Presented by Yamaha Motor Corp USA and Warrior Boats LLC.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan. X7 2017
Contact: Denny Fox, 920-505-0122
Anglers Insight Marketing LLC (AIM™)
Mississippi River Pools 3 and 4 Site of 2017 AWWS Warrior Boats/Yamaha Outboards National Shootout June 2-3
Ok, we’ve teased you enough. Here it is: The walleye-rich Pools 3 and 4 of the Mississippi River will host the 2017 AIM Weekend Walleye Series Warrior Boats/Yamaha Outboards National Championship Shootout, June 2-3 2017.
That 62 miles of water containing everything from monstrous Lake Pepin to the timbered backwaters, river wing dams, lock walls and dam faces for which the river is both famed and notorious, will host the 30-boat field who made the cut as the top performers during the 2016 season. Take into account the locks between the two pools, where the Mississippi’s barge tows can sometimes cause long, and potentially disqualifying delays for anglers who make the run upriver and have to lock-through to make it back by each day’s deadline.
What’s at stake for the 10 teams who each qualified from AIM’s Wisconsin, Minnesota and North Dakota divisions? A chance to put that title, National Champion in front of your name by besting a field of some of the nation’s best walleye anglers. Oh yes, and there’s also that other bennie: trailering home a new Warrior 1898 DC, powered by a Yamaha 150 four-stroke, and decked out with Garmin, Aim’s newest supporting sponsor, Echomap CHIRP Series plotter/sonar, all worth a mere $50,000-plus.
Headquarters for the event will be our sponsor The Bluffs Bar and Grill in Hager City, WI. Times for the festivities will be released later. Everts Resort, on Pool 4 will be the start and finish line for both days of competition.
Warrior Boat Centers in Ramsey, MN and Chippewa Falls, WI are sponsoring the event and will be on hand both days with Warrior Boats Powered by Yamaha Motors and decked out with Garmin electronics to do on the water demos of the products to the public.
One of the teams that will be on the water come June is that of Mike Lillemo, a Garmin pro-staffer, and his stepson Ryan Sheldon.
Lillemo, from Big Lake, MN, and Ryan, from La Crosse, WI, have been fishing together professionally the last four years out of Lillemo’s Nitro ZV21, powered by a 300hp Mercury Verado. They qualified through points, with their top finish last season, a fifth on Leech Lake.
While they didn’t know the location of the championship at the time of this interview, Lillemo said that each year, their goal is to make it to AIM’s top rung, something they’ve done two out of three seasons.
“That’s why we fish the Minnesota series end to end. We fished all four last year. I really enjoy fishing AIM,” Lillemo said.
“We really look forward to the competition with teams from other states. It really puts your skills to the test. It’s a level playing field, and you’ve got to use all your abilities if you want to win,” he continued.
“And, to have that boat as a first prize is a huge opportunity. Warrior is a great company and they put out a great boat, and the opportunity to win one is fantastic.”
The June 1 rules meeting and weigh-ins each day will take place at one of the championship’s local sponsors, The Bluffs bar and grill in Hagar City, WI. More information on the event will be posted as the dates approach at AIM’s website and Facebook site.
Meantime, sit back, and enjoy the season. Qualifiers, do your research, and plan your strategy. Because at the end of the day on June 3, one of you will be going home stylin’, Warrior-Yamaha-Garmin-style.
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, Team Lodge, Vibrations Tackle, Pro Chattrr, National Fleet Graphics, Gemini Sport Marketing.