Presented by Yamaha Motor Corp USA and Warrior Boats Inc.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 2, 2024
Contact: Denny Fox, 920-505-0122
Anglers Insight Marketing LLC (AIM™)
With Mississippi At Summer Levels And Temps, Live Bait May Be The Juice At AWWS Rivers Division Open Friday
What a weekend to be a River Rat. Friday kicks off the three-day AWWS Walleyepalooza, with the last AIM Weekend Walleye Series Rivers Division Open Qualifier at Hastings, MN. We could see the winning team trailer their boat about 24 miles south of there to immediately get ready for the Rivers Division Championship Saturday and Sunday from Hager City, WI.
One decision to make is, do you have willow cats aboard which limits where you can go for the qualifier, or do you have other ways to get to the podium, so you can load up and head to Hager?
“That, Fan Nation, is one of the questions our teams will have to answer as they suit up first for Friday,” said Denny Fox, AIM national tournament director. “Any team aiming for a berth in the Rivers Division Championship Saturday and Sunday must compete in three out of the four division qualifiers. We had two events in April and May, then flood water left teams high and dry and postponed one of our qualifier tournaments to just 10 days ago. That’s why we’re doubling up this weekend to give everyone a chance at the Championship.
“Doing that will give teams a shot at the 2025 Warrior Boats National Championship Shootout, a shot at winning either or both the qualifier and division championship, and another shot at qualifying for the Shootout through the Yamaha Motor Corp. USA Team Of The Year points. We’re going to have AIM teams up and down the river between Hastings and Wabasha either competing or practicing this weekend, so let’s get this party started.”
One of those teams is captained by Destry Foyte of Hastings, with partner Patrick Brookshaw of Hager City aboard Foyte’s 208 Warrior 208 DC, a Mercury 300 Pro XS on the tail and Garmin Livescope on the dash— and yup, they’re also signed up for Warrior Cash and Garmin Rewards incentive programs.
Foyte has lived in Hastings for about five years and started pre-fishing Pool 2 near St. Paul Monday. He was reached as he pulled into the Hastings launch. He’ll pre-fishing through Saturday. And they’re into fish.
“We found fish. They were nice, but they are not the right fish. And it looks like for us it’s going to be live a bait bite,” Foyte said. Problem is, which live bait?
“It depends on whether we end up fishing in Minnesota. The river is considered inland water and willow cats bought in Wisconsin, the only place I’ve been able to find them, have to stay in Wisconsin. Pat lives in Wisconsin, and the cats can stay with hm, but the creek chubs I’m catching are from Minnesota, so I can have them here. I can’t cross into Wisconsin by land but if I put the boat in on the Minnesota side, I’m good,” he said. “The willow cats he has we can’t bring into Hastings or Pool 2 because they were caught in Wisconsin.” Got all that? Challenging, you might agree.
“We’re working our way down on the wing dams from Pool 2 and I’m going to go from Hastings to Wabasha, and from what I’m hearing the lake (that’s Lake Pepin, a wide, long, part of the Mississippi) is going to be just traveled through, and it’s going to be either the water above Pepin, or below,” Foyte said, where you’ll find them Friday. Water temperatures also come into play. The summer’s hanging on here and therefore comes another decision: do you switch to plastics for a fall bite, or stick with the live stuff as summer continues, at least until mid-week, when the weather may start changing.
“The cooler weather is coming but I don’t think it’s going to be in time to make a change. The bait choice is between creek chubs and willow cats, and it’ll depend on which pools we’re in. It looks like Hastings right now. It’s got everybody trying to figure out what they’re doing. We’ll also have some crawlers in the boat, but they haven’t been as consistent as ‘cats or creek chubs. I prefer plastic like Moxis, Paddletails and Ringworms, but it doesn’t look like they’ll be going on them yet,” he said. Adding to all that is the river current and level. Both are slow and low.
“I didn’t think the water would be as low this year, but I think it may be a hair lower this fall than last year. We could use some changes in both,” he said.
Greg Rudisill of Woodbury, MN agrees. He and Dough Chapman of Hills, MN, will be in a Yamaha 250-powered boat with a plethora of electronics including Garmin. He’s planning to stay in Minnesota water. He’s into fish and maybe the right fish, and he also agrees that despite what the calendar says, it’s still summertime on the river, and the walleye are biting.
This qualifier will be his only Rivers Division event this year, so you won’t find him at the Division Championship, but Rudisill is on fish, and may be one to watch Friday.
“I’m not leaving the Hastings area, so bait is not an issue. I’m a Pool 2 guy. That’s my home water for the last 30 years and I’m just down the road. I fish it at least three days a week in spring, summer and fall. The bite’s been pretty solid all summer even after the flood waters receded,” Rudisill said.
“We still seem to be in our summer patterns. The water temperature is still 70. The only thing that’s changed is the flow. It hasn’t rained in over a month so we’re down to minimum levels. It’s sitting at 18 feet lower than in June. It also seems like the bait fish population is down so the fishing’s been pretty good.
“It seems to be loaded with 19- to 22-inch-plus fish, with some pretty consistent kicker fish. So if you put bait in front of them they’re going to eat it. They’re pretty aggressive and have been just slamming baits all year,” he said. Another positive is that this qualifier will be on a Friday, meaning a lot less river traffic that will allow teams to hit more spots.
“I’m guessing we aren’t going to see the weights we see in a spring tournament, but if a team can rustle up the high 20s to low 30-pound bag, you’re going to be right where they need to be. I throw mostly cranks, jigs and plastics. I will have some minnows, but I haven’t had to run bait all summer. A finesse bite isn’t really required. It looks like the weather will be a little cooler by the end of the week. They’re going to hit most anything you throw at them,” he said.
Okay, here are the specs for Friday’s qualifier. A separate preview of the championship is coming later this week. Teams will have both Pools 2 and 3, and the St. Croix River near Hastings to play in for this one. The online team rules and registration is at 7 p.m. Thursday. Boat inspections take place starting at 5:30 a.m. Friday at Jaycee Park near Lake Rebecca in Hastings.
Boats will be released starting at 7 a.m., and must return to the launch starting at 3 p.m. The awards will take place at the park. Good luck, all teams!
Okay, Fan Nation, next up, is the Division Championship Just go to aimfishing.com to sign up for the 2025 season, and follow the fun at both events at AIM’s Facebook page.
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.
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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