Presented by Yamaha Motor Corp USA and Warrior Boats LLC.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 13, 2016
Contact: Denny Fox, 920-505-0122
Anglers Insight Marketing LLC (AIM™)
Using Jigging Raps, Minnesota’s Team Deutz invades North Dakota, takes Devils Lake AWWS Warrior Boats Open
Spencer Deutz predicted earlier in the week it would take 24 to 26 pounds, possibly 27, to win at Devils Lake Sunday. He was off by about two.
Deutz and wife Carley, invading from Moorhead, MN, brought in 29.86 pounds to steal away the final AIM Weekend Walleye Series Warrior Boats/Woodland Marine Open and $4,500 from the Dakotans. And they did it using an increasingly popular tool that unfortunately many anglers forget about once ice fishing season is over: a Rapala Jigging Rap.
“We were fishing deep rock piles pretty much the whole day, using 7/8-ounce Jigging Raps, and sometimes a slip bobber. Raps are very popular now for summer, but fishing the rocks you can go through a ton of them,” Deutz said.
The pair concentrated on rocks from 25 to 35 feet down, depending on the spot, slowly circling the piles around the outside edges. “You had to move, or you wouldn’t catch anything. If we didn’t at one we picked up and went to the next spot. We also got one or two on a slip bobber. Our first fish came right away in the first five minutes, a 21-3/4-incher.
Deutz said the lake’s strong current on Sunday was a problem at first. “It took us a while to figure out what was going on. There was a point where you couldn’t keep the jigs vertical.
“We had three good fish over 25 inches,” he said, and that made the climb into first place easier. “We had one at 9 a.m. and two more with like 20 minutes left to go in the day. The bite was good all day. Using jigs, it’s just a reaction bite. I think they see something and just grab onto it. We caught a lot but the big ones were one here and one there,” he said. Colors didn’t seem to matter.
Although he won the last qualifier before the upcoming North Dakota division championship Aug. 5-6 on Lake Sakakawea at 4 Bears Casino & Lodge, they won’t be there. Timing just wasn’t right for his schedule, he said.
However, timing’s how and why he entered the AIM event at Devils Lake. He and his wife were there to fish a young angler tournament Saturday, July 9, in their Yamaha 250 SHO-powered Ranger 620FS and they figured what the heck, let’s enter the AIM tournament too. Good choice. Multiplied, in fact by 4,500 good choices.
Second place finishers were two more Minnesotans, Dave Randash of Dilworth, and Ed Piekutowski, of Moorhead, with a bag of 25.55 pounds, for $2,000.
Third place and $1,600 went to Kris Walcker and Ben Goodman of Minot, ND, for carding 24.43 pounds. In fourth were Derrick Holman and Brandon Barrett, also of Minot, who came in with 21.48 pounds and left with $1,200. Fifth place was won by Gil Mollet of Jefferson, SD, and Lynn Jurrens of Watertown, SD, with 18.68 pounds, good for $1,000.
Next up, the championship. Watch AIM’s Facebook site for the list of qualifiers. Watch for a preview and all the action on Lake Sak in about three weeks!
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.