Plymouth, WI – May 10, 2011
The first tournament of the 2011 AIM Pro Walleye Series was held in Winneconne, Wisconsin on April 20th through the 22nd. Actually, the tournament activities started on Friday, April 18th when the AIM Pro Anglers joined local residents for a fund-raising walk for juvenile diabetes.

The scheduled three day tournament was shortened due to inclement weather. The first day of the tournament was cancelled due to 8 to 10 inches of snow that fell on the area. The Day Two and Day Three weigh-ins were held indoors in the spacious facilities provided by Critters Sports in Winneconne.

The Day Three weigh-in crowned the tournament champion, Tommy Kemos. The event also allowed the AIM tournament organization to give back to the community. Through its partnership with the J. J. Keller Foundation, AIM is the only fishing tournament organization that intentionally seeks to provide a benefit to the host community.
The J. J. Keller Foundation was represented by James and Brian Keller. The Foundation made a presentation of $2,500 to the Wisconsin/Upper Michigan Kiwanis Club. Representing the local Winneconne Kiwanis Club were Dorothy Nimmer and Mike Walter. This grant will be used to promote kid’s outdoor activities in the Winneconne area.

AIM conduct four Pro-Am walleye tournaments in 2011. The next tournament in the 2011 AIM season is the Bay Mills Invitational on June 2nd to 4th. This special tournament is hosted by the Bay Mills Resort and Casino and promises the highest percentage payout of the entire season. Following this event, the AIM Pro Walleye Series will next be hosted by the Dubuque, Iowa Visitors Bureau on June 22nd to 24th. The final event of the season will be the AIM International Walleye Championship at Akaska, South Dakota on September 15th to 17th.

More information about AIM and updates on all the AIM Pro Walleye Series tournaments can be found at 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.


AIM Marketing Partners:

Bay Mills Resort & Casino, Lund Boat Company, Mercury Marine & MotorGuide, Yamaha Marine, Crestliner Boats, J. J. Keller Fishing Team, The Reel Shot, Oahe Wings & Walleyes, Luck E Strike Lures, Worldwide Marine Insurance, Pier of d’Nort piers, Reef Runner Lures, The Judge Tournament Ruler, Rite in the Rain Paper, G2 Angling, Come By Chance Resort, Hatcams, Matthew 419 Fishing Guide Service.

Plymouth, WI – May 3, 2011
The first tournament of the 2011 AIM Pro Walleye Series was shortened due to inclement weather. The scheduled first day of the tournament was cancelled due to 8 to 10 inches of snow that fell on the area. It was deemed too treacherous to be trailering the big walleye rigs so the tournament was reduced to a two day “shoot out”. The full field of Pro Anglers and Co-anglers would fish both days, instead of the normal cut to the top 50% of the field on Day Three.

The first day of the tournament (Day “Two”) dawned with clearing skies, but falling water temperatures and rising water levels. All this conspired to completely undo the days of preparation the AIM Pro Anglers had invested to unravel the vast Wolf River fishery.

The Day Two weigh-in found Mark Martin in the lead. Mark chose to stay near the Winneconne Bridge and scratched out a weight of 12.27 pounds while weighing only six walleyes. Lurking within a fraction of a pound were Nate Currell, Dan Plautz, Ross Grothe, and Jim Hughes. Flying below the radar was AIM Pro Angler Tommy Kemos back in 8th place with a weight of only 7.6 pounds.

Staring out on Day Three, the entire field of 44 boats was faced with another change in the weather. Cold, windy and misty conditions were predicted. It was obvious that adjustments to “game plans” were going to be necessary. The previous day had resulted in only three Pros weighing a seven fish limit. At the same time, six Pros were saddled with a “zero” in the weight column.

All of the AIM Pro Anglers enter each tournament and start each day with the attitude that they are capable of winning. The AIM Pro Walleye Series format is unique because it utilizes the exclusive AIM Catch-Record-Release™ format. The CRR format allows a seven fish limit, instead of the normal five walleye limit in Wisconsin. This means a skillful angler can pull away from anyone who weighs less than a full limit. And, because no fish are put in the livewell and all walleyes are immediately released, the Pros can continue to fish all day and continually “upgrade” their limit on the AIM CRR Scorecard.

Going into the final day, AIM Pro Angler Tommy Kemos said he wanted this win, and wanted it really badly. His history here is steeped in success. Tommy cut some of his early tournament angling teeth on the Wolf and Winnebago System with successes in both the Mercury Marine National Walleye Tournament and the Professional Walleye Trail events.

Kemos started up in the Wolf River the previous day but moved with the fish and spent most of Day Three within sight of the Winneconne Bridge. After catching a small limit, he hopped around to smaller shoreline structures where he changed over to pitching and casting jigs and live bait. He gave credit to his new St Croix spinning rod, claiming the sensitivity was so good he could feel the fish when it “breathed on the jig!”
The strategy paid off, and Kemos tallied a seven walleye weight of 18.38 pounds on the final day, blowing the rest of the field away with the heaviest weight of the event. In fact, this weight was enough to have taken sixth place in the two-day event!

Kemos accepted the first place check of $30,000.00. The entire Kemos family was present at Critters Sports in Winneconne at the final day weigh in to celebrate the win.

Mark Martin was able to scratch out a seven fish limit, but the total weight fell short at only 10.35 pounds. His total weight was 22.62 pounds and he had to settle for second place in the event. Mark caught all of his fish within a few hundred feet of the take-off in downtown Winneconne. He took home $6400.00 for the second place finish.
Third and $5066.00 went to Ross Grothe. Placing fourth was Mike Gofron, with Chase Parsons finishing in fifth. Sixth went to Dan Plautz, seventh to Gary Parsons, eighth to Brandon Carpenter, ninth to Jim Hughes, and rounding out the top ten was Tommy Skarlis. The full results are available at www.aimfishing.com.
The next tournament in the 2011 AIM season is the Bay Mills Invitational. This special tournament is hosted by the Bay Mills Resort and Casino and promises the highest percentage payout of the entire season.
More information about AIM and updates on all the AIM Pro Walleye Series tournaments can be found at 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.

Bay Mills Resort & Casino, Lund Boat Company, Mercury Marine & MotorGuide, Yamaha Marine, Crestliner Boats, J. J. Keller Fishing Team, The Reel Shot, Oahe Wings & Walleyes, Worldwide Marine Insurance, Pier of d’Nort piers, Reef Runner Lures, The Judge Tournament Ruler, Rite in the Rain Paper, G2 Angling, Come By Chance Resort, Hatcams, Bigtime Bowfishing, Matthew 419 Fishing Guide Service.

The purpose behind every competitive angling event, regardless of species, is to provide a professional atmosphere where anglers can go head-to-head in order to determine who is the best on a particular body of water. There are no guarantees in the sport of fishing. But if you participate in enough tournaments, the best will eventually find themselves atop the podium.

Walleyes are a highly targeted species for many reasons, including the fact that they provide the most highly favored table fare.  For the competitor, walleyes offer a challenge matched by few other fresh water fish.  In fact, the walleye might be one of the most finicky species available to sporting anglers.  Something as simple as a color change or a 1/32nd weight adjustment will turn fish on to the point where anglers can load the boat in a matter of minutes.  The sense of accomplishment an angler has after filling a limit of healthy ‘eyes under adverse conditions is tough to compare to any other feat in competitive angling.

“During the pre-tournament practice days in Winneconne we enjoyed some tremendous weather, which always makes you a little bit nervous with a massive front looming in the near future,” explains Tom Kemos, champion of the 2011 AIM Pro Walleye Series™ tournament at Winneconne.  “The bite got tougher and tougher as the weather conditions deteriorated, but I knew I would still have to stick to my strategy and find some good fish after the tournament began if I wanted to be in this event.”

“Fortunately, under the AIM Catch-Record-Release™ format, I was able to devise a plan where I could put together a competitive limit, and then go search for big fish,” Kemos continues with anticipation in his voice.  “To catch fish, we needed to be on the water.  The weather conditions got so poor that we woke up on Day One to ten inches of fresh snow. The tournament officials elected to cancel the first day after consulting the AIM Angler Advisory Board.  I was disappointed to lose one of three days as that can really cramp your strategy, but you’ve got to take it in stride.  We anxiously waited for the day to pass knowing there was a $30K check waiting for one of us at the finish line.”

Because walleye are in such high demand across the country and many of the waters they reside in have very detailed and often rigid restrictions, holding a tournament on certain bodies of water can be a challenge.  In many states like Wisconsin, harvest takes place the moment the fish are placed in the livewell, therefore no-culling laws are enforced for management of the fishery. 

The obvious goal in every walleye tournament is to weigh the biggest fish the tournament limit will allow.  Under bad weather conditions and facing a tough bite (where very few AIM Pro Anglers weighed a full limit) it would be hard not to put the first seven walleyes in the livewell. In a typical tournament in Wisconsin, you would see anglers back at the dock early with a limit of small fish.

“We don’t keep any fish at all during these AIM events,” Kemos continued.  “What the AIM CRR™ format has done for us as professional walleye anglers is open a whole new set of strategies. Being faced with no-cull laws and slot limits really forces the anglers to make decisions that can make or break their outcome at that event.  With CRR, the fish are caught, recorded on the official Judge ruler, photographed, and then immediately released.  This format is so powerful because it allows the best anglers to shine and not be handicapped by a lesser limit that they were forced to weigh-in.”

 The AIM Pro Walleye Series developed the Catch-Record-Release format to accentuate the head-to-head competition between the anglers, and to insure that the tournament results were not subject to local bag limit or slot size regulations. CRR makes it possible to stage the AIM Pro Walleye Series tournaments virtually anywhere, and at the peak of the bite.

The AIM Catch-Record-Release format is not only great for heavily restricted walleye waters, but it also is designed to improve the image of tournaments within the community. CRR mandates the immediate release of every walleye, thus eliminating any risk of delayed mortality.  It is the goal of every AIM Pro Walleye Series tournament to have zero impact on the local fishery.

“At the Winneconne tournament, the majority of the anglers were fishing in the Wolf River between Gills Landing and Freemont where it appeared that the fish were stacking up and holding,” said Kemos.  “The walleyes I were catching were good limit-fillers, but not the size needed to dominate a tournament. During multiple day events, you need to have several back up spots and then manage the bites to come in at the final weigh-in with the best total weight.”

After the first day of competition (Day Two of the scheduled tournament), Kemos was able to hold onto 8th place. It was obvious that he would really have to contact some bigger fish in order to climb in the standings on the final day.

In a tough bite, the standard tournament rule is to catch a limit. On Day Three, Kemos abandoned the upper Wolf River relocated within sight of the Winneconne Bridge. After recording a small seven-fish limit - worthy of a paycheck - he relocated looking for the bigger fish needed to move up in the final results. Finally, after several hours of unproductive attempts, Kemos was frustrated. That’s when his tournament instincts took over. Kemos set up on Clark’s Point near Winneconne where he found the winning fish.

“I knew I was going to have to start pitching jigs to the scattered rock piles rather than continue to vertical jig, which is what I was doing up to this point,” Kemos explained.  “The shallower water matched with the hard bottom created some excellent spawning habitat.  I was certain some of the larger females would be present.  My suspicions were confirmed and my intensity shot through the roof on my third cast. I got the kind of bite that makes your knees knock before you set the hook.  It ended up being a dandy 21.5-incher that set the stage for the remainder of my efforts on that spot.”

“To match the shallow water I was fishing, I downsized to a 1/8th ounce jig tipped with a shiner and began fan casting around the rock piles. I would bring the jig back to the boat and then kill it by letting it fall to the bottom where the fish would scoop it up and run.  I really want to stress the value of hi-visibility line, especially when pitching those light jigs in shallow water.  I was using eight-pound Suffix Siege in a neon-tangerine color.  It’s bright, but the fish really don’t seem to mind in a river setting and it allows you to identify even the lightest of bites.”

“Rod selection is absolutely critical,” said the Ranger/Mercury Pro.  “Being primarily a jig fisherman, St. Croix Rods have been absolutely instrumental to my presentation.  Brand new for this year is the 7’6” medium weight, extra fast action Legend Elite rod.  I ordered two specifically for this tournament and I can tell you they are a treat to fish with!  I was able to keep in contact with my jig at all times and, most importantly, I was able to detect even the slightest of bites that often accompany a strong cold front.  Your gear is vital to being successful during a tournament - especially when the conditions are not ideal.”

After all the boats were pulled from the river, the anglers gathered at Critters Sports for the final weigh-in on Friday afternoon.  A large crowd watched and the level of intensity grew. The walleye pros knew a $30K check was about to be handed out.  Kemos didn’t disappoint and brought in 18.38 pounds for his final day weight (the biggest daily limit of the event) and a two-day total of 25.98 pounds. This weight sealed the victory and earned him the $30,000 check. As it turned out, his final day weight alone would have been enough for 6th place. 

Kemos was ecstatic with his victory, as he should have been. He beat conditions that humbled many in the field.  Second place went to Mark Martin with a two-day total of 22.62 pounds. Placing third was Ross Grothe with 21.23 pounds. Fourth place went to Mike Gofron with 19.39 pounds, followed by Chase Parsons with 18.86 pounds. Dan Plautz took sixth place with a total of 18.15 pounds. Gary Parsons finished in seventh with 16.16 pounds. Brandon Carpenter took eighth with 15.76 pounds, followed by Jim Hughes in ninth with 15.68 pounds and, and Tommy Skarlis in tenth with 15.66 pounds.

The next tournament of the 2011 AIM season is the Bay Mills Invitational Walleye Tournament. This tournament is sponsored by the Bay Mills Resort and Casino and is promised to feature the largest purse of the season. The tournament dates are June 2nd through the 4th.

On day two Tommy Kemos said he wanted this win, and wanted it really badly. His history here is steeped in success; Tommy cut some of his early tournament angling teeth on the Wolf and Winnebago System with successes in both Mercury Marine National Walleye Tournament and In Fisherman Professional Walleye Trail events.

His win today was special because of that past, and because of the field of competitors. Tommy weighed in 18.38 pounds on the final day, blowing the rest of the field away with the heaviest weight of the event; enough to have taken sixth with his second day weight alone.

Mr. Kemos started up in the river yesterday, but moved with the fish and put his two day total of CRR’d ‘eyes pitching and casting jigs and live bait. He gave quite a bit of credit to his new St Croix stick, claiming the sensitivity was so good he could feel the fish when it ‘breathed on the jig’!. The first place check was $30,000.00, and the entire Kemos family was present at Critters in Winneconne at the final day weigh in to enjoy and celebrate the win.

Mark Martin, day two leader, held his own and CRR’d a very respectable 10.35 to total 22.62 for the event, about 3 and a half pounds back of Kemo’s 25.98. Mark caught his fish locally, just a few hundred feet from the launch using jigs set up with rattles, and live bait sprayed with Berkley gulp spray. Mark took home $6400.00 for the second palce finish.

Third and $5066.00 went to Ross Grothe, fishing his first AIM event. Fourth went to perennial top ten placing Mike Gofron. Fifth went to Chase Parsons.

Sixth went to Dan Plautz, seventh to Gary Parsons, eighth to Brandon Carpenter, ninth to Jim Hughes, and rounding out the top ten was today’s MC, Tommy Skarlis. See the rest of the field’s finishes at the AIM leaderboard.

Up next is Bay Mills, and invitational that promises to pay out the largest AIM purse this season.

The JJ Keller Foundation, represented by James Keller of the JJ Keller ‘The Reel Shot’ Fishing team, stepped up and returned $2500.00 to the community in the form of a check to the local Kiwani’s Club. AIM is the only Pro Walleye Event to promote the area and professional angling locally by offering a significant return to the community.

Up next is Bay Mills, and invitational that promises to pay out the largest AIM purse this season.

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

Fishing one of the AIM Pro Walleye Series� tournaments as a Co-angler is the best way to learn more about different techniques from the professional anglers who have years of experience. It's also a great way to learn how to fish specific bodies of water and get a first-hand look at what the grueling life of a professional angler is all about.

	Tom Nelson

44 AIM Pro Anglers are competing at the 2011 tournament in Winneconne, Wisconsin. Co-anglers are paired with a different Pro Angler each of the first two days. On Day Three of the tournament, the Pro field is reduced to the top 50% based on their cumulative weights. In a separate drawing, half of the Co-anglers are selected to fish the final day for free.

Some anglers especially enjoy the opportunity to fish with the top-name Pros. Every day is different. The Pros provide the boat, all the tackle, and make al the location and presentation decisions. It is an intense learning experience. Even Co-anglers fishing on their "home" waters will learn new techniques that are sometimes a real revelation.

Other Co-anglers are refining their skills in order to prepare themselves for the step into the professional ranks. DePere, Wisconsin resident Tom Nelson is fishing the Winneconne tournament as a Co-angler. It's his first tournament experience.

"I love walleye fishing and, living on the Bay of Green Bay, I have a love of nature, too." The 33-year-old DePere fireman and paramedic has been fishing since he was five years old. He's using this experience to see whether he wants to continue fishing for fun or fish more competitively.

"I want to see if tournament fishing is something that I enjoy and would want to do more often. I might turn professional but I want to fish a couple of tournaments as a Co-angler first. My wife is okay with it as long as I can swing it financially down the road," he said.

Because he's never fished in tournament conditions or as a Co-angler, Nelson isn't sure what to expect.
"My expectations going into this tournament are to come here and learn. Every little bit I can pick up will help me. I'm going to listen to the Pros that I'm teamed with and see how they go about their day and how they approach the water," he said. "This experience can't do anything but make me a better angler."

Nelson does have some local experience, having fished the Winnebago System several times previously. The accessible tournament waters are vast, with flood conditions bringing strong currents and loads of debris. The walleyes are just coming off the spawn. The changing conditions will make the event a challenge.

"I think everything is on the table in terms of tactics to get the fish to bite," Nelson said.

Bernard Blohm fished as a Co-angler in the 2010 AIM Pro Walleye Series tournament at Green Bay. He feels he has a pretty good idea what to expect on the Winnebago chain. "I fished last year with Carl Wenckebach, Joe Okada, and Gary Parsons. I learned quite a bit," the Green Bay resident said.

"I fish the Bay a lot. Carl fishes the way I fish, but Joe and Gary fish totally different than the way I fish. They use techniques I had never seen or used."

"At Green Bay last year, on the last day, I was fishing with Gary Parsons. He was using bottom bouncers that he, his son Chase, and Keith Kavajecz designed. We were fishing in 30 feet of water with planer boards. When I fished with Joe, we were dragging stick baits in July. Normally, that time of the year we use crawlers. We were dragging stick baits over higher reefs and that was where the fish were," he said.

Blohm, 55, works at the paper mill in town. "I live a mile from the landing in Green Bay. That was like fishing in my backyard and I still learned a lot," he said.

"The Pros were really great and would answer any questions about what they were doing, why the boat was set up a certain way or why they were using certain techniques. It was like going to a seminar. All three of the Pros that I fished with had the new high-definition depth finders. They use them to kind of 'hunt fish.' Once they located a pod, they would circle until they got them to bite. They use their electronics a lot," he said.

Having fished both bass and walleye tournaments, Blohm is no stranger to high-pressure fishing. "These guys (the AIM Pro Anglers) do things a little differently than we do. They 'back reel' while we always use the drag. When they pull crawler harnesses and get a bite they free spool the line and let the fish have it, then tighten up before setting the hook," he said.

Blohm says he thinks he's too old to turn Pro. "My body can't take the pounding these guys experience on the water. They go through water that I wouldn't put my boat or body through," he said.

If he's not going to turn professional why does he fish as a Co-angler? "It was a very good experience. That is why I am going again," he said. He is looking forward to the pre-event Rules Meeting where he will learn which Pros he will be paired with for the Winneconne tournament.

Robert Cardena normally spends his workday as a registered nurse in a Minnesota hospital outpatient surgery setting. The 36-year-old from Gem Lake fishes local tournaments near home. He's fishing his first "Pro-Am" tournament as a Co-angler. "I want to go Pro in a few years," he said. "It's been my dream to fish professionally."

Cardena says fishing as a Co-angler is all about learning. "I'm going to keep an open mind and learn as much as I can. These are the best fishermen in the business."

The daily weigh-in is being hosted by Critters Sports in Winneconne. The action begins daily at 5:00 pm, indoors in case of inclement Wisconsin spring weather. For all unable to attend, the weigh-in will also be streamed live on the AIM website, www.aimfishing.com.

What does it take to become an AIM pro? What's the biggest walleye you've caught? Have you fished for saltwater species?

Those are some of the questions that peppered three AIM Pro Walleye Series� pros on a blizzard-like day before 44 boats loaded with pros and coanglers dropped the throttle and started three days of hard, cold fishing on Wisconsin's Winneconne System. 

	Mike Gofron, Scott Duncan, and Mark Brumbaugh share their time with local 6th, 7th, and 8th graders from Winneconne, WI.

The pros, Mike Gofron and Scott Duncan of Illinois, and Mark Brumbaugh of Ohio, spent nearly an hour with the 6th through 8th-grade boys and girls discussing what it takes to be a pro: the ability to adapt to changing conditions on the water, the generalship to go where the fish were, and the knowledge of marketing to get the word out about your knowledge.

Gofron and Duncan also talked about their soon-to-be active Website, www.walleyeworkshop.com to teach everyday anglers how to properly rig a boat, using a jon boat as their low-tech example.

All three encouraged the young anglers in the crowd, asking their experiences on the water with parents, and telling the students to stay in school, and learn all they can about all aspects of being a professional angler, and not just how to cast a rod or rig a line.

They also reminded the students that on Friday, there would be a special youth angling clinic at Winneconne's Critters Sports prior to the final virtual weigh-in that would crown the first event champion in the series of four AIM tournaments. The next stop for AIM's anglers: Brimley MI June 2-4 for the Bay Mills Invitational ( a special, artificial bait-only tournament for invited pros), followed by Dubuque on the Mississippi River June 22-24.

Are you coming to Winneconne for the AIM Pro Walleye Series™ 2011 tournament season opener? There are plenty of things to see and do while waiting for the AIM® Pros to take the weigh-in stage at Critters Sports. And, plenty to lure you back for fun in the sun during summer.

Staying Here in Winneconne

In Winneconne area there are four resorts. There are more places to stay in nearby Fremont, said Doug Nelson who is owner of Wolf River Resorts and the principal local tournament sponsor.  Most of the resort owners in the area pride themselves on offering a true family friendly experience at a moderate price.

“I bought my first resort 38 years ago. I do my best to modernize and yet ‘go backward,’ with knotty pine interiors and the like,” Nelson said. “People want modern facilities but if they can have something looking like a log cabin perhaps they’re happier.  Many modern-day families go to big resorts where Mom is getting a pedicure and Dad’s working on his laptop and the kids are off sliding down a waterslide. Compare that to the family sitting in a boat and enjoying a day on the water. I think the family can relate better to each other here in that setting instead.”

“We offer a fishing and outdoor experience. We’re a town of 2,401 and we’re pretty much surrounded by water, so most of our activities are fishing-related, ” Nelson added.

Oshkosh IS Aircraft

Interested in flight? You’re in the right place. While the pros are out fishing, head for the AirVenture Museum in Oshkosh, home of the Experimental Aviation Association museum. The association and the Oshkosh airport is the home each year to the largest gathering of prototype, home-built and other “experimental” aircraft in the world each summer.

The museum itself features a collection of more than 250 historic vintage aircraft. There are five movie theaters on-site, and you can even take a ride in a vintage plane.

Other things to do in the Oshkosh area include visiting its outlet mall where you can buy authentic Oshkosh b’Gosh overalls for your whole family and then visit a nearby Alpaca farm.

Dining Here   

Winneconne is home to a dozen restaurants, including that unique Wisconsin tradition: the “supper club”. Usually opening only after 4:30 p.m., these restaurants vie for bragging rights to the biggest, most tender steaks, but also offer plenty of other fare.

Playing Here

If you return to the Winneconne area in summer, Nelson said not to miss the Lake Poygan sand bar. “It’s located at the east end of Lake Poygan. This is a popular attraction all summer. The sandbar is the Winneconne version of a tropical beach. You can take your own boat or rented pontoon and sidle up to the sandbar for a day of fun in the water. It’s about 500 yards long and some days there are as many as 100 boats out there enjoying swimming and waterskiing.

Winneconne also is fortunate to have four village parks, including one with its own four-acre spring-fed lake. Another has a beach with swimming on Lake Winneconne. Oh, and did we mention, fishing for walleyes, white bass, perch, and more? Public ramps include one right downtown, next to the Fin ‘N’ Feather Showboats Restaurant.

For more information on vacationing in the Winneconne area, contact the Winneconne Chamber of Commerce at 920-582-4775, Doug Nelson of Wolf River Resorts, 920-582-4555, or Lang’s Landing at 920-582-7501.

Day one has been canceled due to high winds, heavy snow, and cold temps. TheThe advisory council, in conjunction with AIM tournament director, decided for the safety of all AIM contestants, that the danger to the anglers and co-anglers due to the heavy snow already on the ground, sub freezing temps, and continued light snow and cold Wednesday was too high to fish on Day One. Improving conditions and warmer temperatures assure a successful launch on Thursday.

Watch for updates and interviews with AIM officials and anglers tomorrow.

The Wolf River Town Board has imposed an emergency slow/no wake order for boating on the Wolf River from the mouth of Lake Poygan to the county line. This no wake regulations apply for boaters cruising within 500 feet of any permanent structure. Fishing rafts are exempt as they are not considered permanent structures.

Link:

http://www.wisconsinoutdoorfun.com/article/20110416/WOF05/304160056/No-wake-order-set-on-part-of-Wolf-River

AIM® and Winneconne: A Natural Fit

Hours, Locations Detailed For Fans of the AIM Tournament Scheduled for April 20 to 22.

AIM’s history with the Winneconne system actually starts long before the AIM Pro Walleye Series™ was conceived, says Doug Nelson of Wolf River Resorts, one of the tournament’s principal local sponsors.

The last major Pro-Am walleye tournament that took place on the Wolf River system was one of the last PWT events in 2007. Current AIM Pro Angler Gary Parsons, one of the favorites to win this event, won handily then. When AIM was forming in 2009 they came to Winneconne for a trial run tournament to test the practicality of the revolutionary and exclusive AIM Catch-Record-Release™ format. “I said sure, come here, but remember to bring it back when you’re up and running,” Nelson recalled.

Nelson expects the pros will showcase a spectacular system of rivers and lakes filled with hungry walleye.  “Every walleye fisherman knows that towards the end of April there aren’t many places in Wisconsin that are open,” Nelson says. “Most of the state is closed until the first Saturday in May. But the Wolf River system is open year-around. And we know that starting around the first of April as many as a million walleyes will swim under the Winneconne bridge to spawn upriver and that most will swim back under it towards the end of April, so this is the place to be,” he says.

“The Winnebago system is open year-round because the state has determined that walleye numbers have continued to climb despite year-round angling. Our walleye population is strong and growing. And with high waters levels upstream this year, we’re headed towards another fantastic spawning season.” Nelson adds, “One thing that’s necessary for a good spawn is to have the marsh areas flooded so the walleye can easily get in, and so the resulting hatched fry can get flushed into the system. If we were to plan ideal conditions for a good spawn and future walleyes, we couldn’t do it much better than what Nature is doing right now.”

Nelson outlined the tournament’s vital statistics for that planning on seeing walleye fishing’s best in action and meeting the pros during special events.

Headquarters and Weigh-In

Tournament headquarters is Critter’s Sports on the west side of Winneconne at 700 W. Main Street. Now in its fourth year of business, Critters provides Wisconsin’s largest indoor archery range. The range will be cleared for AIM’s webcasted live “virtual” weigh-in starting at 5 p.m. each day.  The weigh-ins will allow the Pro Anglers to show their catch and talk techniques at the end of each day’s fishing.  Because of the AIM CRR format, the Pros will be able to “weigh” seven fish (since no fish are kept the state bag limit rules do not apply.)

AIM has accepted the opportunity to stage the weigh-in indoors so no one has to contend with the fickle spring weather in Wisconsin! Nelson explained, “We don’t think there’s another facility quite like this in Wisconsin capable of hosting a spring tournament.” Besides great deals on sporting goods, Critters also includes a bar and restaurant known as “Woodeyes”.

Launch, Start and Check-in

The 44 teams of AIM Pro Anglers and Co-anglers will leave exactly at 8 a.m. each morning from the Winneconne City Park, immediately downstream of the Main Street Bridge. From here the boats will fan out both upstream and downstream, covering literally hundreds of square miles of walleye habitat.     All boats must be back by 4 p.m. daily of face disqualification.

Other Tournament Events

Want to meet your favorite walleye Pro? Or want to walk with Pros to support a great cause? You’ve got two chances. “On Saturday, April 16, nearly a dozen pros have committed to participate in a walk to raise money for juvenile diabetes research and support the approximately dozen kids in our community suffering from it,” said Nelson. The walk will start at 3:30 p.m. from Anytime Fitness on the town’s east side, and will end at Critters Sports. Following the walk, there will be opportunities to get Pro autographs and let the kids take part in everything from casting contests to fun at a fishing pond.

At 8 p.m. on Saturday, it will be party time at Critters Sports, where you can once again meet your favorite AIM Pro Anglers and be entertained by Detroit’s Brian Schram Band. Schram is known as the Rock & Roll Fisherman, and will also be fishing as a Co-angler in the tournament.

Then on the tournament’s final day, Friday, April 22, bring the kids to Critters Sports at 4 p.m. for a free fishing rod and tee-shirt giveaway, sponsored by the National Professional Anglers Association, and stay to see the Champion crowned starting at 5 p.m.

Plymouth, WI – April 13, 2011

The first AIM Pro Walleye Series tournament of 2011 is only one week away. Beginning on Wednesday, April 20th the field of Pro Anglers and Co-anglers will take to the water in search of walleyes right in the middle of the annual spawning run on the Winnebago chain of lakes and Wolf River.

Pro Angler entries have now closed and the full roster of competitors includes the following 44 pros:

Tom "Doc" Johnson, Jim Hughes, Curt Lopau, Robert  Blosser, Terry Wilson, , Mark Martin, Marianne Huskey, Bruce Samson, Keith Kavajecz, Tommy Skarlis, Matt  Corradi, Brandon Carpenter, Dan Gosenheimer, Mike McMaken, Gary Parsons, Bruce Mirabella, Scott Duncan, Mike Gofron, Chase Parsons, Pat Neu, Mark Brumbaugh, John Kolinski, Dave VanOss , Joe Okada, Ross Grothe, Perry Good, Brian Keller, John Schneider, James Keller, Brett King, Jim Carroll, Jesse Buechel, Chad Schilling, Jon Tennessen, Tom Kemos, Rick Olson, Tom Gatzke, Dan Plautz, Ted Takasaki, Michael Galligan, Ron Seelhoff, Jacob LaPine, Nate Curell, David A Andersen.

The full field of Pro Anglers will compete the first two days of the tournament. Following the Day Two weigh-in, the filed will be reduced to the top 50% of the field based on the cumulative weights by the pros. These 22 Pro Anglers will be paired with Co-anglers selected during the pre-event Rules Meeting to fish a third day for free.

The First Place AIM Pro Angler will take away a $30,000 prize. The full payouts extend down to 13th Place, as shown in the following table (and also posted at www.aimfishing.com.)

First Place        $30,000.00
2nd Place        $6,400.00
3rd Place        $5,066.67
4th Place        $4,000.00
5th Place        $3,200.00
6th Place        $2,933.33
7th Place        $2,666.67
8th Place        $2,400.00
9TH Place        $2,133.33
10th Place        $2,000.00
11th Place        $1,866.67
12th Place        $1,733.33
13th Place        $1,600.00

The daily weigh-ins for the tournament will start at 5:00 pm and will be located inside Critters Sports in Winneconne. Further information about AIM and the Winneconne tournament can be found at www.aimfishing.com. For those not able to attend the daily weigh-ins in person, the full stage show will also be carried live on the AIM website.

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.


AIM Marketing Partners:

Bay Mills Resort & Casino, Lund Boat Company, Mercury Marine & MotorGuide, Yamaha Marine, Crestliner Boats, J. J. Keller Fishing Team, The Reel Shot, Oahe Wings & Walleyes, Luck E Strike Lures, Hatcams, Worldwide Marine Insurance, Pier of d’Nort piers, Reef Runner Lures, The Judge Tournament Ruler, Rite in the Rain Paper, G2 Angling, Gemini Sports Marketing, True North Companies, Come By Chance Resort, Hatcams, Bigtime Bowfishing, and Matthew 419 Fishing Guide Service.

The Winnebago System is the largest body of water in Wisconsin and the fourth largest in the U.S. Located in east central Wisconsin about 60 miles south of Green Bay, the Winnebago System comprises 154,000 square acres of water. This massive fishery is the site for the AIM Pro Walleye Series® 2011 tournament season opener. The tournament dates are April 20 to 22, however the AIM Pro Anglers will have been in town and on the water for a week or more, “pre-fishing” prior to the event.

Doug Nelson, owner of Wolf River Resorts in Winneconne is a huge supporter of walleye fishing and the tournament. “I like to think that Lake Winneconne is the hub of the wheel when you look at the chain of lakes that make it up,” Nelson said. The entire system is comprised of several smaller lakes, the giant Lake Winnebago, and the famous Wolf River.

Millions of walleyes move upstream each spring through Lake Butte des Morts (French meaning mound of the dead), under the Winneconne Bridge into Lake Poygan and Winneconne, and on through to the upper Wolf River where they spawn in marshes as far as 50-60 miles upstream. Another percentage of walleyes never leave Lake Winnebago and spawn on the endless series of reefs and miles of shoreline.

Nelson predicts the expansive system will test not only the fishing abilities of competitors, but their ability to find and stay on fish as well. “That’s because during the spring walleye run the fish will be here today and gone tomorrow,” he said. “Fish found during pre-fishing won’t be on the same spots during tournament time. Trying to stay ahead of the fish will be one of the bigger challenges. Most of these tournament anglers have fished here quite often. The advantage to this system is that it has every type of fishing application they do. We’ve got rivers, rock humps, sandbars, varying depths, unique forage base - you name it.”

Chris Boucher (the namesake “Critter” of Critters Sports in Winneconne) is a co-sponsor of the tournament, along with Wolf River Resorts and the Winneconne Chamber of Commerce. He added,     “Most spawning activity normally occurs around the first to the 10th of April. This tournament is timed to target post-spawn walleyes. Those fish may very well be spread over 50 miles upstream and downstream of Winneconne. It should make for an interesting tournament.”

Because of excellent year-classes providing good fish numbers, tournament organizers are expecting large catches. This is also due to the unique AIM Catch-Record-Release™ format which allows the AIM Pro Anglers and their Co-angler partners to “weigh” their seven largest walleyes each day.

When walleyes are done spawning in the marshes and on the reefs they are typically aggressive and looking for a good meal. But, due to the unpredictable spring weather, the bite also could be finicky. Live bait is normally the ticket for catching post spawners, but many AIM Pro Anglers rely exclusively on artificial lures.
The hot technique is anybody’s guess right now, but jigging may be the preferred method. Lakes Winneconne and Poygan are excellent trolling lakes. The Wolf River system is also famous for the local favorite technique of trolling streamer flies, a style many Pro Anglers have never tried. “That little twist could make competition very interesting,” Nelson said. “Fishermen who adapt to local ways of trolling streamers may enjoy quite a bit of success.”

He continued, “Runs to fishing spots could be 30 miles or more depending on water temperatures, with warm water attracting the post-spawn fish. Most likely the field will split itself with half going upstream and half downstream. My early guess is that the bulk of fish will come from Lake Winneconne. And I think they could do good not 300-400 yards from the Winneconne Bridge. The winner may not even turn on the big motor,” Nelson said.

Because of the AIM Catch-Record-Release format, the Pro Anglers do not have to worry about creel limits, no-culling restrictions, dead fish penalties, or slot limits. Anglers visiting the Winneconne system after the tournament will be able to catch the same fish that won the tournament for the top Pro because every fish is released right where it was caught!

Diabetes Walk Highlights Pre-Tournament Events

For several AIM Pros, fishing isn’t the only thing on their schedule. On April 16, the Pro Anglers will join in a walk, “Take AIM against Juvenile Diabetes.” The Pros will join the fundraising walk with families and kids starting at the east side of town. The walk ends at Critters Sports with games, autograph signing, beginner boating safety class, and a casting contest. Among the AIM Pro Anglers who have agreed to participate are Tommy Skarlis, Keith Kavajecz, Ross Grothe, Mike Gofron, Mark Brumbaugh and Marianne Huskey.

Later, at 8 p.m. Saturday evening, Critters Sports will host a party with Detroit rocker Brian Schram and his band, “Rock and Roll Fishermen,” featuring songs about fishing. Marianne Huskey has agreed to auction a full day of fishing in her boat with all proceeds going to juvenile diabetes.

More information about the event can be found at the AIM website: www.aimfishing.com. The daily weigh-ins will begin at 5:00 pm at Critters Sports. The weigh-ins will also be carried live on the AIM website.