Brett King dominated the recent AIM Bay Mills Invitational Walleye Tournament. But there is another story that is as equally as impressive as King’s three-day weight.  King handily took the event Champion title top weight with 60.21 pounds over the three day tournament. His teammates Joe Okada and Robert Blosser took second place and third place with 49.33 pounds and 43.9 pounds, respectively.  There has not been a tournament in AIM history where there has been such a clean sweep by a single team.

Teams are often created along the tournament trail. The “team” sometimes consists of traveling roommates, prefishing partners, or just friendships that have developed through the off-the-water interactions.  There can certainly be a positive impact when working together with other anglers, but there is no loss of competition.
    “Joe and I met in 2005 while competing in a MWC event,” Robert Blosser says.  “We later realized that we only live 30 miles apart, both of us were relatively new to the sport, and shared the same vision and goals.  It was a no brainer to work together.  While we were fishing the FLW Championship in 2008, we met Brett King and instantly built a productive yet enjoyable friendship.”

    “These guys are my family on the road, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to beat them every time we hit the water,” says Joe Okada who managed a 2nd place finish at Bay Mills.  “I just want to beat them knowing we all went out there armed with the same knowledge and tools that we worked hard to figure out as a team.  You can share all the information you want, but you still have to get out there and make the fish bite under tournament conditions.”
    While there is a strong interest in the winning techniques and locations these three guys employed to record their finishes, there is also the obvious impact that they as the younger generation among dozens of legendary veterans.  Their accomplishments stand as solid evidence that the “old guard” is promoting the involvement of the next generation, but it also keeps them from getting complacent in their walleye tournament game.

    “King, Okada, and Blosser are blazing in the AIM Pro Walleye Series tournaments and they make me nervous,” says veteran and legendary walleye pro, Tommy Skarlis.  “It makes me work harder and improve my game.  It helps me see where I am falling short by over relying on my memories.  Good is the enemy of awesome, good enough won’t cut it and these ‘young guns’ know what awesome is by having swept this event.”

    Skarlis managed a seventh place finish which, as any competitive angler will tell you, is not good enough.  Everyone shots for first. What these younger anglers are bringing to the AIM circuit is a fresh perspective, new tactics, and more energy to a sport that has a rich history in traditional tactics and approaches to the competitive scene.
    “These three ‘flat-bellies’ are three of the hardest working guys on the trail,” Skarlis says.  “With ages ranging in the 20 something to late thirties, all are still some of the youngest pros on the tour.  They are making a name for themselves by producing the kind of results that impress guys like me.  They are making me want to ‘hit the gym’ and improve my game.”

    What makes this 1-2-3 sweep at Bay Mills even more impressive is that the event was an artificial-only event forcing all the live bait anglers to come out of their comfort zones.  King, Okada, and Blosser did just that and managed to put together the most impressive three bags of the event.
    “Brett found those fish in practice, and had a better chance to win than we did,” says Okada.  “So the main goal was to give King the opportunity to win, while trying to work our way up the leader-board.  To everyone’s surprise, King’s spot shut down on the last day.  From that point on, it was really every man for himself to scrounge up whatever weight we could manage.”

    Working together as a group of anglers is vital to the future of our outdoor heritage.  Taking that same mentality and applying it to tournament strategy can and does have its value, but again, sharing prefishing information does not guarantee fish.

“Teams are an important aspect in staying a top of the game in this day and age,” says the 2011 Bay Mills Champion, Brett King.  “Our overall situation is better off by splitting up the waters we fish and multiplying our knowledge.  The truth of the matter is during tournament days we each make our own decisions and have to catch our own fish.” 
“Bay Mills was amazing,” King continues.  “Joe and Rob gave me plenty of room to get my fish because they knew I had a true shot at the win.  That says a lot about how we respect each other and work together for the betterment of the team.  Bay Mills is a victory we can celebrate together.”

Robert Blosser took home a third place finish, which included a $5,768.89 payout. Blosser is sponsored by Yamaha Outboards, Skeeter Boats, Off Shore Tackle, Bushnell Ford, Yamaha Generators, Don’s Marine, Mack’s Lure, Navionics, Pro Mariner, and Optima Batteries

Joe Okada took home a second place prize of $7,080 and is sponsored by ProMariner, EGO Nets, Luck ‘E’ Strike, Walleye Fever, EZEE Step Inc, and Yamaha Outboards with special thanks to Navionics, Optima Batteries, JT Custom Tackle, Hutch Tackle and Guide Service.

Brett King took home the first place prize of $40,000 in cash and is sponsored by National Fleet Graphics, Mercury Marine, Uncle Josh, JT Custom Tackle, Lakemaster, and Smooth Moves Seat Mounts.

The next event on the 2011 AIM Pro Walleye Series tournament schedule is scheduled for Dubuque, Iowa on June 22 to 24. The tournament will be a rare event on this stretch of the Mississippi River, and is only permitted due to the exclusive AIM Catch-Record-Release™ format. “CRR” immediately releases each fish where it was caught after a digital photo on the official AIM The Judge ruler. No fish will be brought to virtual weigh-in (hosted by The Mystique Casino each day) and therefore no fish are subject to delayed mortality in the warm summer waters.

For more information about AIM and the AIM Pro Walleye Series, go to www.aimfishing.com. Walleye tournament fans can also view the daily weigh-ins LIVE via streaming video on the AIM site.

Is that everything changes.  It has to be frustrating being a competitive angler, yet at the same time, who’s complaining?  If the height of your work stress is concerning whether or not a stable pattern will remain until tournament day or not, life is good, yes?  Well, in all reality when competitive anglers have put days upon days into developing a game plan and there is a big plate of cash at stake, stress DOES become part of the game!

   Such was the case at the recent AIM Bay Mills Invitational Walleye Tournament, hosted by the Bay Mills Resort and Casino in Brimley, Michigan. $40,000 in cash – actual stacks of $100 dollar bills – awaited the winner.  Talk about stress!

    What makes the best walleye anglers in the world the best is not their ability to catch quality fish under ideal conditions.  Conversely, it’s their ability to adapt to rapidly changing conditions, abandon their original game plan and STILL put a quality limit together.  Another common cliché refers to the best-laid plans…  Because of the constantly changing fishing conditions during any time of the year it is a good idea to prepare in advance Plans B, C, D, E, F and so on.

    During the 2011 Bay Mills Invitational, Brett King noticed a few minor factors that seemed to be triggering the bigger fish.  He implemented what he found and managed to maintain the lead on all three days of this event.  On his final day, he only weighed a little over 4 pounds, but still blew the competition out of the water by a substantial margin.

    The Eastern Lake Superior system and related waters is a complex walleye fishery and those who have experience fishing it know things can change for the better or for the worse in the blink of an eye.  There is no substitute for time on the water, but remaining flexible and willing to adapt is key to cashing a check.

    “Generally speaking the pre-fishing was tough,” explains the 2011 AIM Bay Mills Invitational Champion, Brett King.  “We got some stuff going clear south in the St Mary’s River, and in some of the Canadian bays as well.  There were many other factors affecting how we implemented our strategy, such as locking through the Soo Locks and longer daily runs.  This is another fine example of how AIM’s Catch Record Release (CRR) format can really benefit an angler’s efforts to maximize their catch.”

    “As things usually go, the weather and water conditions were set to change,” King continues.  “I exhausted Plans A and B and it was time to investigate Plan C on the Charlotte River, which is a very tiny inlet river to the St. Mary.  I headed in that direction knowing that I could put together at least a limit of 12 to 15 inchers.  My trolling plan’s success was dependant upon other fishing pressure in that area.  I knew that if other anglers were in there pitching jigs or casting cranks, it would mess up my chances.”

    King was the last boat to leave his original area and head towards the Charlotte River.  He knew for a fact, his teammates, Joe Okada and Robert Blosser were fishing in the river.  He had also watched Tom Kemos enter the Charlotte, which could potentially team members Keith Kavajecz and Chase Parsons could also be there.  King knew the odds were against him finding the fish he needed amongst numerous boats in the same location.  So he decided to turn to Plan D and headed back into Lake George instead.

    “I caught three fish there during practice and knew it was my best chance,” the Mercury pro said.  “I put two planer boards and two long lines out, and almost immediately one of the boards took off.  As I am removing the board from my line, the board on the opposite side of the boat takes off.  After we landed the first, we managed to get the second fish in as well and we had two very nice walleyes in the boat in a matter of minutes.”

    “Just as I finished photographing and recording my second fish, I remember looking up and seeing one of my long line rods bent over,” he continues.  “We weren’t moving so I knew a fish was on the end of that line.  I just happen to look at the GPS and noticed I was going .8 miles per hour when that fish hit.  The water was cold, in the low 50s and a light bulb came on in my head.  Colder water typically means less active fish, and it became obvious that I needed to slow things down.”

    King made a couple more passes that put a couple more fish in the boat, the smallest being 19 3/4 - inches.  He made a few more passes that produced no fish and was starting to become concerned with his remaining time knowing he had to lock back up stream before returning to Bay Mills.  In addition, he was concerned that he had used more fuel than anticipated by making the long sweep into Lake George and therefore getting back to the launch was a concern.

 
    “Finally, at 2:10 PM, I had two boards go back at once and put my 6th and 7th walleyes in the boat,” he continues.  “After we photographed and recorded those last two fish, we packed it up and headed for the lock.  We ended day one in first place with a little over 26 pounds.  I was beyond happy about that, especially since it went down to the wire the way it did.  It was a total gut check for me that day to just go fishing or settle for a less than adequate limit.  Fortunately it paid off!”

   Day Two found King headed back to the same location. The walleyes cooperated and he was able to put ten quality fish in the boat before 10:30 AM.  His second day weight was even better than on Day One, with just over 29 pounds. He then chose to stay in the vicinity for the remainder of the day with intentions to guard the spot.  The majority of the field bombed the first day and was really hopping around during Day Two scrambling to find fish.  King finished Day Two with a commanding 22-pound lead over Robert Blosser in second place.

    “Day Three was a different story for us as our pattern fell apart due to a series of storms that moved through a couple hours before the take off.  We were only able to put a little over four pounds in the boat,” King continued.  I got pretty discouraged knowing how good the bite had been only to see it almost completely disintegrate.

  Fortunately, and thanks to my Day Two weight, I was able to hang on to first place.  To make the victory even sweeter, my teammates, Joe Okada and Robert Blosser took second and third in this event respectively.”

    King was trolling stick-style baits while most of the other anglers were using a shad imitation.  This bait selection allowed him to troll more slowly and trigger the cold water walleyes. The winning pattern also allowed him to take home a silver platter loaded with $40,000 in cash from the Bay Mills Resort and Casino, who partnered with AIM in this event to sweeten the purse.  Never do these events pay out in cash, but King said it made the victory that much more memorable.  This is his second AIM Pro Walleye Series victory and he felt it revalidated his place in this series.  He says winning one is possible, but being consistent and winning multiple events is the hard part.

 
    ‘The Bay Mills community was great as everywhere we went we were treated very well,” King explains.  “We were able to enjoy a tremendous fishery during a great time of year and I couldn’t have asked for a better finish.  The money is great and we will enjoy it, but it will eventually be spent.  The special walleye replica trophy that Rod Jones had created is absolutely beautiful, and the title that comes with it is what means the most to me.  No one can ever take that away and it is a fine representation of all the hard work and dedication that is apart of competing at this level.”

    Its not too often an angler can beat the competition by such a margin, but when it does happen it makes for a very memorable event.  Brett King, Joe Okada, and Robert Blosser swept the event and sent the competition home scratching their heads as to what tactic put fish in their boats.  It was a tough bite, but the top ten produced the results needed to finish well, and that is something to be proud of.
   
The Top Ten finishers at the Bay Mills Invitational were:    
1st – Brett King with 60.21 pounds
2nd – Joe Okada with 49.33
3rd – Robert Blosser with 43.9
4th – Mike Gofron with 37.62
5th – Ross Grothe with 32.78
6th – Ron Gordon with 31.41
7th – Tommy Skarlis with 31.14
8th – Keith Kavajecz with 25.72
9th – Dane Stanaway with 25.69
10th – Jim Carroll with 25.3

King is sponsored by National Fleet Graphics, Mercury Marine, Uncle Josh, JT Custom Tackle, Lakemaster, and Smooth Moves Seat Mounts.

    The next AIM Pro Walleye Series event is taking place in Dubuque, Iowa on the Mississippi River, June 22nd through the 24th.  This is bound to be an incredible tournament because this portion of the river is very restricted and has not seen a walleye tournament in many years.  The AIM CRR format has made this fishery available to competitive angling again and is sure to be one of the season’s finest events! More information can be found at www.aimfishing.com, where fans can also watch the daily weigh-ins live via streaming video coverage.

Plymouth, WI – June 8, 2011
The second tournament of the 2011 AIM Pro Walleye Series was the Bay Mills Invitational Walleye Tournament held in Brimley, Michigan on June 2nd through the 4th.
The Day Three weigh-in crowned the tournament champion, Brett King. Before the weigh-in, while the pros were competing out on the water, an estimated crowd of over 350 children were treated to rod and reel combos and fishing tackle thanks to the National Professional Anglers Association (NPAA) and with the cooperation of the AIM Pro Anglers.

The tournament also allowed the AIM 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 partnership concept was formed by professional anglers and AIM owners, James and Brian Keller. The Foundation made a presentation of $1,250 to the local Boys and Girls Club and $1,250 to Fishing Has No Boundaries. These grants will be used to promote kid’s outdoor activities and access for handicapped individuals in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

Video

AIM conducts four Pro-Am walleye tournaments in 2011. The next tournament in the 2011 AIM season will be in Dubuque, Iowa on June 22nd to 24th. This tournament is hosted by the Dubuque Visitors and Convention Bureau and the daily weigh-ins will be hosted indoors at the Mystique Casino. Following this event, the AIM Pro Walleye Series will conclude the 2011 season with 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, John Butts Outdoors, 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.

Brett King Wins!

Brett King On the Stage

Brett King with the Bay Mills Invitational Custom Trophy

Joe Okada Takes Second as Keith Kavajecz calls the weight.

Robert Blosser Takes Third

Robert Blosser, Joe Okada, and Brett King work and travel together on the AIM trail. The sweep of the top three is the first of it's kind on the AIM circuit!

The Bay Mills Resort and Casino paid out all winnings in cash, creating a unique atmosphere on stage. Brett King's platter of cash was nothing short of spectacular!

Brett King put two in the net today, and didn’t really even need to fish. He CRR’rd 60.21 pounds, enough to beat Joe Okada, who blasted past Robert Blosser into second with a great weight today to give him 49.33 pounds. Robert weighed 43.9, enough to take third by more than 6 pounds.

King, Blosser, and Okada are team mates, traveling and lodging together on the AIM circuit. It’s been quite a while since the top three was swept so cleanly, and it was very obvious all three were delighted with the win, second, an third as plates of CASH were brought up on the stage to match up with the custom trophy and plaques presented by Bay Mills Resort and Casino. $40,000.00 in cash is a LARGE plate of money!

The win was accomplished by King slow trolling cranks in shallow water. See the AIM GPS Tracker by Navionics to track Brett on his last day on the water, and to check out where the top 5 carrying the trackers were fishing. Mike Gofron, a threat to win anytime and an almost promise to place top ten all the time, took fourth.

Ross Grothe, a perennial favorite in any Walleye circuit event, took fifth. Ron Gordon took sixth, Tommy Skarlis seventh, Keith Kavajecz eighth, Dane Stanaway ninth, and despite getting caught behind a ship in the locks and losing his last days weight, Jik Carroll rounded out the top ten.

The payout was the highest percentage payback at the Bay Mills Resort and Casino Invitational in any walleye event in 2011, at over 200%. Check out all the video, images, GPS Tracking and more at hppp://www.aimfishing.com for final details.

Details:
Place    Cash                    Registration    
                                      Bonus
1    $40,000.00                $300.00
2    $7,080.00                $300.00                  
3    $5,768.89                $300.00       
4    $4,982.22                $300.00   
5    $3,933.33                $300.00   
6    $3,540.00                $300.00
7    $3,251.56                $300.00   
8    $3,015.56                $300.00   
9    $2,622.22                $300.00   
10    $2,360.00                $300.00
11    $2,097.78                $300.00
12    $1,835.56                $300.00
13    $1,783.11                $300.00
14    $1,730.67                $300.00
15    $1,625.78                $300.00
16    $1,573.33                $300.00
17-31                        $300.00 each
Further information about the Bay Mills Invitational is available at www.aimfishing.com, where viewers can also find up-to-the-minute updates about the AIM Pro Walleye Series tournaments. The weigh-ins for each day 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, Navionics, Luck E Strike Lures, 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, and M419 Guide Service.

Next up on the AIM schedule is Dubuque on the Mississippi River 6/22 to 6/24. This is the first Summer event allowed on that stretch of water in quite a while, a testament to the CRR format saving the resource and allowing flexibility in locations all season along.

The bite was better today overall, while Brett King rocked the house by extending his lead to 22 pounds over 2010 JJ Keller Angler of the Year, Robert Blosser. Robert weighed the day’s heaviest limit at 30.38 pounds for a total of 33.79. Brett weighed in a CRR total of 29.02 to take what can only be described as a commanding, but not  completely impossible to beat lead at 55.59.

Mike Gofron continued his consistent top ten performance trends holding third place with 31.25. Mike has more top ten finishes than any other walleye angler in history. ‘Young Gun’ Joe Okada holds fourth with 29.2. Fifth is held by veteran angler Ross Grothe with 27.15.

Sixth is held by Jim Carroll, Seventh by Tommy Skarlis, Eighth by Matt Corradi, Ninth by Dane Stanaway,  and the top ten is rounded out with Tenth place angler Ron Gordon.

The field of Pros was cut to the top 16 today. It took 9.43 pounds to make the cut. Every pro in the top ten is guaranteed a cash payout at the Bay Mills Invitational, one of the highest paying events in Walleye Angling’s recent history, paying back over 200 percent of entries. Top prize is guaranteed at $40,000.00.

The weather tomorrow looks to be a bit wet, but warmer, which is desirable according to all the Pros to ‘get the bite back’ to pre-fish levels before a monster cold front shut down the walleyes for Day One. The sixteen pros and Co Anglers leave the docks at 7:30 AM Eastern, and the live, online weigh in begins at 4:30 Eastern. Tune to http://www.aimfishing.com for morning interviews with the leaders, images of the event, and the AIM exclusive GPS Tracker featuring the Top Five Pros tacked LIVE all day on a Navionics Overlay Map. See EXACTLY where each of the top five are fishing, and follow them during the entire tournament day by tuning in tomorrow beginning at 7:30 AM.

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. To learn more about all the amenities available at the Bay Mills Resort and Casino, go to www.4BayMills.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.

Additional AIM Marketing Partners:
Bay Mills Resort & Casino, Lund Boat Company, Mercury Marine, MotorGuide, Yamaha Marine, Crestliner Boats, JJ Keller Fishing Team, The Reel Shot, Navionics, Luck E Strike Lures, Oahe Wings & Walleyes, Hatcams, National Fleet Graphics, 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, Matthew 419 Guide Service.

No matter if you are coming to the area specifically for the AIM Pro Walleye Series Bay Mills Invitational, or visiting later, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan - known as “The Soo” - is the center of all activity in Michigan’s Eastern Upper Peninsula.

The first tourists to the area were European explorers. They gazed upon the rapids of the St. Mary’s River where Lake Superior fell 28 feet and flowing into Lake Huron downstream.  Father Jacques Marquette arrived and founded the community in the mid-1600s, making it Michigan’s oldest city (even though Marquette, Michigan to the west in the U.P. carries his name.)

The Locks

Settlers immediately saw the problem: how to get freight-carrying vessels from the lower lakes into the big lake the Ojibway natives called Gitche Gumee. First, they rolled them down on greased logs along what is now Portage Street, hence the name. Then in 1855, the first crude lock was built, followed by newer versions.   

The Soo Locks remain the world’s busiest lock system. Visitors can start their tour in the Soo Locks Information Center where they will learn how the locks operate. Then stroll to the Soo Locks Park Historic Walkway next to center to the observation area.  Watch as ships are lowered and raised without pumps.

A series of massive steel doors close behind the ships. Ships traveling upstream are then lifted more than 25 feet as water is allowed to flow into the lock. When they reach the height of Lake Superior, the doors open and the ships continue on their course. Huge ships bearing iron ore from Duluth, Minnesota – up to 1000 feet in length – are lower to the level of Lake Huron in the opposite manner. The doors close behind them in the lock, and then water is allowed to drain out lowering the massive ships to the lower level.

Visitors who are in the area for the AIM Bay Mills Invitational should be sure to be at the observation walkway by 8 a.m. daily to watch many of the fleet of tournament boats “lock through” to fish the lower St. Mary’s River system. The boats must return in time for the 3:30 p.m. check-in at Bay Mills Resort & Casino in Brimley.

From the lock observation area you will see tour boats entering and leaving the locks. This is your chance to experience the locks up close. The Soo Locks Boat Tours offer trips through the locks hourly in summer starting at 9 a.m. You will learn that the Soo Locks are the world’s longest, capable of handling the biggest Great Lake freighters 1,000 feet long. Tours also travel through the smaller lock on the Canadian side of the river system.

Near one of the two boat tours docks is the giant freighter Valley Camp, now a museum. The SS Valley Camp Museum is your chance to see what life is like aboard a lake freighter. In its time on the Great Lakes, the Valley Camp made countless trips from the iron ore mines of Marquette and Minnesota down the lake to steel mills in New York and Pennsylvania.

Tour the ship from stem to stern to see how sailors lived and worked, some of whom labored in the sweaty confines of the superheated steam engine room. You can also view major artifacts from the sinking of the freighter Edmund Fitzgerald, including battered empty lifeboats found on shore after that 1975 wreck. The ship sank in a violent storm on Lake Superior before it could reach the safety of the St. Mary’s River.

On the tour you will also learn that the St. Mary’s Rapids fished so long ago by the Native Americans that Marquette observed is still a prime fishing spot. The system abounds with fresh water species – including walleye, the target of the AIM tournament fishermen. But the system is also now home to salmon.

These salmon were reared and planted by a fisheries research station inside the world’s longest hydroelectric power plant, the quarter-mile-long stone powerhouse on the U.S. side of the river about one mile downstream from the locks. The plant’s turbines are fed by a power canal blasted through solid rock right through downtown Sault Ste. Marie.
   
If you are hungry stop by local eateries like The Antlers, one of the most unusual eateries you’ll ever encounter. Canoes hang from the rafters, mounted animal heads line the walls, and a snake even slithers up a tree built into the bar. Some of the collection was brought in by sailors and others bartering for meals, or found at estate sales.  Or you can watch as freighters pass through the Soo Locks from inside the Freighters restaurant at the downtown Ramada Plaza Ojibway, a restored 1928 hotel.

Still more things to do while visiting the area.

Day trips you can easily make from The Soo include Mackinac Island about one hour south via St. Ignace ferries. Or drive west to Whitefish Point and the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum and view artifacts from hundreds of wrecks on the Great Lakes. You are also just 20 miles from Upper and Lower Tahquamenon Falls, one of the U.P.’s favorite natural wonders. Hungry travelers will be happy to learn that there is a pub and brewery restaurant at the Falls.

Oswald’s Bear Ranch near Paradise puts you face-to-jowl with big black bears. Further west at Seney, you can learn at the tiny Seney Historical Museum about that town’s colorful lumbering past, and also see the exhibit on author Ernest Hemingway, who camped on the Fox River here and used that experience to write one of his most famous short stories, “The Big Two-Hearted River,”.

For more information, contact the Sault Ste. Marie Convention and Visitors Bureau or call them at (800) 447-2757.

Plymouth, WI – May 27, 2011

AIM announced that 31 Pro Anglers will be competing for cash and prizes at the 2011 Bay Mills Invitational Walleye Tournament at Brimley, Michigan. The tournament dates are June 2nd through the 4th. Bay Mills Resort and Casino is the host location. Bay Mills has pledged an additional $50,000 to the payouts of the tournament to make this special event the highest percentage payout in competitive walleye fishing for the 2011 season.

The field of AIM pro Anglers includes Tom "Doc" Johnson, Brandon Carpenter, Scott Allen, Tom Kemos, Mark Brumbaugh, Mike Gofron, Bruce Samson, Tommy Skarlis, Bruce Mirabella, Marianne Huskey, Dane Stanaway, Ross Grothe, Robert Blosser, Todd Riley, John Kolinski, Greg Yarbrough, Keith Kavajecz, Chase Parsons, Mark Martin, Scott Duncan, Joe Okada, Don Loch, Gary Parsons, Ken Zmudzinski, Brett King, Ronald Gordon, Terry Wilson, Mike McMaken, Pat Neu, Jim Carroll, and Matt Corradi.

The total payout for the event will be $96,500 – or more than 200% of the Pro Angler entry fees. Of this total, each AIM Pro Angler will receive $300 at the time of registration at the pre-event Rules Meeting on June 1st.
First prize for the tournament is $40,000 cash . The remaining payouts extend down to the Day Three cut of the top sixteen Pro Anglers. These payouts are as follows:

Place    Cash                    Registration    
                                      Bonus
1    $40,000.00                $300.00

2    $7,080.00                $300.00                  
3    $5,768.89                $300.00       
4    $4,982.22                $300.00   
5    $3,933.33                $300.00   
6    $3,540.00                $300.00
7    $3,251.56                $300.00   
8    $3,015.56                $300.00   
9    $2,622.22                $300.00   
10    $2,360.00                $300.00
11    $2,097.78                $300.00
12    $1,835.56                $300.00
13    $1,783.11                $300.00
14    $1,730.67                $300.00
15    $1,625.78                $300.00
16    $1,573.33                $300.00
17-31                        $300.00 each

Further information about the Bay Mills Invitational is available at www.aimfishing.com, where viewers can also find up-to-the-minute updates about the AIM Pro Walleye Series tournaments. The weigh-ins for each day 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, Navionics, Luck E Strike Lures, 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, and M419 Guide Service.

The tumbling St Mary’s River, which defines the border between the U.S. and Canada at Sault Ste. Marie, is characterized in contradiction. Sometimes it is miles wide and calm. Sometimes it is moving like a freight train. The river connects frigid Lake Superior and Lake Huron. Thanks to the famous Soo Locks and a quarter-mile-long powerhouse, the river flow can change almost instantly.

Below the locks, the river opens up into a series of lakes. The AIM Pro Anglers have free rein to fish anywhere in this system – on both the U.S. and Canadian side of the border. They also can venture out into the expansive waters of Lake Superior, or stay within sight of the take-off at the Bay Mills Casino and never leave Brimley Bay.

The question each AIM Pro Angler must ask is:    Do you go for quantities of fish nearby, or bet the whole shebang on the chance to catch just a few big fish along Superior’s rocky shore?

That is what is on the mind of the AIM Pros as the second annual Bay Mills Invitational Walleye Tournament looms. The right strategy will mean picking up a check during North America’s richest walleye fishing tournament. The wrong decision will mean going home a day early, since only the top half of the field will fish on Day Three of the tournament.

Go Big or Go Home, Says Mark Martin

AIM Pro Angler Mark Martin, who was a contender early on at the 2010 tournament last June, expects a whole new set of conditions to be in play. Martin began last year’s Invitational strong. At the end of Day One, he was in third place. Then things began to unravel, thanks to events both manmade and natural. He ended finishing just out of the money.

“I fizzled at the end because first, cormorants invaded my territory,” Martin said. “It’s never happened to me before. Then they shut down the water through the power plant or the locks area, and I wasn’t ready for that. 

“I chose my spot because I knew I’d be so far off the beaten path that I wouldn’t be contending with other Pros. But here I was instead contending with a native population of scavengers. The cormorants are fishing and I’m fishing, and they’re better fishermen,” Martin said, recalling that he saw one of the black diving birds surface with a 17-inch walleye in its beak right in front of him.

Current concentrates the fish, and once it slows the fish disperse. That made it difficult to catch any at his second and third prime spots. His fallback spots were already occupied. “My ethics and that of the other pros say we don’t crowd someone who’s there first, so you just suck it up and move on,” he said.

However, Martin said, he’s heading back to Brimley this year with that knowledge to contend with what will likely be different circumstances. While last June was so warm that a giant Michigan Mayfly hatch was two weeks early, this year’s colder conditions may mean different techniques and locations.

“The fish aren’t going to be as far advanced in their migration cycle. I also know now for a fact that when they shut down that current flow, I’d better not depend on those current areas and have lots of backup areas in my pocket,” he added.

“I didn’t put much emphasis on the water above the locks and in Lake Superior last year. And now that may really be in play this time,” he said. The colder water fish, which were already entering their summer patterns last year, might just hole up in Superior’s bays and rivers this time.

“The biggest fish last year all came out of Lake Superior,” Martin said. “It may not produce the numbers, but someone could put together a big bag and come in with five fish that people below the locks couldn’t touch in three days. A 10-pound fish there is the norm, but they are very rare.”

On the other hand, anglers choosing to fish in Lake Superior also have to deal with the extraordinary water clarity. “That water is so clear and the fish will be so spooky that you’ll have to depend on a wide spread of planer boards to get anywhere,” Martin added. “And, it will be critical to depend on Navionics mapping chips so you know where each reef or piece of structure is located.”

Carroll’s Prediction: Head below the Locks

Jim Carroll, an AIM Pro Angler who nearly won it all fishing Lake Superior exclusively last year, agrees with Martin. “It’s a crap shoot. But if you’re lucky, the big - but easily pressured - fish are out there,” says the Pro from Minot, N.D.

Carroll led after first day last year. “I came in with two giant fish to take the lead on Day One. Then I had only two bites on the second day and only got one of those fish to the boat. That lowered me to fifth place with only three fish weighed in over two days. On Day Three I did a death spiral and didn’t get any,” he said.

Carroll never locked through to the downstream lakes, but he’s expecting to this time around. “Honestly I think that there was an opportunity to win last year where I was fishing out in Lake Superior. But it was ultimately proved that the spot couldn’t take the pressure. Everyone who went there was hoping that they would have the reef to themselves. But ultimately there were seven boats fishing it. I was fortunate enough to take two of the four fish caught there the first day. Maybe three were caught the entire second day. The third day it got dark and cloudy and I was thinking, ‘man they’re going to turn on’ but they never did.”

Superior’s clear and cold water is a big unknown, he said. While some of the rivers flowing into it may produce walleyes, the odds of winning on the big lake are slim. “If you have to place odds on whether it will be won above or below the locks, you’d have to be in the high 90 percent range that it will be won below,” Carroll predicted.

This year many Pros start out knowing where Carroll hooked his biggies last year and will probably head there this time. “Those Superior fish will have even more pressure, so I’ll stick to my prediction that this will be won below the locks.”

Carroll added that shallow and protected Brimley Bay might also come into play heavily. Last year, lots of anglers ended each day there. “With everything behind because of the cold weather this spring, it could be even more of a factor. I don’t know if you can pull the quality of fish out of there to win,” he added.

Carpenter says below the Soo Locks is where he will be

Brimley Bay is exactly where Brandon Carpenter of Rockwell, IA spent all three days of last year’s tournament. He eventually finished in second place. However, this year, he is also predicting that the winning fish will be found below the locks.

“I think we’re going to have to search for new spots,” he said. “I’ll be looking for areas with current breaks and fishing below the locks, around bridges and finding those seams. There are lots of good spots below the locks.”

However, he also left open possibly staying within sight of the take-off at the Bay Mills Casino again. “The cold won’t affect the bite too much but it will effect where the fish choose to hold. Since this an artificial lure-only tournament, you really have to finesse them with plastics. That makes it a bit tougher.”

Carpenter, quiet by nature, is confident of his chances in Brimley. “I’ve been looking forward to this tournament for about 11 months now. I feel really good about it because the pattern of the fish at this time of the year plays right into the way I like to fish,” he said.

Martin expects trolling crank baits and crawler harnesses will be the preferred presentation in the lakes. “The bigger fish last year all came on crank baits like longer Husky Jerks and Shad Raps.

Carroll, on the other hand, feels that jigging may be a big factor. “The winning bite last year was in Lake George and it was just starting to go. This year, with everything being behind, that area may not be much of a factor.”

Carpenter agrees, “Post spawn, cold water fish will be hungry. We may find them in completely different locations than in 2010.”

The winning presentations and locations will not be a secret for long. The Bay Mills Invitational Walleye Tournament begins on June 2nd. The take-off and weigh-in is at the Bay Mills Casino. The daily weigh-in starts at 4:30 pm each day. Anyone unable to attend the weigh-in can also catch all the action at www.aimfishing.com, where the weigh-ins on June 2, 3, and 4 will be broadcast live.
   
   
   

Plymouth, WI – May 11, 2011

The 2011 AIM Bay Mills Invitational Walleye Tournament has been scheduled for June 2 - 4. The host location and major sponsor is the Bay Mills Resort & Casino in Brimley, Michigan.

The initial registrations reserved for AIM Pro Anglers who competed in the 2010 season has been honored and AIM is pleased to open registrations to all Pro Anglers from the United States and Canada to fish in this world class “artificial only” walleye event. Therefore, the remaining entry positions will be made available on a first come, first served basis until the 50-boat field is filled. The final Pro Anger entry deadline is May 25, 2011.

Leading the roster of anglers will be the 2010 AIM JJ Keller Fishing Team Angler of the Year, Robert Blosser. Results from the Invitational will also be used in the calculations of the 2011 AIM JJ Keller Fishing Team Angler of the Year. Participation in the Bay Mills Invitational will also serve as a qualifying entry to compete in the AIM International Walleye Championship™ in Akaska, SD in September.

The AIM Bay Mills Invitational Walleye Tournament is a special event due to the sponsorship of the Bay Mills Resort & Casino. "Bay Mills Resort & Casinos welcomes the opportunity to introduce this premiere AIM tournament to professional fisherman across the US and Canada.  The chance for people to experience the excellent fishing in Lake Superior will certainly bring a great appreciation of this region of Michigan and Ontario to pros and vacationing fishermen alike," said Rod Jones General Manager of Bay Mills Resort & Casinos.

Like all the AIM Pro Walleye Series tournaments, the AIM Bay Mills Invitational Walleye Tournament will feature the exclusive AIM Catch-Record-Release format. “CRR” requires each Pro Angler to measure and photograph their catch. Each walleye is immediately returned to the water where it was caught. At the end of each day, the Pro Angler selects the seven longest fish. The lengths are converted to pounds and ounces using a standardized formula. With CRR, the Pro Anglers can fish until the last moment of each day and can never be penalized for dead fish. 

Bay Mills Resort & Casino welcomes the AIM Pro Anglers and Co-anglers to the Brimley area. The Pro Anglers will compete for the most lucrative purse in the 2011 AIM Pro Walleye Series tournament season. Bay Mills Resort & Casino has pledged an additional $50,000 to the purse.

The first place prize is valued at $40,000. The payouts will extend to the full Day three cut, that is the top 50% of the field. In addition to these payouts, EACH angler will also receive $300 at the pre-tournament registration as a “Thank You” from Bay Mills Resort & Casino. Based on a 50-boat field, the total payouts will equal $125,000, or a payout of 167% of the Pro Angler entry fees.

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. To learn more about all the amenities available at the Bay Mills Resort and Casino, go to www.4BayMills.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.


Additional AIM Marketing Partners:

Bay Mills Resort & Casino, Lund Boat Company, Mercury Marine, MotorGuide, Yamaha Marine, Crestliner Boats, JJ Keller Fishing Team, The Reel Shot, Navionics, Luck E Strike Lures, Oahe Wings & Walleyes, Hatcams, National Fleet Graphics, 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, Matthew 419 Guide Service.

Plymouth, WI – May 3, 2011

AIM has partnered with several guides and outfitters who have offered special packages of trips to the competitors and fans of the upcoming Bay Mills Invitational Walleye Tournament.

Grant McAllister of G2 Angling is providing a fully-guided fishing trip for two people on the trophy walleye paradise of the Bay of Quinte. These two-day fishing trips are valued at $700.00 each. This trip will be offered on a “silent auction” basis leading up to Day Three of the Bay Mills Invitational. The bidding starts at $350 for this package, that is, half of the regular package price. The winning bidder will be announced on Day Three of the tournament.

Come By Chance Resort is located on beautiful Whitefish Lake, near Nolalu, Ontario which is 40 miles southwest of Thunder Bay, Ontario. Whitefish Lake is a prime fishery for walleye, jumbo perch, northern pike, and smallmouth bass. Come By Chance Resort has provided AIM with a week’s stay at the resort. The week-long resort package is valued at $1,000. This resort stay will be offered to the participants and fans of the AIM Pro Walleye Series on a “silent auction” basis. Bids will be accepted onsite at the Bay Mills (June 2-4) tournament. Bidding starts at half price, that is, only $500.00. The winning bid will be announced on June 4th, Day Three of the 2011 Bay Mills Invitational.

Matthew 419 Fishing Guide Service provides fully-guided day and night fishing trips in southern Michigan and the St. Joseph’s River. Matthew 419 Fishing Guide service has donated four fully-guided trips for 2011. All guided trips are for up to two people and typically include four hours of fishing. Each trip is valued at $300. The winning bids will be announced at the Day Three weigh-ins at each of the 2011 tournaments. Bidding starts at half price, that is, only $150.00 per trip.

Bids for these packages can be submitted by email to [email protected] or by telephone to the AIM office by calling 920-526-3399. A credit card number will be used to guarantee the bid – but no charges will apply until the winning bids are announced. Bids will also be accepted onsite at the Winneconne tournament beginning with the pre-event Rules Meeting. Bidding progress will be posted on a special thread on the AIM Forum. The bidding will close one hour before the Day Three weigh-in on June 4th and the winning bidder will be announced on stage.

•    Further information about G2 Angling can be found at www.g2angling.com.
•    Further information about Come By Chance Resort can be found at www.comebychanceresort.ca.
•    Further information about Matthew 419 Fishing Guide Service can be found at www.matthew419fishingguideserv.com.
•    Information is also available by clicking on each logo at www.aimfishing.com, where viewers can find up-to-the-minute updates about the AIM Pro Walleye Series tournaments and the auction bidding.

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, 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.

The AIM Bay Mills Invitational Walleye Tournament is scheduled for June 2 - 4. The host location and major sponsor is the Bay Mills Resort & Casino in Brimley, Michigan. Pro Anglers qualified for entry to this special event in the 2011 AIM® schedule by their participation in the 2010 AIM Pro Walleye Series™ tournament season and 2011 registrations.

The AIM Bay Mills Invitational Walleye Tournament will host a limited field of only 50 of the top AIM Pro Anglers. Invitations will be extended based, first, on rankings in the 2010 AIM - JJ Keller Fishing Team Angler of the Year standings, second, on the number of qualifying events fished in 2010 and thirdly by the number of 2011 event registrations. Full field ties will be determined by the 2010 AIM JJ Keller Fishing Team Angler of the Year standings. Leading the field will be the 2010 AIM JJ Keller Fishing Team Angler of the Year, Robert Blosser.

The AIM Bay Mills Invitational Walleye Tournament is a special event due to the sponsorship of the Bay Mills Resort & Casino. Rod Jones, General Manager of the Bay Mills Resort & Casino said, “We are excited to bring the AIM Invitational Walleye Tournament to our fantastic resort and the great Sault Ste. Marie area. The AIM Catch-Record-Release™ format will showcase this area as a top walleye fishing destination. Therefore, Bay Mills Resort & Casino has committed additional funds to the tournament purse to make this event very profitable to the Pro Angler competitors – one of the most lucrative tournaments in modern walleye tournament fishing!”

Like all the AIM Pro Walleye Series tournaments, the AIM Bay Mills Invitational Walleye Tournament will feature the exclusive AIM Catch-Record-Release format. “CRR” requires each Pro Angler to measure and photograph their catch. Each walleye is immediately returned to the water where it was caught. At the end of each day, the Pro Angler selects the seven longest fish. The lengths are converted to pounds and ounces using a standardized formula. With CRR, the Pro Anglers can fish until the last moment of each day and can never be penalized for dead fish. 

Bay Mills Resort & Casino welcomes the AIM Pro Anglers and Co-anglers to the Brimley area. Bay Mills has made a multi-year commitment to partnering with AIM and hosting the AIM Bay Mills Invitational Walleye Tournament. The AIM Pro Anglers will compete for the most lucrative purse in the 2011 AIM Pro Walleye Series tournament season. Bay Mills Resort & Casino has pledged an additional $50,000 to the purse. The tournament payouts are as follows:
First Place    $40,000            15th Place    $1,500
2nd Place    $15,000            16th Place    $1,000
3rd Place    $8,000                17th Place    $1,000
4th Place    $6,000                18th Place    $1,000
5th Place    $5,500                19th Place    $1,000
6th Place    $5,000                20th Place    $1,000
7th Place    $4,500                21st Place    $500
8th Place    $4,000                22nd Place    $500
9th Place    $3,500                23rd Place    $500
10th Place    $3,000                24th Place    $500
11th Place    $2,000                25th Place    $500
12th Place    $1,500
13th Place    $1,500
14th Place    $1,500                Total:        $110,000

In addition to these payouts, EACH angler will also receive $300 at the pre-tournament registration as a “Thank You” from Bay Mills Resort & Casino. Adding this $15,000 in cash payments brings the total payout to $125,000, or a payout of 167% of the Pro Angler entry fees! Invitations to the qualifying Pro Anglers will be issued in mid-February.

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. To learn more about all the amenities available at the Bay Mills Resort and Casino, go to www.4BayMills.com.

Plymouth, WI - February 17, 2011

AIM has teamed up with Bay Mills Resort & Casino to conduct an invitational tournament that will be held June 2 to 4, 2011. The 2011 Bay Mills Invitational Walleye Tournament is a special event in the AIM Pro Walleye Series.  Unlike the 2010 event, the results will also be included in the calculations for the 2011 Angler of the Year award.

Bay Mills Resort & Casino has pledged an additional $50,000 to the event purse. This means that the field of 50 AIM Pro Anglers will compete for a total purse $125,000 instead of $75,000 - and that's 167% of the entry fees. Included in this payout is a $300 payment that will be made to each of the 50 AIM Pro Anglers at the pre-event Rules Meeting on June 1st. This payout is one of the most lucrative in Pro-Am walleye tournaments in 2011, and a complete schedule is posted at www.aimfishing.com.

The 2011 Bay Mills Invitational Walleye Tournament will once again feature the fishing industry's newest products in an "artificial bait only" competition. As always, the tournament will utilize the exclusive AIM Catch-Record-Release™ format - with every large walleye being digitally recorded - and then immediately released to fight again.

Entry in the 2011 AIM Bay Mills Invitational Walleye Tournament is by invitation only. The field for the Invitational will be limited to ONLY the first 50 Pro Anglers to register. First, invitations are available to the AIM Pro Anglers that fished ALL five of the AIM 2010 tournaments. The entry deadline for these Pro Anglers is Sunday, March 6th.

Secondly, invitations will also be extended to all Pro Anglers who register for all FOUR of the 2011 AIM tournaments, including Bay Mills. This option is available to ALL Pro Anglers who register for ALL four 2011 tournaments - regardless of the number of events fished in 2010 - because of the change which includes the Invitational results in the 2011 AIM Angler of the Year calculations. ALL Pro Anglers who complete their registration for ALL four 2011 AIM tournaments by Sunday, March 6th will be included in the 2011 Bay Mills Invitational.

Finally, on Monday, March 7, 2011 any remaining entries will be open to all Pro Anglers who competed in the 2010 AIM Pro Walleye Series. The available entries will be offered first based on the number of events fished in 2010 and then on the 2010 Angler of the Year standings until the 50 boat field is filled. Registrations for the 2011 Bay Mills Invitational must be completed by 5:00 pm, Friday, March 11th.

Bay Mills Resort & Casino will serve as the Invitational tournament headquarters, launch site, and the site of the daily weigh-in stage show (which will also be featured LIVE on www.aimfishing.com.) 

The Resort is located on the shores of Lake Superior in the Eastern Upper Peninsula of Michigan and has 2 casinos, 1,000 slots, 10 gaming tables, a poker room, 142 lake-view hotel rooms, an RV park, 5 restaurants and bars, plus a championship golf course. It is owned by the Bay Mills Indian Community and is located at 11386 West Lakeshore Dr., Brimley, Michigan 49715.

"The Soo" is located on the St. Mary's River, connecting the east end of Lake Superior to northern Lake Huron. The area forms an ideal walleye fishery, with a huge variety of structure from shallow structure and weeds, rocky points, reefs, islands, and river channels. The river and the expansive lake areas offer countless presentation options. Shallow and deep jigging and shallow and deep trolling are all proven techniques. Walleyes can be found throughout hundreds of square miles of the waterway! Additional information on the area and lodging options can be found at www.saultstemarie.com.

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. To learn more about all the amenities available at the Bay Mills Resort and Casino, go to www.4BayMills.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.


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 Companies.

The Top 50 Pro Anglers will compete for $125,000.00, which represents a total purse of 167% of entry fees in this prestigiuos invitational tournament.


The 2011 AIM Bay Mills Invitational Walleye Tournament has been scheduled for June 2 - 4. The host location and major sponsor is the Bay Mills Resort & Casino in Brimley, Michigan. Pro Anglers qualified for entry to this special event in the 2011 AIM® schedule by their participation in the 2010 AIM Pro Walleye Series™ tournament season and 2011 registrations.

The AIM Bay Mills Invitational Walleye Tournament will host a limited field of 50 of the top AIM Pro Anglers. Invitations will be extended based, first on the number of qualifying events fished in 2010 then, second by the number of 2011 event registrations. Full field ties will be determined by the 2010 AIM - JJ Keller Fishing Team Angler of the Year standings. Leading the list of invitees' will be the 2010 AIM - JJ Keller Angler of the Year, Robert Blosser.

The AIM Bay Mills Invitational Walleye Tournament is truly a special event due in part to its artificial lure only format combined with the sponsorship of the Bay Mills Resort & Casino. Rod Jones, General Manager of the Bay Mills Resort & Casino said, "We are excited to bring the AIM Invitational Walleye Tournament to our fantastic resort and the great Sault Ste. Marie area. The AIM Catch-Record-Release™ format will showcase this area as a top walleye fishing destination. Therefore, Bay Mills Resort & Casino has committed additional funds to the tournament purse to make this event very profitable to the Pro Angler competitors - one of the most lucrative tournaments in modern walleye tournament fishing!"

Like all the AIM Pro Walleye Series tournaments, the AIM Bay Mills Invitational Walleye Tournament will feature the exclusive AIM Catch-Record-Release format. "CRR" requires each Pro Angler to measure and photograph their catch. Each walleye is immediately returned to the water where it was caught. At the end of each day, the Pro Angler selects the seven longest fish. The lengths are converted to pounds and ounces using a standardized formula. With CRR, the Pro Anglers can fish until the last moment of each day and can never be penalized for dead fish. 

Bay Mills Resort & Casino welcomes the AIM Pro Anglers and Co-anglers to the Brimley area. Bay Mills has made a multi-year commitment to partnering with AIM and hosting the AIM Bay Mills Invitational Walleye Tournament. The AIM Pro Anglers will compete for the most lucrative purse in the 2011 AIM Pro Walleye Series tournament season. Bay Mills Resort & Casino has pledged an additional $50,000 to the program. The tournament payouts are as follows:

1st Place Value    $40,000            15th Place    $1,500
2nd Place    $15,000            16th Place    $1,000
3rd Place    $8,000                17th Place    $1,000
4th Place    $6,000                18th Place    $1,000
5th Place    $5,500                19th Place    $1,000
6th Place    $5,000                20th Place    $1,000
7th Place    $4,500                21st Place    $500
8th Place    $4,000                22nd Place    $500
9th Place    $3,500                23rd Place    $500
10th Place    $3,000                24th Place    $500
11th Place    $2,000                25th Place    $500
12th Place    $1,500               
13th Place    $1,500
14th Place    $1,500                Total:        $110,000

In addition to these payouts, EACH angler will also receive $300 at the pre-tournament registration as a "Thank You" from Bay Mills Resort & Casino. Adding this $15,000 in cash payments brings the total payout to $125,000, or a payout of 167% of the Pro Angler entry fees! Invitations to the qualifying Pro Anglers will be issued in mid-February.

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. To learn more about all the amenities available at the Bay Mills Resort and Casino, go to www.4BayMills.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.

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 Companies.