FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 9, 2025
Contact: Denny Fox, 920-505-0122
Anglers Insight Marketing LLC (AIM™)
The way 24-year-old Eric McQuoid tells anyone, his win by more than five pounds in the Wisconsin Division Garmin Open on the Fox River at Green Bay to start the 12th annual AIM Weekend Walleye Series, was the “luck of the draw.” But anyone also knows that it was his knowledge of electronics that sealed the deal Sunday (April 6).
That “anyone” also knows this is not just a fluke. It again signals a real continuing turning point in tournament fishing, as Gens X, Y and Z who grew up with keyboards and screens in their cribs use fishing knowledge and turning those dancing images on a forward-facing sonar screen in a boat into cash. McQuoid and his partner/girlfriend Greta Meleen, both of Algoma, Wisconsin, did it by finding hungry post-spawner walleye in the shallows of the Bay of Green Bay, netting that win, a $12,400 kitty, and all-important Yamaha Motor Corp. Team Of The Year (TOY) points, besting the 100-boat field with 43.27 pounds.
“Fan Nation, welcome back to another AIM season that began last weekend and that will keep you watching your favorites competing, and that will also keep you learning how to do it yourselves into October, and what a fantastic start it was,” said Denny Fox, riding herd on the 12th AIM season as national tournament director.
“McQuoid’s win reinforces what we’ve known for a while now,” Fox said. “A good knowledge of the water helps big time, but getting the most from your electronics will supercharge you. In Eric’s case, it meant $9,000 from AIM, $2,400 more in AIM Side Pot Challenge cash, and another $1,000 in Garmin Tournament Reward cash for running a Garmin Kraken trolling motor and all Garmin electronics, plus those TOY points.”
McQuoid’s record confirms it. In 2024, he won the AIM Warrior Boats National Championship Shootout, taking home a Warrior Boat, Yamaha four-stroke, Garmin electronics and trolling motor and Rosemore Rods package worth more than $105,000. He then doubled down by winning the final 2024 Wisconsin qualifier of the year, also on the bay off the Door Peninsula. He also won two other tournaments. Has he the Bay of Green Bay dialed in?. Here’s how he did it last weekend. McQuoid said he doesn’t like fishing rivers, so that’s why they targeted the bay.
“We came into this looking for the warmest water within the boundaries that we could fish,” McQuoid said. “A lot got super dirty from the wind and rain. Pre-fishing we found a lot of fish, but smaller fish. I didn’t do anything in the river because I don’t like it.
“We drove around the whole shoreline Thursday, figuring out where the cleanest water was but also where it wasn’t super cold. In the middle of the week, water temperatures dropped about four degrees,” he said. They concentrated on the bay’s west side. And on Sunday, he said, they found temps at about 42, rising to 43.5 by day’s end. In other words, just enough to kickstart the post-spawners appetites, he hoped.
“We had about two spots in the same area, and honestly, it was the luck of the draw. Right place at the right time,” he explained, but we know better, don’t we Fan Nation? Luck, and skill’s the name of that tune. Mixed in with walleyes were spawning carp, and again, McQuoid used his LiveScope skills to decipher which was which.
“At practice all the fish were pre-spawners, and Sunday they were all post-spawn. We caught a wave of them coming out. We had four of our weigh fish in about 10 casts by 10:30 a.m., using our LiveScope. We could see them swimming to the deeper water,” he continued.
Wacked’em casting the new Reef Runner Flash Shad, RR’s version of Rapala’s Rippin’ Rap, and Kalin’s hair jigs, both in shades of purple. He threw the jigs and Meleen the Flash Shads. They both caught fish, with jigs taking the most.
“Pre-fishing we had maybe three of four areas I figured we could go. I never had a great spot I was dead set on,” he said. Until Sunday, “the spot” didn’t have the sizes they were looking for. They nailed a 24-incher in the first half hour, then that school finned in, McQuoid and Meleen counting them on LiveScope.
“We probably had 30 or 40 come in on us in a 20-minute window. We got a 26-3/4, a 28-1/2, a 28 and a 26-3/4. They went quiet for about an hour and we still caught four or five others not big enough to do upgrading, along with muskies and pike. Then I’d say about 2:40 p.m. we upgraded that first fish with a 27-1/2.
“It was a quantity rather than quality spot, but it turned out to be a quality spot too, I guess,” he added. After that it was time to head in, and they already figured they had a shot at the top five, at least. “We were hopeful, but not completely set. I was hoping to get one big kicker.”
Besides knowing his LiveScope, McQuoid said spending time on that water definitely contributes. “At least a few times a week. Every day, you’re learning. The Garmin gain’s about the only setting I play with. Typically it’s at 65 to 75 percent. I like to leave the screen a little cluttered because it gives you more information.” Is he shooting for another National Championship Shootout appearance? You bet.
“It’s definitely a goal set high by Tom Huynh (a former AIM Shootout champ), and Dylan Maki and Joe Bricko. It’s a forward-facing sonar world now and it’s shown throughout the last couple of years that if you don’t have it, your odds are definitely slimmer,” McQuoid added. And while he’ll probably miss the next event April 27 at Winneconne, count him in elsewhere.
“Pretty much anywhere on the bay, I feel like I have a shot at doing well,” he said.
In second place with 37.58 pounds, and winning $3,500, were long-time AIM captain Dave Van Oss of Appleton and nephew Elliot of Kimberly, in Van Oss’ Mercury 400 Verado-powered boat, and all Garmin electronics aboard. Pre-fishing wasn’t kind.
“I struggled. The first day was okay up near the dam. There were some fish and a ton of guys. Next day we had a lot of rain and the water turned from okay to chocolate milk, so we went to the Eagle’s Nest area (named for a former supper club) on the bay’s east side and I didn’t mark a fish, nothing,” Van Oss recalled. “I figured I’ve got to start heading up the east side and started trolling in the bay. I like to troll cranks at 1.5 mph, and couldn’t get a bite,” he added.
Trolling some reefs was the same story. Then he headed to Dead Horse Bay on the west side. Their fortunes began to change. “We caught a 25 right away but never got another. Thursday, we concentrated on the river and I zeroed. It was starting to clear up, but the temperature was 38. It was tough,” he said, but then…
“I like to throw blade baits. Berkley has a really nice one. I caught two, a 26 and a 28. I hit all the other community spots and had another 28. Friday, I caught one near the dam because it cleans up first. On Saturday, we went to the dam and didn’t catch anything. We went to another area and caught two and figured it would be a good backup. I dropped him off and tried vertical jigging and didn’t catch anything,” he said. What to choose? The river. Many times, where you’ll go depends on your tournament day boat launch draw. They drew 71.
“There are only about 20 good spots I know of in the river. Drawing number 71, l didn’t think we’d get any. We went to the first spot near the dam and four boats were on it. I knew we were going to be casting and that’s too many. We went back to another and there were three others, but they were trolling,” so they stayed. Some 20 minutes or so later, paydirt.
“My partner hooked into a 23-1/2. On the fifth cast I set the hook and it ended up being a 27-1/2 using that Berkley blade bait. Then there weren’t any more. It was 11 a.m. and we made a move to another spot which is shallow. I concentrated on 10 to 12 feet of water, a rocky area that transitions to sand and mud and drops into holes. But it wasn’t working, so we slid up to five and six feet deep and the third cast hooked in a 22-1/2, and about noon my partner hooked into a 29-1/2. He used a purple and white, I like a Firetiger in dirty water,” he continued.
Another cast or two, and a big one hit, then self-released. Two more hours, and a 19-1/2 was aboard.
“Five minutes later I hooked into a big one and I could tell it was all of 28, then lost it and I about puked, but then my partner gets a 23, and on the third cast later he hooks a 27,” he recalled. At 2:05 p.m., they knew they had a long, no wake trip back. They were happy.
“We put seven on the card. I knew the bite would be tough. I was really shocked at all the good weights that day. The AIM format brings out some of the best fishermen in Wisconsin. It is nerve-wracking when you take a photo but if you check your camera before you put the fish back in, you’re fine. We were just patient. On the LiveScope you could see the balls of bait coming in waves. It was nice to have LiveScope just to see that.
“I was hoping for a little more current in the river,” Van Oss said. “It’s a good start. I’m happy with second. We’re signed on for Winneconne and may do the rest. We’re in second place for Team Of The Year.”
Finishing right behind in third were the always dangerous Isaac Lakich of Richfield, and Tristan Beckwith of West Bend. They bagged 37.15 pounds, winning $2,800, plus second in Side Pot Challenge cash of $1,440. Behind them in fourth and earning $1,400 with 36.76 pounds were Shane Rockteacher of Palmyra, WI, and Nick Kainz of Waukesha. Fifth went to Wolf River Rats Mike Kasper of Shiocton and Andrew Schmidt of Fremont. They carded 34.64 pounds, good for $1,300 plus $960 in Side Pot Challenge cash.
Watch for those two in a little more than two weeks when AIM Wisconsin reconvenes for the Garmin Open Wolf River Chain of Lakes April 27. One day before, tune in as North Dakota wets keels Saturday, April 26. Meantime, watch the action when the Rivers Division launches its 2025 season on the Mississippi River’s Pools 10 and 11 near Cassville, Wisconsin.
Watch for updates throughout the day at AIM’s Facebook page. And, all you lurking anglers. We know you’re out there. You’ve got the skills and the knowledge, just like the teams who competed at Green Bay. Join the show. Sign up at aimfishing.com. There’s a whole lot more fishing waiting for you.
You know you want to. You know you can.
Anglers Insight Marketing LLC (AIM™) is a unique tournament organization created and owned by many of the most accomplished and recognizable professional walleye anglers, along with others who share the mission of advancing competitive walleye fishing and making it sustainable into the future.
AIM is committed to marketing excellence on behalf of its tournament competitors, the tournament host communities, and the brands that partner with it. AIM is also committed to maintaining healthy fisheries across the nation by the development of the exclusive AIM Catch-Record-Release™ format which is integral to its dynamic events and unparalleled consumer engagement. For more information about AIM™, AIM Pro Walleye Series™, AIM Weekend Walleye Series, AIM sponsors and AIM anglers, visit www.aimfishing.com.
AIM Presenting Sponsors: Yamaha Motor Corporation U.S.A. and Warrior Boats inc.
AIM Supporting Sponsors: Mercury Marine, Garmin, Worldwide Marine Insurance, Off Shore Tackle, JT Outdoors Products, McQuoids Inn, Rosemore Outdoor Gear, Adventure Recreational Finance, Oconto County WI., Forever Barnwood, The Bighorn Store