Presented by Yamaha Motor Corp USA and Warrior Boats LLC.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 20, 2018
Contact: Denny Fox, 920-505-0122
Anglers Insight Marketing LLC (AIM™)
Big Muddy: Count On Green Bay’s Flats To Produce
Big Bags In Sunday’s AIM/Nitro Boats Open At Oconto
You can bet where at least two teams in Sunday’s final AIM Weekend Walleye Series Nitro Boats Open qualifier of the season on Green Bay will be heading when the 100-boat field launches from Oconto, Wisconsin: south, into the muddy flats of the bay.
“Last year’s tournament was won at still-unnamed waypoints north of the harbor,” said AIM National Tournament Director Denny Fox. “And this year, at least these four anglers say the action’s all happening south.”
“I don’t think they’ve started north yet. I think there’s going to be some caught up north, but the winning weight will come out of the lower bay,” predicts Eric Paulowski, of Green Bay, who guides on the Bay not only for “smalleyes,” but walleyes, too, and who will power up his Mercury Pro XS and head to the bay’s mud flats Sunday.
For those unfamiliar with fishing here, walleye gradually seek more food and cooler temps north of Oconto this time of year, but according to Paulowski and others, they’re still busy in the mud to the south despite high surface temps.
“I think depth is the key as the water is cooler. Remember that temperatures you see on your graph are surface temps and things start changing as little as 18 inches below your boat.” He’s also betting on two standby ways to get’em this time of year, crawlers or cranks, depending on conditions.
“Crawlers have been good, but cranks have been on other days. We’re hoping to see some wind because fish are more predictable in wind than on a flat calm day. If there’s good wind conditions, I prefer that,” he adds.
Sometimes it’s hard to get two competitors to agree—or admit to—the general spot to head to, but not this time. Matt Wachowiak of Muskego, WI, is also heading there when he pushes the throttle forward on his Mercury 250 Verado. And, he’s predicting the big Walters will still be there, meaning lots of heavyweight weights Sunday afternoon.
“You’re going to see a lot of really big weights coming out of the mud near Suamico, 8 to 15 miles south of the start at Oconto’s Breakwater Park. And it’s going to be a mud trolling bite for most. There’s always a chance that someone can go north but right now it can be hard to get those five bites. If someone gets five north it’ll also be a big weight but it’s a big risk going up there,” Wachowiak advises.
“But I think you’ll see 75 percent will be fishing the mud. A lot will be pulling crawler harnesses. That’s what most will be doing,” he added.
He also said that water surface temperatures fishing last weekend ranged from 78 to 81 degrees, so he’ll be concentrating on water up to 30 feet deep, and cooler temperatures and north winds expected Friday and Saturday may slow the bite.
“But, guys will still get their fish,” Wachowiak added. That prediction will definitely get tested Sunday when the field takes off in two waves from Breakwater Park starting at 7 a.m. The first wave is due back at the launch site at 3 p.m.
Teams will meet on Saturday for registration and rules review starting at 5 p.m. Saturday at The Dockside. Sunday’s boat inspections begin at 5:30 a.m. at the launch site.
Watch for on-water reports all day, and tune in to see who won and where starting at 5 p.m. at AIM’s Facebook site. For info on all AIM events, including the upcoming state championships, go to aimfishing.com.
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, LLC.
AIM Supporting Sponsors: Mercury Marine, Nitro Boats, Garmin, Navionics, Power Pole, Worldwide Marine Insurance, AirWave Pedestals, Off Shore Tackle, Vibrations Tackle, Pro Chattrr, Gemini Sport Marketing, Treeland Resort, Anglers Avenue, Moonshine Lures Shiver Minnow, JT Outdoors Products, Fox River Lures and Rods, Bismarck Mandan Convention and Visitors Bureau