Any Place, Any Time!
Category: press release
Jun 27th, 2009 by OutdoorsFIRST
Modified Jun 27th, 2009 at 12:00 AM
“Getting this circuit off the ground and running this year despite the business climate and economic situation means AIM is moving forward,” Minot, ND fishing pro Jim Carroll said. “AIM can go any place, any time under the Catch – Record – Release format, bringing the best possible competitive scenario to the public.”
Carroll feels that in 20 years when history is reviewed, and all tournaments are utilizing a similar format of immediate release, that AIM will be credited with the innovations, technology and investment that spawned a movement.
Personally, he feels that tremendous comebacks like pro Scott Fairbairn pulled off on a PWT Fort Peck event in 1998 to win from almost 40 places down going into the final day become real possibilities again. “Nobody will ever be out of any tournament,” he predicted. The format also removes the “luck element” of systems or states with slot limits where anglers were forced to concentrate primarily on smaller fish. “One big fish exceeding the slot limit put an angler in the top 10, and with only a few big-bites per day throughout the entire field, luck was definitely a factor,” Carroll said.
However, the automatic reaction to fish only for big fish might not always prove the winning strategy. With each pro eligible to record seven walleyes, two more than most major walleye tournaments, that doesn’t mean the big fish will bite. Or, that targeting these fish will produce results. Perhaps a big fish pattern may fall apart. “Under this format, seven nice, average walleyes could beat a contestant with only a couple big fish,” he said. Even though the format places an emphasis on big fish, he predicted extreme, “never-before-tried” techniques will be in play this season.
The technology being implemented will be a hit among fans, whether on site or on their computers. He felt the GPS tracking system (fans will be able to watch where the top 10 travel and fish on the final day) will be exciting and educational. “It can’t get any more immediate than this,” he said. He also said fans will appreciate the fast communication of what happens on the water. The sooner they know what produced for the pros, the better anglers they’ll become. “I want to share the types of areas I fished and the tactics that put fish in the boat, and I want to do that right away,” he said.
Carroll recently invested in a new HD-quality video camera so he can shoot action during AIM events, and have it uploaded onto the big screens at weigh-in. He will also edit the in-boat action into fast-paced, action video for websites like YouTube. “Under this umbrella, the sky’s the limit for anglers. The fans will really benefit,” he said.