Presented by Yamaha Motor Corp USA and Warrior Boats LLC.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sept. 6, 2016
Contact: Denny Fox, 920-505-0122
Anglers Insight Marketing LLC (AIM™)
‘This was a good one,’ says Chad Bleeker, co-winner of the AWWS Yamaha Team of the Year Minnesota Division
“We just wanted to make sure we got our fish,” said an ebullient Chad Bleeker, who with boatmate Carl Stayberg, concentrated on one goal on Minnesota’s Lake of the Woods: securing the Yamaha Motors Minnesota Division Team of the Year title in the AIM Weekend Walleye Series.
Finishing ahead of the second-place team by 52 points, Bleeker said he did it pulling cranks with lead core, at the lake’s north end. It was his first-ever Team of The Year (TOY) title.
“We were just like everyone else. We did troll some cranks on shallow rocks in the morning,” he said, deciding to veer away from large sizes to smaller. “We were pulling small. We tried some big but didn’t do real well on them so we were using Number 7 Flicker Shads and Walleye Divers and some Shad Raps, but mostly Flicker Shads and Walleye Divers in black and silver.”
“This was a really good one. We were really excited to get it, a real honor,” he said.
“We were pretty sure we knew we won. We had almost 18 pounds (17.51) on Day One, and on Day Two, we ended up with 14.15 and we knew we had enough weight to seal it. If we had known we were going to be that far ahead, we would have gone for bigger fish, but you never know. We just wanted to make sure we got our fish.”
The pair not only won TOY bragging honors. They also took home a new Yamaha kicker worth $3,000, and qualified for the AIM Championship Shootout next year, at a water body that will be announced over the winter.
“This is better than winning one event,” Bleeker said. “It takes a lot to be that consistent throughout the year. Our lowest place finish this year was sixth at Ottertail, and it’s not easy.
“There’s also definitely a lot of luck involved in it, and I’d rather be a lucky fisherman than a good one any day.”
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.
AIM Supporting Sponsors: Mercury Marine, Nitro Boats, Navionics, Powrtran, Power-Pole, Worldwide Marine Insurance, Off Shore Tackle, Team Lodge, Vibrations Tackle, Pro Chattrr, National Fleet Graphics, Gemini Sport Marketing, 4 Bears Casino North Dakota.