Presented by Yamaha Motor Corp USA and Warrior Boats Inc.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Aug. 16, 2023
Contact: Denny Fox, 920-505-0122
Anglers Insight Marketing LLC (AIM™)
LiveScope, LiveScope, LiveScope: Garmin, Forward-Facing Sonar, May Win At Winnie’s AIM MN State Championship
Forward-facing sonar and especially Garmin LiveScope has changed the way tournaments are done and won, and very likely will be key in who wins the AIM Weekend Walleye Series Mercury Marine Minnesota Championship Friday and Saturday (Aug. 18-19).
“Our teams are primed and ready to see if they can break the 60-pound barrier over the two days AIM will be on the water,” said Denny Fox, AIM national tournament director. “And there’s a great chance they’ll do it. During a state tournament here in June, the winner clocked 29-plus for one day, and at a two-day last weekend, 53 pounds won it. With Garmin LiveScope aboard many of our team boats and the talent that will be on the water this week, AIM is likely to push this into the 70s for two days. Teams are also keeping an eye on some predicted breezy conditions, especially Friday.”
Breaking that 70-pound barrier by a bunch is the goal of Team Joe Bricko of Farmington and Dylan Maki of Cohasset who will be on the water this week in their Mercury 400 Verado-powered boat, using Garmin LiveScope among their mix of electronics aboard, using each to their strengths. Plus, he’s got those JT Outdoor Products rods he makes and sells to put the hurt on Winnie. JTOP is an AIM sponsor.
Bricko was “docked” at his work when we reached him, but he was on Winnibigoshish the day prior, and his teammates are out now. He’ll be back on the water with them Wednesday and Thursday. That little thing called work, you know.
“I’ll be leaning on them the next couple of days,” he said when reached Monday. “The whole job thing, you know, which is a nuisance,” he laughed. “But it’s nice to pay bills, too.”
Bricko is predicting big things at the ends of his JT Rods for the championship. As in, 70 to 75 pounds big. Not 35 pounds over two days. Not even 50. Try more like 75. And we’re betting he knows a little something about where those fish are to predict that total.
“We’re predicting something more like 75 pounds. I was out yesterday,” he said, so he’s not just pulling that number out of his live well.
“It’s just from what we believe the potential is. Whether we catch whatever the lake’s potential is, somebody will end up getting it. We know there are 27s and 28s there, so if you do the math, that’s where you end up, 35 pounds a day. I think you can go a little bit higher, so 37 or 38 a day is doable,” he predicted.
Like many who’ll be on the water starting Friday, he’s also got his eye on that AIM Yamaha Motor Corp. USA Team Of The Year state title too in one of the tightest points races ever in AIM. Right now, Bricko/Maki are ninth. His philosophy is, it’s the championship, so fish it like it is.
“It’s real tight. About 2-1/2 points separate fifth to ninth. The mindset of our team in our sixth year (competing in AIM) is always the same. It’s trying to win. We’re going for the win, not trying to hit the ball on the fairway. If you do that, you don’t have to worry about where your points fall,” he explained. And, there are plenty of ways to get there on Winnie the fish factory.
“Based on my one day out there so far, I think there’s a number of ways this could be won. That will be all uncovered during the week. Winnie is really good right now. it’s a perfect pick for the state championship. It’s one of the hottest bites in the state, certainly for numbers of fish. The trick is getting in front of the right fish.
“There is a huge abundance of 17- to 20-inch fish you can get distracted by. And those 17-inchers, they’re biting. So you can waste a lot of time on eaters,” he said. And that’s where those electronic tools like LiveScope will make the difference.
Also betting on LiveScope in the “hodgepodge” of electronics on his Mercury 250 XL-powered boat as well is Zachary Christenson of Cambridge, who will aboard with Toby Kvalevog of Brainerd. They’re sitting in 12th in the TOY race, definitely in striking distance.
Christenson’s hoping that he can stay off the water on Thursday to re-fit his boat. That also might tell you something about what he’s found. We reached him on the water, catching a few eaters for a fish fry. He’s been on Winnie maybe 10 times and won a tournament here the last time.
“We’re absolutely scouting out spots. Winnie is pumped full of these perfect eaters. I feel like we’re a million miles from qualifying (for the championship) but we’re in striking distance, so we have to take it serious. I’m going to swing for the fences, but I’m going to go for the top five and not worry about the points (top five in each state championship automatically are in next year’s AIM National Championship Shootout) and put that out of my head. I don’t feel trying to play a points game is where I need to be. I think it’s going to take a big bag on this lake,” Christenson said.
“I’ve got some friends who fish this and have a feeling it’s going to take 70 pounds if not a little more. I think a 26-inch average with a kicker is what it’s going to take,” he continued.
“Teams are going to be using everything. Bobber games, that’s going to be big. There are going to be people drop-shoting, and definitely on this lake they’re going to be pulling some big minnows around. People will have to sort through a lot of fish. There’s a lot of these pods of small fish and they’ll have to target individuals,” he said, and that means using forward facing sonar, which has changed the game in all of tournament fishing. Christenson also feels the wind will become a factor especially Friday.
“This lake gets a little bit bumpy when you’ve got 10- to 20-mph winds. Who knows what’s going to happen, but I think it’s definitely going to play into how people fish this thing. The teams who are really good at boat control and using forward facing sonar will do well,” he added.
In 75th place in TOY standings is the team of Brian Collins of Moose Lake and Chad Clough of Mahtowa. Collins said he’d be on the water starting Monday under Mercury 400 Verado power with Garmin in the electronics aboard. Partner Chad had at least a one-day head start.
“Fishing’s pretty good. There was a two-day tournament this weekend and they did pretty well,” Collins said of that tournament, where the winner posted 52 pounds. “So that’s a pretty good bite for Winnie.”
“With LiveScope you’ll be able to find fish virtually everywhere, in the weeds, on the rocks, deep. It’ll be LiveScope fishing. It’s just finding and patterning the bigger fish that will be the challenge. It’s completely changed the way I fish,” he said. What’s his feeling about the predicted wind? He’s liking.
“Perfect. On any of these bigger walleye lakes a little wind is going to help drive fish to certain areas, With the boat I’m running, bring it on,” he said. And, he’s hoping to make up for this season, which so far he said has been “dreadful.”
“We were only able to fish two events. We paid for the (Mississippi) river and got qualified but couldn’t,” he said. “For us to make the championship, we’re aiming for the top five. That’s our only path.
“We’re going to swing for the fences. The talent of the Minnesota Division is incredible, and they’re going to make you earn it. We relish the challenge,” Collins said.
So, hang on Fan Nation, this is going to be a fantastic, exciting finish to the season in Minnesota. And come Saturday, be there online at AIM’s Facebook Page starting at 5 p.m. for the live broadcast from AIM headquarters for the event, Becker’s Resort on the upper Mississippi River, where it’ll all be decided. Yes, the river flows into and out of Winnie.
Both days, boats will be released at Becker’s starting with the first 50 at 7 a.m. They must check in upon return starting at 3 p.m. Teams, if you’ve qualified, you’ve got until midnight tonight, (Wednesday, Aug 16) to register. More than 70 will be there so far.
Wisconsin, time to rise and shine after Saturday, because AIM is coming your way for the Garmin/Navionics State Championship and Yamaha Motor Corp USA Wisconsin Team Of The Year (TOY) award Aug. 25-26 at Oconto on the Bay of Green Bay.
North Dakota is next up to the plate, come Sept. 8-9 for the Yamaha Motor Corp. USA North Dakota State Championship and TOY award on Lake Sakakawea at Beulah.
Then, AIM wraps up the first year of the Rivers Division with a stop on the Mississippi at Clinton Iowa for the next Division qualifier Sept. 10. We end a great 2023 season, first Oct. 1 in Dubuque, IA, for the last 2023 division qualifier, followed by that division’s championship Oct. 21-22 on that same little river at Prairie du Chien, WI. That means that for the first time, there will be 40 boats, not 30, qualifying for the 2024 AIM National Championship Shootout.
We’ll have updates prior to each of those events coming up. Stay tuned for the fun.
Want to join in? We’d love to have you. You can still register for those Rivers Division qualifiers, and before you know it, 2024’s event registration will open. Learn how at aimfishing.com.
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.
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AIM Presenting Sponsors: Yamaha Motor Corporation U.S.A. and Warrior Boats inc.
AIM Supporting Sponsors: Mercury Marine, Garmin, Navionics, Power Pole, Worldwide Marine Insurance, Off Shore Tackle, Gemini Sport Marketing, Moonshine Lures Shiver Minnow, JT Outdoors Products, McQuoids Inn, Rosemore Outdoor Gear, Outdoor Authority fish house rentals, Island Bar and Grill, Bait Box on the Rock, Oconto County WI, Odyssey Battery.