLC� (AIM) announces that 51 Pro Anglers will be competing at the 2010 Lake Winnibigoshish Championship, September 1st through the 3rd. These anglers have qualified through their participation in at least one of the AIM Pro Walleye Series� tournaments in 2010. The qualifying tournaments included locations at Bay City, MI and Green Bay, WI and Akaska, SD.
Prior to the start of the 2010 tournament season, dozens of regional tournaments in the United Sates and Canada were invited to participate as an AIM Sanctioned Series. The top anglers from these series were invited to compete alongside the AIM Pro Anglers. Ultimately, three anglers have accepted these invitations and will be in attendance at Lake Winnibigoshish. The anglers competing as Pros based on their Sanctioned Series qualifications are:
Chris Kindraka, Pro Angler from the Saskatchewan Walleye Trail (Saskatchewan)
Cary Pettinger, Pro Angler from the Lac du Bonnet Walleye Classic (Manitoba)
Kevin Audrain, Pro Angler from the Texas Walleye Association (Texas)
These Pro Anglers will be competing for their share of over $100,000 in cash and prizes. This total payback represents over 130% of entry fees. The first place Pro Angler will win a 2010 Lund Pro-V boat equipped with a Mercury Verado 300hp motor. The total package is valued at $65,000.
The payouts for the AIM International Walleye Championship� are as follows:
First Place $65,000 Lund/Mercury package
Second Place $8,000
Third Place $5,000
Fourth Place $4,000
Fifth Place $3,500
Sixth Place $3,400
Seventh Place $3,300
Eighth Place $3,200
Ninth Place $3,100
Tenth Place $3,000
In addition, the Lake Winnie Championship will also determine the JJ Keller Angler of the Year. This award recognizes the AIM Pro Angler who has had the highest cumulative finishes over the course of all four tournaments. This check will be presented to the top angler from the 2010 season at the conclusion of the Day Three weigh-in on September 3rd.
Finally, these season-ending Angler of the Year standings will also determine the top 50 AIM Pro Anglers who will receive invitations to the 2011 Bay Mills Invitational to be held next June at the Bay Mills Resort and Casino in Brimley, MI.
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. Additional information about the Lake Winnibigoshish area can be found at www.lakewinnie.net.
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.
Additional AIM Marketing Partners:
South Dakota Office of Tourism, Bay Mills Resort & Casino, Lund Boat Company, Mercury Marine, Crestliner Boats, JJ Keller Fishing Team, Navionics, Fin-Tech Tackle, John Butts Outdoors, Rutting Ridge Outfitters,
Oahe Wings & Walleyes, Optima Batteries, Worldwide Marine Insurance,
Pier of d'Nort piers, Me and My Catch photo replicas, Reef Runner Lures, The Judge Tournament Ruler, Rite in the Rain Paper, G2 Angling, E-Z Lube Systems, Transducer Armor, Gemini Sports Marketing
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| AIM Catch-Record-Release� to be the Centerpiece of the 2010 International Walleye Championship� |
Plymouth, WI - August 27, 2010 - Anglers Insight Marketing LLC� (AIM) announces that the exclusive Catch-Record-Release� format will once again highlight the Lake Winnibigoshish fishery at the AIM International Walleye Championship�.
The AIM Catch-Record-Release� format was unveiled in 2009 with the creation of the AIM Pro Walleye Series�. While there are many very good, proven tournament formats to choose from, AIM's "CRR" system proved to be both revolutionary and entertaining. For years many tournaments have required fish to be brought to the weigh-in for measurement and/or weighing.
In contrast, CRR requires that the Pro Anglers take digital photos on the official AIM Judge ruler. These photos are compared with the official scorecard record that each Pro Angler turns in daily. Every walleye is immediately released where it was caught. No fish are transported in "livewells", in some cases for many miles from where they were caught.
At the same time, CRR eliminates the possibility that the anglers are subjected to "dead fish" penalties for fish deemed unreleasable. In many cases, a penalty of only one pound will alter the tournament results. (Several AIM tournaments have had first and second place separated by LESS than one pound!)
CRR also eliminates the decision process when local fishing regulations include a "slot". In the case of Lake Winnibigoshish - the site of the AIM International Walleye Championship� - the slot allows each angler to harvest only ONE walleye over 26 inches and NO walleyes between 17 and 26 inches.
In 2009, AIM Pro Angler Todd Riley won the Championship by weighing over 100 pounds of Lake Winnie walleyes. ALL of these walleyes were "slot fish"! Instead of tournaments being decided based on lucky decision making, all AIM tournaments are won by the Pro Angler who boats the biggest baskets of walleyes over three days.
When asked about the AIM Catch-Record-Release� format, Riley was very enthused. "I once had the chance at a victory but lost it due to a dead fish penalty. That will never happen again with CRR." he said. "I love this format. All you need to do is catch fish. There is no worry about what order you catch the fish, or which fish to keep and which ones to release. And when we can come to a fishery like Lake Winnie and showcase the quality of the walleyes it is a win-win for us and the local community. Plus, every walleye is right back where it was caught and anyone can go out there and try for it tomorrow!"
The AIM Catch-Record-Release� format is, by necessity, an exacting process. The elimination of live fish that are examined and measured at the weigh-in requires the reliance on digital photos and the precise record of the fish on the official AIM scorecard. Randy Reek, AIM Tournament Director stated, "We were all apprehensive when we unveiled CRR at the first tournament in 2009. But after literally thousands of walleyes have been CRR'ed, the format has been proven accurate and easy to administer. In fact, we will be using CRR in the new AIM International Team Championship� that will be run at the same time as the AIM Pro-AM Championship at Lake Winnie."
This is not to say that there has not been a "learning curve" over the past two years. Recently, Mike McMaken, an AIM Pro Angler from Cedarville, Michigan, suffered the loss of a 22 inch walleye at the AIM Pro Walleye Series� tournament in Akaska, South Dakota. The fish was disqualified when the scorecard entry did not match the confirming digital photo. No cheating was implied, but the error on the official scorecard forced the subtraction of the weight. The consequence was significant in that McMaken would have otherwise placed second in the tournament.
Mike McMaken accepted the penalty like a true Pro and stated, "For the AIM Pro Walleye Series� and the Catch-Record-Release� format to be above any possibility of cheating, I have accepted the penalty that was imposed. CRR has so many positives - for the local fishery, the competitors, and the image of tournaments - that it is important that the rules are strictly enforced. While I had a great day and caught more than enough weight to earn the second place at Akaska, I know that the long-term success of AIM is the most important objective."
Mike continued, "AIM is moving forward using all the technology at hand to make fair rulings for all the competitors. What's really exciting is when the AIM Pro Anglers can use the CRR format to reveal the quantity and quality of local fisheries. And every fish is returned right back where it was caught. Pretty cool!"
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. Additional information about the Lake Winnibigoshish area can be found at www.lakewinnie.net.
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.
Additional AIM Marketing Partners:
South Dakota Office of Tourism, Bay Mills Resort & Casino, Lund Boat Company, Mercury Marine, Crestliner Boats, JJ Keller Fishing Team, Navionics, Fin-Tech Tackle, John Butts Outdoors, Rutting Ridge Outfitters,
Oahe Wings & Walleyes, Optima Batteries, Gemini Sports Marketing, Worldwide Marine Insurance, Pier of d'Nort piers, Me and My Catch photo replicas, Reef Runner Lures, The Judge Tournament Ruler, Rite in the Rain Paper, G2 Angling, E-Z Lube Systems, Transducer Armor
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| Countdown to the Championship |
First place at Bay City. A thirty-second-place finish due to a battle with Lyme Disease at Green Bay after being in 15th, and third at Akaska.
Each of those finishes has brought Alma, Wis., pro angler Jarrad Fluekiger to second place in the AIM Pro Walleye Series� J. J. Keller Angler of The Year award. And it will take even more of the same (minus the deer ticks) on 67,000 acre Lake Winnibigoshish-a water body he's never fished-to take it all, plus the $10,000 that goes with the title.
And that may not be too out of the ballpark, since his Bay City win also came on a water body he'd never seen before.
New water apparently doesn't phase Fluekiger, who's in his first year as an AIM pro after taking two years off from fishing professionally to return to guiding on his home water of Lake Pepin, about one hour north of LaCrosse and six hours from his Sept. 2-4 appointment with Lake Winnie at the AIM International Walleye Championship.
And what he used to win his first AIM tourney won't serve him here, since it's a different time, and place."I won Bay City jigging in the river in less than five feet of water. That won't be the case here," said Fluekiger, who also is making it a point to have fun on the AIM circuit this year."My first goal in my first season was to try to win a tournament. And once I won at Bay City, that built up my confidence. It told me I could compete with these guys who are some of the best fishermen in the world."
Fluekiger, 38, also used that two-year absence from the pro ranks to "get that love of fishing back in my head." Fluekiger has guided for 21 years, starting when he was just 17. This season, he's running a Ranger 620 powered by an Evinrude 225 HO.
"I'm also trying to be more focused on my fishing opportunities. Two of my fishing buddies on the tour, Tom Gatzke (from Merrill, Wis.) and Chad Schilling (from Akaska, S.D.) have made it a lot of fun for me to compete this year." he said. "Tom and Chad are good friends, and we do a lot of hunting together in the off-season. When you're fishing with guys you trust and like, you can be a lot more relaxed. We talk a lot when we go onto a new body of water, and then we attack it."
That fun extends to AIM's unique Catch-Record-Release� format.
"With CRR, you can just go and fish and don't have to worry about slot limits, and whether you should keep a 21 rather than a 20-inch fish. You just keep catching and upgrading all day. We catch a fish, take a photo and each fish is only out of the water from 30 to 90 seconds and they're back swimming again. It's the only way to go."
"I think that to win angler of the year you'll have to be in the top 10 at Winnie to be in the running. I'm doing a lot of research, looking up past tournament info and websites on what's been productive on Lake Winnie, and I'm also trying to apply some of what I know from fishing the Mississippi and Lake Pepin where I guide," he said.
What's his prediction?
"I think it's going to go into a transition bite from summer to fall. I could be wrong since I've never fished a Minnesota lake before, but I'll go up with a positive attitude and will think like a fish," Fluekiger says. "I think they'll begin feeding on bait fish like young-of-the-year perch since that lake is a big-time perch fishery and they'll be moving from deep up to shallows where the bait is, and moving into the weeds. If there's a river they might start running into it, gearing up for a fall feeding frenzy to fatten up for winter."
"So a lot of pros will be probably running a lot of live bait including crawlers, leeches, redtails, and also pulling spinners might be productive along weeds."
Getting tips from locals can be both a help and hindrance, he explains. "If you do get knowledge from locals, you might get focused on one presentation, which becomes a disadvantage, but they also can get you steered in the right direction. There's a lot of structure in that lake and it's big, so there's a lot of ground to cover. You've still got to catch'em," Fluekiger adds.
"When I won in Bay City in May, Angler of the Year was in the back of my mind, but I'm just concentrating on fishing each tournament and whatever happens, happens. I'm going to go for the win and if it doesn't happen it wasn't meant to be."
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