Presented by Yamaha Motor Corp USA and Warrior Boats Inc.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Aug. 24, 2023
Contact: Denny Fox, 920-505-0122
Anglers Insight Marketing LLC (AIM™)
Will AWWS Wisconsin Championship Be The One To Break
The 112-Pound Record? That Will Be Question At Oconto
Forward-facing sonar again may be the key to winning during the AIM Weekend Walleye Series Garmin/Navionics Wisconsin State Championship on the Bay of Green Bay, with teams predicting that it will take at least 100-plus pounds, and maybe a new AIM record, to take it all over this two-day trial of skill and luck Friday and Saturday, Aug. 25-26.
“Fan Nation, there are some mighty big white-tipped fins waiting out there on the bay for our teams, and the AIM two-day record of 112 pounds and change may just be within range,” said Denny Fox, AIM national tournament director. “These Green Bay giants all around Oconto have been on the feedbag all summer, and it’s time we show them a thing or two, things like casted glide baits and trolled live bait. Teams, go get’em.”
All three teams we contacted to preview what’s to come starting Friday are predicting it will take at least 50 pounds a day to do it, and maybe even more to stand on the podium on Saturday afternoon.
One is that of Trent Papesh of Little Chute, who will be on the bay with his father Scott, of Appleton. Has he found some big green monsters? Let’s just say that by Tuesday, he was done pre-fishing for the week. He’s sending a message to all the other teams. He’s on’em, and he’ll be running to them in his 150-Yamaha-powered boat with Garmin in the onboard electronics.
“I’ve fished the area a lot,” Trent said. “I’m expecting 50-plus pounds both days to win it.” Papesh is expecting a mix of techniques will be in the arsenal of entrants.
“It depends on the wind and how effective you can be with Panoptix,” he said. He also predicts many will be making the run north, perhaps even as far as Michigan water, where those potential championship-wining bay walleyes vacation for the summer.
Current weather predictions are for a chance of afternoon showers and winds from 5 to 9 mph, and sunny conditions Saturday. His weather says about the same, and a bit more wind possible Saturday.
Papesh said they’re currently sitting in 20th place for TOY, actually in a good position to move up into contention for an AIM National Championship Shootout berth with two good days. And when asked how pre-fishing’s going, he sounded like it’s going well.
“My pre-fishing is pretty much done for the week,” he said, probably “wowifying” the field. “We’ve just got to run to our spots. I think if the wind holds, we can do it,” he said. I know there is a lot of good teams here. We’ve just got to be consistent.”
Mark Maas of Appleton and Gregory Stein from Neenah will be tracking fish in a Mercury 250 Pro XS-powered boat with all Garmin board. He was out on the bay checking for fish Tuesday.
“I fish Oconto a decent amount early in the year, but I typically find myself in northern Wisconsin or Michigan water now,” Maas said. Will he be there come Friday in his third full AIM season?
“More than likely we’ll be going north. Anywhere from 30 to 50 miles, and if we play it right, my boat will get me there and back” on less than a tankful, he said.
“We’re getting a few fish here and there. I think LiveScope is going to be utilized pretty heavily, and we’ll be using it fairly heavily ourselves,” Maas said. But, he’ll also be rigged for trolling if that’s the way to go.
“We’re not opposed to trolling either. Whatever we feel is going to be the best, we’ll cast or troll, it doesn’t make a difference to us. I think that you can get on fish, but getting on the right pods of fish will be the key. It’s going to take over 100 pounds for both days, at least 50 pounds a day, and it can absolutely produce it,” he said. And, they could come on casting blade baits, trolling cranks or pulling spinners, he said.
Scott Hausauer of Algoma agreed. He’ll be out with Joe Mans from Peshtigo with Mercury 300 Pro XS power, and Garmin as the electronics aboard.
“If you’re casting, LiveScope is an absolute deal-maker. If it ends up being a casting game, without a forward-facing sonar of some sort, forget it,” Hausauer said.
“But you’re going to be able to catch them casting or trolling. The bay’s a pretty diverse fishery. Everybody wants to cast. It’s the cool new way of doing things, but trolling has won more tournaments on Green Bay than anything. So, if we get big winds you’re probably going to have to troll because you’re not going to be able to target fish. If it’s calm water where you can spot lock and chase the fish around it will probably be won casting,” he said.
“The fish are very spooky right now. If you mark them in a spot and come back through, they’re gone. They’re constantly moving and following bait. They’re now in their summer spots, but they’re moving. I fished a tournament last Sunday and in two passes on a trolling bite and they were gone, nowhere to be found,” he advised.
“So, you’ll be getting them on anything from casting Shiver Minnows and Slow Death jigs. You’re going to have to keep rolling through your box. Trolling-wise, it’s getting into the dog days and it will probably be a spinner bite,” Hausauer said. And he’s also calling for at least two 50-pound days to win.
“If I had to guess it’s going to take 50 a day to win. To get into check cashing range, you’re going to be surprised it’s not going to take what people may think. About 35 pounds a day will put you on a check,” he said.
While Hausauer had a few questions about how some tournaments judge their fish, he’s a fan of Catch-Record-ReleaseÔ because of fish survival.
“It’s cool because we can go through as many fish as we want, and you don’t have to take care of them in a live well. We’ll see what happens,” he said.
We will indeed as the fleet gathers in Oconto. Boats will launch from the city’s Breakwater Park both days starting at 7 a.m., and must check in, regardless of how far they run, starting at 3 p.m. each day. First-day standings will be posted Friday afternoon, and the tournament will end with the awards ceremony beginning at 5 p.m. on Saturday at the park. The Yamaha Motor Corp. USA Wisconsin Team Of The Year also will be awarded a new T9.9 Yamaha kicker with power trim and electric start Saturday, plus the top five teams in both TOY and the championship will be awarded a guaranteed spot at the 2024 AIM National Championship Shootout. Good luck, all teams!
After this weekend, AIM takes its Labor Day holiday break, and we get right back at it come Sept. 8-9 for the Yamaha Motor Corp. USA North Dakota State Championship and TOY award on Lake Sakakawea at Beulah.
Then, the AIM Rivers Division takes the stage, starting with the Mississippi qualifier at Clinton, IA Sept. 10.
We end the AIM 2023 season, first Oct. 1 in Dubuque, IA, for the last division qualifier, followed by that division’s championship Oct. 21-22 on the river at Prairie du Chien, WI, resulting in 40 boats, not 30, at the 2024 AIM National Championship Shootout. We’ll have updates prior to each of those events coming up. Stay tuned.
Want to join in? Register for those Rivers Division qualifiers, and early next year, 2024’s event registration will open. Learn how 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.
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 inc.
AIM Supporting Sponsors: Mercury Marine, Garmin, Navionics, Power Pole, Worldwide Marine Insurance, Off Shore Tackle, Gemini Sport Marketing, Moonshine Lures Shiver Minnow, JT Outdoors Products, McQuoids Inn, Rosemore Outdoor Gear, Outdoor Authority fish house rentals, Island Bar and Grill, Bait Box on the Rock, Oconto County WI, Odyssey Battery.