FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 6, 2025
Contact: Denny Fox, 920-505-0122
Anglers Insight Marketing LLC (AIM™)
Presented by Yamaha Outboards Motor Corp USA and Warrior Boats Inc.
When last The AIM Weekend Walleye Series visited Mille Lacs in 2024, the winners, team Rosemore, took it with 41 pounds, while they bathed in four- to six-footers. Will it be launch, repeat, this go-around, or will the lake behave Sunday (June 
for the season’s second Minnesota Division Warrior Boats Open qualifier of the year.
for the season’s second Minnesota Division Warrior Boats Open qualifier of the year.“The mayflies have taken over our host site, McQuoid’s Inn, and that means our teams will have their hands full trying to figure out how to compete with all that natural walleye food,” said Denny Fox, national tournament director. “It’ll certainly be a challenge for them to get the fish to go, but we were here about the same time in 2024, and that 41-pound bag came with Garmin LiveScope, and I’m sure that will figure in again Sunday.”
Mitch Weber of Nowthen and brother Matt of Pequot Lakes started fishing Thursday, and we spoke to Mitch before he headed out. He’s got plenty of experience on Mille Lacs, having grown up 45 minutes from its shore. They’ll be handling the possible afternoon storms and northwest wind in their 2090 Warrior, powered by a Mercury 250 Pro XS, with Garmin amongst the electronics. “We haven’t fished it yet this year. We’ve been busy with Leech (the first qualifier, where they finished third, putting them in the running for Yamaha Motor Corp. USA Minnesota Team Of The Year) and the National Championship Shootout (they finished 11th at Duluth). We’re looking forward to it. We’ve got some areas we know should be holding fish so we’re just looking to find a couple of the right bites,” Mitch Weber said. “I would have to say pitching puppets (Northland Puppet Minnows) and probably a bobber and a leech” will be their go-to ways, at least to start.
“We’ll be concentrating on the weeds and deeper gravel in mid-lake. It sounds like there’s a lot of fish. There was last year, and we’re expecting the same, but there’s also a lot of bait, so it’s getting the right ones to bite, that is the key. The hatch is going on, the water’s warming and there’s going to be a lot going into it,” Weber added. He also said that the advantage that younger teams have figuring out LiveScope’s electronics and settings is fast disappearing. “I would say if you’re around 40 pounds you’ll be in contention. Forty, 42, 43. I grew up on the lake. My dad took me and my brother out there. I’ve got a lot of history and we’re also getting better at targeting big fish out there.”
Aaron Isaman of Lake Park will be on the water with brother Jesse from Pelican Rapids managing a Mercury 400 Verado, with Garmin electronics in the mix. He was heading there also Thursday, and isn’t much concerned with the mayfly hatch. “It might have some effect but reports I’ve heard, there are a lot of big fish shallow and I don’t think mayflies affect shallow fish as much. They’re up there feeding on baitfish,” Aaron said. “I’m going to be looking at a few different areas, some shallow, some mid-depth, and some deeper. I think there are going to be a lot of fish on the mud (that’s mid-lake). A couple of the top places could possibly come off the mud. There’s good fish out there but it could be a grind,” he continued. “I pretty much plan for any AIM tournament that it’s going to take a 40-pound bag or better to have a chance to win. There are a lot of good sticks. I fish a lot of different presentations. You’re going to see a lot of slip bobbers and leeches, a lot of that I think, and Jigging Raps, jigs and plastics.”
Dave Askew will be teamed with Zach Meyer, both of Buffalo, under Merc 300 Verado power, and with Garmin aboard. Askew also looked forward to getting on the water Thursday but thinks the mayfly bonanza may affect things more than the others think.
“It has the potential to make things a little finicky. The fish right now are spread shallow in the weeds and out deep so teams will have to look at all of it,” Askew said. “We had the Championship last weekend so most are home scrambling to get their work done before we play hooky.” No pun intended, but noted.
He’s laying bets on leeches with corks, and potentially crawlers, what he termed more finesse tactics to win’em over. That and LiveScope to target the winners. “The fish right now have been finicky. There’s so much baitfish in the system so they’re not as aggressive. This is typically the best time of the year for big fish. The fish are very healthy and there’s probably a record amount of baitfish which will make it a bit tougher than in the past,” he said.
With all that competition, who’s going to fool’em best? Sunday’s the day to find out, prior to a month-and-a-half layoff until Minnesota’s next event July 20. But next door in North Dakota, circle Saturday and Sunday June 21 and 22 for dual events on Sakakawea out of Beulah Bay, just in time for that western mountain runoff to begin hitting the lake. And, just for fun, that weekend’s a triple dip, as the Rivers Division heads for Hager City, Wisconsin on the Mississippi Saturday, June 21.
Meanwhile, this Sunday’s event lines up like this: team meeting and registration, 7 p.m. Saturday. Boat inspections begin at 5:30 a.m. at Macs Twin Bay docks in Isle. The first flight of boats goes hunting at 7 a.m., with the second at 7:15 a.m., and the first flight is due back at 3 p.m. Catch updates from the water at AIM’s Facebook page.
Awards take place at McQuoid’s Inn at 5pm. Good luck, all teams and stay safe!
Fan Nation, there are still qualifiers in all divisions to sign up for 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.