Presented by Yamaha Motor Corp USA and Warrior Boats Inc.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 10, 2024
Contact: Denny Fox, 920-505-0122
Anglers Insight Marketing LLC (AIM™)
Wind, Cold, Then Wind, Warm, Then Weeds, A Lot Of’em: That’s The Outlook For AIM NoDak At Audubon Sunday
Attention, all AIM Weekend Walleye Series North Dakota teams who can’t wait to troll atop weeds or along weed edges to trigger a walleye ambush that will win the Warrior Boats Open Sunday (May 12), you’re gonna like what you read below. Attention, AIM teams who’d rather jig to pull their weight, you may not. But it is what it is:
Weed growth spurred by warmer spring temps have pushed to early summer levels may just determine who does well and who doesn’t when teams get wet on Lake Audubon.
“A lot of folks are talking about the lack of winter snow cover in North Dakota, and that’s contributed to an almost early summer weed pattern on Audubon,” said Denny Fox, AIM national tournament director. “At least one team we know of may have the answer for those who like to twitch, so it sure will be interesting to see what presentation does the job. This whole thing may depend on who’s quickest to adapt, adopt and overcome Audubon’s fish.”
Veteran walleye angler Tom Beaton of West Fargo, ND, reports that after an unusually warm spring, and now it’s been unusually—or usual for North Dakota, one of the windiest states there is—windy. Here, a lighter wind is 10-15 mph. That’s hampered his getting on the water.
“Make sure you bring your lead boots, or the wind will blow you away,” Beaton said, when forecasting 30 to 35 mph winds today (Friday). “I’ve been fishing twice in about 10 days. It’s been so doggone windy and it rains every other day, so maybe I’ll venture out this afternoon.”
And, about those early weeds. “We didn’t have a whole lot of snow cover and cold, and it didn’t kill the weeds off. We’re fishing weeds that are three and four feet tall already,” Beaton, who will be with Minot’s Brian Merkel, reported.
Now a little “edumacation” about the lake he’ll be fishing Sunday. It’s part of eastern Lake Sakakawea, and is mostly off-limits wildlife refuge. Only part is open to anglers. It’s raised and lowered each spring and fall as much as four feet. The pumps were turned on about three weeks ago. Because of the roller coaster temps, Beaton said, the water is only about 50 degrees. He said some of the fish are still pre-spawn.
“So, it’s all over the board. I’ve caught a few anywhere from real shallow to real deep, 25 to 28 feet, on a variety of baits, jigs, minnows, Lindy Rigs (Lindy just announced the switch to non-lead on all products within three years),” he said.
Asked to make a prediction, Beaton laughed. “If we have nice weather Saturday (weather report calls for highs in the 70s and winds 8 to 16, gusting to 21, and about the same on Game Day), I look for it to be ok, not spectacular like it can be on Audubon. I caught some nice fish last week and some small ones.” He’ll also be practicing using his new forward-facing sonar on his Yamaha 300-powered boat before Sunday.
Jarett Bauer will be on the water Sunday with Chad Talbott. Both are from Garrison, and they’ll be in a 150-Yamaha-powered boat with Garmin helping in the hunt, along with other electronics. He’s also reporting a lot of weeds when he was on the water at mid-week and doing more searching than fishing. It was his first time out there this year.
“The weed growth is unbelievable. It’s the early spring growth that’s just accelerated, all good, green, lively stuff,” Bauer said. “For the teams who like to fish weeds it’s going to help, figuring out how to pull cranks over them will have a little better plan than a jigger like me. I’m sitting on the edges now, looking at weeds about four feet tall now with my LiveScope.
“We’ve had a couple days of cool, rainy, windy weather that’s pushed everything back again. We’re post-spawn and hoping to see temperatures climb, and unfortunately with the weather that hasn’t happened,” he added.
“Sunday is supposed to be nice. I expect to see crank baits up shallow, tracing the weed edges,” he said, and he’s also expecting to see good weight Sunday.
“Right before ice-out some nice, big fish were being caught so I’m hoping for like 20 to 25 pounds. I’m excited about the upcoming weather, that’s for sure. Raising the lake will get fish on the lake’s eastern end, but we’re far enough past that, and fish are finding the weeds and turning to an early summer program,” he predicted. “There is a fine weed edge in that lake in the 10- to 14-foot range.”
Dylan Martell and Thomas Leintz are from Hazen, and they’ll be mounted in a 2090 Warrior back troller, with a 250 Merc Pro XS providing power, and Garmin in the electronics mix. Sounds like he’s found some good fish casting jigs. And he’s also found those weeds.
“That is for sure correct, they’re everywhere,” Martell said, and he’s not just talking fish. But then, he started talking fish.
“We’ve not found a ton of fish, but the ones we’ve found are definitely tournament-grade and we’re hoping that will continue,” he added.
“I would be extremely happy if we can get five of the ones we’ve been catching. I definitely haven’t seen anything grouped up. I experimented with casting cranks and caught a lot of bass and pike, so I put that one down pretty quickly” to move to casting jigs with artificials. He’s planning to stick with that.
“I relate to what my partner said. He dubbed us ‘Team No-Troll,’ so we’re going to try to abide by that all season. I rarely troll. When we were there last weekend a lot of fish were in the post-spawn funk stage. The warmer the weather the better. They should be pushing back up shallow again,” he said. He reports water about 50 degrees, but with temps consistently in the 70s through the weekend, that could kick-start a few fish to go on the hunt.
With those already high weeds, and higher temperatures, it could be a good day on the water Sunday for the team that figures out what high-riding cranks to use over the weeds work, or what jigs to cast on this always interesting water body.
After the online team rules meeting and registration Saturday evening, it all starts Sunday at the Totten Trail launch along U.S. 83 dividing Audubon from Lake Sakakawea, where all that pumped water comes from. Boats gather for inspections starting at 5:30 a.m. Boats will leave at 7 a.m. and must return to the dock by 3 p.m. The awards ceremony will take place at the launch site. Good luck, all teams!
Next up, we’re back in Minnesota and Wisconsin with a pre-Memorial Day and pre-AIM Warrior Boats National Championship Shootout double-header on next Sunday, May 19. The Wisconsin Division’s Garmin Open is at Petenwell Flowage and Minnesota’s Warrior Boats Open is at Big Stone Lake.
Then, it’s on to the big water of Lake Sakakawea, where that loaded Warrior V193 with Yamaha 200 power and Garmin electronics and troller worth $100,000 will be awarded, May 31-June 1 at the National Championship Shootout. Follow all the fun at AIM’s Facebook page. Go to aimfishing.com to join in.
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, Power Pole, Worldwide Marine Insurance, Off Shore Tackle, Gemini Sport Marketing, JT Outdoors Products, McQuoids Inn, Rosemore Outdoor Gear, Outdoor Authority fish house rentals, Adventure Recreational Finance, Oconto County WI., Forever Barnwood