Lund/Mercury Pro Mark Martin Leads Winneconne AIM.
Category: article
Apr 21st, 2011 by OutdoorsFIRST
Modified Apr 21st, 2011 at 7:04 PM
The first AIM event of 2011 was abbreviated by a day due to a snowstorm, cold weather, and winds, but day two dawned a classic April day in Winneconne, Wisconsin. The sun was shining, the temperatures were moderate…but the bite was tough.
The AIM field of 44 Pros took to the water unsure of the movement that occurred yesterday during the canceled day; the walleyes are post spawn for the most part and moving fast down the system.
The vast majority of the field did indeed have trouble locating active fish, as the AIM leader board results offer, but Lund/ Mercury Pro Mark Martin found them and CRR’d a total weight of 12.27, enough to hold a slim lead of less than a quarter pound over Pro Nate Curell. Mark told AIM reporters he was watching the ‘fish cams’ yesterday on his off day and noticed there were very few fish moving on the cameras, so he selected to stay down river, which in in his case was obviously a good move.
Mark has a couple adjustments to make tomorrow, and is reasonably confident his bite will hold.
Veteran Mercury Pro Dan Plautz is in third, just a little of a quarter pound back. Dan’s no stranger to this water, and will be one to watch tomorrow as the weather becomes more challenging and the bite again changes as a result. Perennial Top Ten Pro Mike Gofron is in fourth, just behind Plautz, local Pro Jimmy Hughes is in fifth, Ross Grothe in sixth, Chase Parsons in seventh, Tom Kemos in eighth, Gary Parsons in ninth, and Jesse Buechel rounds out the top ten.
The top six are all less than one pound out, and if the bite changes up, it’s anybody’s win to take. Weather tomorrow is calling for rain, wind, and colder temps, which is exactly what the pros have been pre-fishing in for over a week. None were willing to commit that the bite will be better or worse, and all felt it’s finding the fish that will be the key on the Winneconne AIM final day.
Watch the AIM website tomorrow morning for interviews, images, and the story of the morning as the Pros take to the water. The final weigh in will begin at about 5 PM at Critter’s in WInneconne, and will be webcast live on the AIM website.
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 piers, G2 Angling, Come By Chance Resort, Reef Runner Lures, The Judge Tournament Ruler, Rite in the Rain Paper, Gemini Sports Marketing, True North Companies, Bigtime Bowfishing, Matthew 419 Guide Service.