Presented by Yamaha Motor Corp USA and Warrior Boats LLC.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 22, 2016
Contact: Denny Fox, 920-505-0122
Anglers Insight Marketing LLC (AIM™)
Winning in Winneconne: Everything’s in play
for Sunday’s AIM Nitro Boats Open
With both Winnebago and Wolf River systems holding thousands of spawning and post-spawn fish, it looks like Sunday’s AIM Weekend Walleye Series Nitro Boats Open in Wisconsin will be anyone’s to win, and it could be won anywhere to boot.
That’s the word from two captains who will push off from the bridge at Winneconne with the rest of the field on Sunday morning to try for some cash and earn a championship berth later this year.
Angler Brandon McPeak says there are plenty of walleyes spread throughout the system, including Winnebago itself, so it’s a wide-open boat party that awaits the large field.
“Right now, many walleyes are still upriver but as of the end of last week I’d say 30 to 50 percent had spawned, and I’m guessing with the warmer weather recently, they’re nearly all spawned out,” McPeak said, “so, they just haven’t made their way back down yet.” But, he added, the river holds a lot of food, which is keeping a lot of active fish there.
“Right now there’s a lot of fish being caught all over, including in the Fox towards Oshkosh, in the Wolf, and by Winneconne. It’ll all depend on what guys will get the big fish to hit, and who will find the big pods of fish. I think a lot of boats will make the run up the Wolf, and a lot will run towards Winnebago. It’ll be 50-50 for jigging spawned females in the river and for guys trolling,” he said.
Those who head for the Wolf, he said, will face the gamble of moving fish. “You can find fish one day, and the next, have to find them again. It’s tougher to stay on a bite in a river, but there’s probably a lot more fish there.”
Predictions are the weather will cool from last weekend’s 80s, but, he says, with water temperatures a walleye-friendly near-60, any change probably won’t loom large in his planning. Even if air temps fall, it won’t be as big of a factor as at last year’s AIM contest, when temps barely made it into the 40s, and the water was almost as cold.
“With the water temperatures much warmer and the air too, it should play out to be a really good bite,” he said.
Also looking forward to a great tournament is Josh Blosser, who began pre-fishing on Wednesday. He, too, is predicting a spread-out field Sunday.
“With the inconsistent weather we’ve had there’s still going to be fish in the upper lakes, so it’s probably going to be won on one of those,” Blosser said. “I’ve heard reports that there are still big fish in the river. So it’s going to be an event that you can fish where you feel confident. River guys will figure out the river, and lake guys will figure out the bite there and get it done.”
Of course, he added, none of that may hold true come Sunday, since it’s spring, and the Wisconsin weather can change literally overnight. “With AIM’s Catch-Record-Release™ format though I think you’ll need to card five 20-inch-plus fish to have a shot. And, depending on how the bite is, I’d maybe even move that number up,” he said.
Team rules meeting will take place Saturday at Woodeyes/Critters Bar and Grill in Winneconne, which is also site of Sunday’s awards ceremony. On Sunday, boats will leave starting at 7 a.m. from the Winneconne Bridge, with the first flight due back at 3 p.m.
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.