Presented by Yamaha Motor Corp USA and Warrior Boats LLC.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 14, 2017
Contact: Denny Fox, 920-505-0122
Anglers Insight Marketing LLC (AIM™)
Bonsacks Bounce Back To Take AWWS Day Two On Leech By Less Than 1/10th Pound With Creek Chubs
After what Jake Bonsack described as a “totally terrible Day One,” the team of Jake and his dad Dave Bonsack made up for it Sunday at the AWWS Warrior Boats/Musky House Marine Open, winning first and $8,000 by less than 1/10th of a pound, #34.74 to round out AIM’s first-ever “dual duel” on Minnesota’s Leech Lake.
Jake, from Royalton, MN, and Dave, of Gibbon, MN, used big creek chubs up to seven inches long to pull in equally big walleyes from a field of boulders on the main lake’s southwest side. But it wouldn’t have happened if Jake wouldn’t have solved an electronics issue that popped up on Saturday’s tourney.
“It was a totally terrible Day One. I had a big time equipment failure, no sonar at all. I had to reset everything and Day Two was a lot better,” he said. Understatement, that.
For on Sunday, they headed to the main lake’s big boulders—again on the lake’s southwest side, which figured in Saturday’s finishers. Fishing from 16 to 20 feet, they rigged large creek chubs. The fish sucked them in, and the team sucked in the ‘eyes.
“Once you get bit, you’ve really got to feed them line to get them to eat, often for a couple of minutes,” Jake said.
The team had checked out the spot earlier, and instead of swinging for the fence and getting an out like they did on Day One, they tried a conservative approach, he said. And, it paid off.
“All our fish came early, but at 11 a.m. we contemplated going for bigger fish but didn’t want someone else to come into the spot. We hoped for one big bite here but that didn’t happen, but it worked out,” he said. “We didn’t change our tactics and didn’t move from our spot the whole day. It wasn’t like it was loaded with fish, just the right fish. We probably caught nine, but they were the right bites. We ground it out and got it done.”
He’s also another AIM convert. “I’ve fished it from the start, and I love it. I don’t have to worry about slot limits here. The five biggest fish win, and that’s how it should be,” Bonsack said.
In second, another father-son team, Corey Jahn, of Grand Rapids, MN, and father Dayton, from Andover, MN, who boated 34.69 pounds and a $2,400 check. They also finished second in last weekend’s Leech Lake Walleye Tournament.
They, too, headed for structure on the main lake, in 15 to 30 feet of water, and got fish immediately, working big minnows at .7 to .8 mph. It slowed a bit, then, “another 25-1/2, and an 18, then the storm came up and we went to the calmer side and the wind laid back down and we doubled, with a 25-1/2 and a 23-1/2. We were almost getting ready to leave and a rod bent over and that was another 25-1/2, and in the last five or 10 minutes, dad got a 27-incher. Here’s how the rest of the top-five finishers fared:
In third and receiving $1,800, were husband and wife Chris and Ashley Whitney, of Walker, MN., with 34.14 pounds, their second, third-place effort in as many days. Fourth went to Stephen Picht and wife Brenda, of Grand Rapids, MN, with 32.95 pounds, for $1,500. Fifth went to Duane Kreise Sr., of Shakopee, MN, and Kevin Klimmek, Jordan, MN, for 32.76 pounds of walleye, earning them $1,300.
Next up, head with us online to Lake Sakakawea, North of Bismarck, North Dakota, and walleye on the upper Missouri at Garrison, ND. Catch the action at AIM’ Facebook site, and Prochattrr.
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, Navionics, Garmin, Power Pole, Worldwide Marine Insurance, AirWave Pedestals, Off Shore Tackle, Vibrations Tackle, Pro Chattrr, National Fleet Graphics, Gemini Sport Marketing, Warrior Boat Center.