Presented by Yamaha Motor Corp USA and Warrior Boats LLC.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 8, 2016
Contact: Denny Fox, 920-505-0122
Anglers Insight Marketing LLC (AIM™)
Walleye free-for-all predicted for AWWS Warrior Boats/Kovash Marine Open on Ottertail
Even with winds predicted to blow on Minnesota’s Ottertail Lake nearly 20 mph Sunday, local anglers entered in the AIM Weekend Walleye Series Warrior Boats/Kovash Marine Open should be treated to, like its sister tournament also Sunday on North Dakota’s Devils Lake, fish no matter how you want to catch’em.
Count on it, say two competitors who will be leaving no fish left unhooked on Ottertail Sunday.
John Prischmann, of Fergus Falls, is happy to see AIM return after a tourney about three years ago when the late spring didn’t show the lake in its best form. This time, however, is for real, he said.
“I wanted AIM to come back to see the real Ottertail,” he said, and the mid-summer bite is ready to do just that. “Any technique works out here now. One of my friends had a cabin on a nearby lake and they sold theirs to buy on Ottertail. It has a daytime bite and so much structure that any technique you can possibly think of works here,” Prischmann said. “You can go onto the lake in August and it will be just as good as spring.”
Jigging minnows is the top choice for locals, he said but every single team entered Sunday has an equal chance to win. “It’s also a lake where the fish won’t be in a spot and an hour later the wind will shift and they’ll be all over it. I’ve seen plenty of those days.
The only variable may be the variable winds forecast for the weekend: a big blow Friday, calm Saturday and up to 17 mph Sunday. “That typically means half the field will struggle with the wind and the other half will find fish. Expect a lot of quality fish. Some of the biggest fish of the tournaments here are caught from 2 p.m. on. That’s not uncommon,” he said.
Drake Herd of Alexandria, MN, agrees. “There are a lot of walleye in there from 14 to 20 inches and you can catch them doing whatever you want,” Herd said. That means, riggers with crawlers or redtails, leech swimmers, and those who love pulling cranks or spinners will all be in the running if they get on fish.
“I think everything will be in the main body of the lake. But it depends on the wind. If we’ve got it they’ll creep up into 7 or 8 feet of water, but if there’s no wind they’ll go down to 14, 15, 16 feet. But if the wind picks up, they’ll head onto those flats and really get aggressive,” Herd predicts.
To end with a card boasting a 23 to 25-inch average may be tough, he said. “But I honestly feel that if you get 24 or 25 pounds, you’re going to be in the top five, and even if you’re in the upper teens you’re going to cash a check. That’s how this lake is right now. This tournament is really open to anyone, from the local guys to the out-of-towners. It’s just a matter of getting on the right ones. And we’ll see who can.”
Team rules meeting takes place Saturday at The Cactus Bar in Perham, MN. Boats leave Sunday from The Corner Store Beach in Battle Lake. This is the final qualifier before the Minnesota Championship Aug. 26-27 on Lake of the Woods.
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.