Kemos Wins Winneconne
Category: article
Apr 22nd, 2011 by OutdoorsFIRST
Modified Apr 22nd, 2011 at 7:52 PM
On day two Tommy Kemos said he wanted this win, and wanted it really badly. His history here is steeped in success; Tommy cut some of his early tournament angling teeth on the Wolf and Winnebago System with successes in both Mercury Marine National Walleye Tournament and In Fisherman Professional Walleye Trail events.
His win today was special because of that past, and because of the field of competitors. Tommy weighed in 18.38 pounds on the final day, blowing the rest of the field away with the heaviest weight of the event; enough to have taken sixth with his second day weight alone.
Mr. Kemos started up in the river yesterday, but moved with the fish and put his two day total of CRR’d ‘eyes pitching and casting jigs and live bait. He gave quite a bit of credit to his new St Croix stick, claiming the sensitivity was so good he could feel the fish when it ‘breathed on the jig’!. The first place check was $30,000.00, and the entire Kemos family was present at Critters in Winneconne at the final day weigh in to enjoy and celebrate the win.
Mark Martin, day two leader, held his own and CRR’d a very respectable 10.35 to total 22.62 for the event, about 3 and a half pounds back of Kemo’s 25.98. Mark caught his fish locally, just a few hundred feet from the launch using jigs set up with rattles, and live bait sprayed with Berkley gulp spray. Mark took home $6400.00 for the second palce finish.
Third and $5066.00 went to Ross Grothe, fishing his first AIM event. Fourth went to perennial top ten placing Mike Gofron. Fifth went to Chase Parsons.
Sixth went to Dan Plautz, seventh to Gary Parsons, eighth to Brandon Carpenter, ninth to Jim Hughes, and rounding out the top ten was today’s MC, Tommy Skarlis. See the rest of the field’s finishes at the AIM leaderboard.
Up next is Bay Mills, and invitational that promises to pay out the largest AIM purse this season.
The JJ Keller Foundation, represented by James Keller of the JJ Keller ‘The Reel Shot’ Fishing team, stepped up and returned $2500.00 to the community in the form of a check to the local Kiwani’s Club. AIM is the only Pro Walleye Event to promote the area and professional angling locally by offering a significant return to the community.
Up next is Bay Mills, and invitational that promises to pay out the largest AIM purse this season.
Bay Mills Resort & Casino, Lund Boat Company, Mercury Marine/MotorGuide, Yamaha Marine, Crestliner Boats, JJ Keller Fishing Team, The Reel Shot, Navionics, Oahe Wings & Walleyes, Luck E Strike Lures, Worldwide Marine Insurance, Hatcams, Pier of d’Nort