Okada and Okada Take the Win at Oconto
Category: article
Jul 22nd, 2012 by OutdoorsFIRST
Modified Jul 22nd, 2012 at 7:56 PM
Okada and Okada came from behind to take the AIM Pro Team Challenge Title on the Bay of Green Bay out of Oconto for their first major win. The father/son team had fished the MWC for several years, and were reunited at the AIM Pro team Challenge to take home a check for $23,000.00.
Team Okada CRR’d 132.52 pounds to beat a hard charging Blosser/Blosser team by almost 2 pounds. The final weight for today for the Okadas was 53.09, caught trolling custom painted cranks to avoid the perch and other smaller fish prevalent in the area they were fishing by using artificials instead of spinner rigs and crawlers. Most of the teams were fishing along the 23′ to 30′ contours.
Reports of the fish moving up and down in the water column were common as each day progressed, and success for many depended on realizing the fish had dropped down or came up and making the adjustment to keep the presentation above the fish. Big bladed spinner rigs were the most common presentation, but some successfully moved to crank baits and smaller bladed spinner rigs as the weather, skies, winds and resulting bite changed.
Blosser and Blosser bumped Team Kemos into third, finishing with 130.61. Tommy and Telly Kemos weighed in a virtual CRR weight of 124.48. Josh and Robert Blosser were fishing close to team mates Okada and Okada, and were well ahead of them early on according to reports from the stage. The Okadas ‘ground it out’ throughout the day, putting enough big fish in the net to force the Blossers out of the win. Team Blosser took home a check for $10,000.00 for the second place finish, and Team Kemos took home $7500.00
Fourth went to Dempsey and Goecks, fifth to Keller and Eaton, sixth to Leanna and Knowles, seventh to Cardenas and Mickish, eighth to Nicklash and Besaw, ninth to Schneider and Meisner, and Adler and Shoenwalder rounded out the top ten.
Watch the Team Okada winning interview.
See the oconto AIM Pro Challenge final standings at the AIM leaderboard here.
The AIM pro Challenge format was extremely well received, and reports are AIM may be considering the format for several events in 2013. One sentiment was unanimous; Oconto would be a preferred AIM Pro Team Challenge location again for next year..jpg)
Anglers Insight Marketing, LLC™ (AIM) is a unique tournament organization which is owned by stockholders, the majority of which are Professional walleye anglers. AIM Professionals are among the “All Stars” of professional fishing, with cumulative HUNDREDS of years of tournament experience, including countless tournament victories, series championships, and Angler of the Year titles. This insight and knowledge is now being employed to provide the finest tournament experience for the participants, and the maximum exposure for the host tournament sites and corporate partners.
AIM Marketing Partners:
Bay Mills Resort & Casinos, Lund Boat Company, Mercury Marine/Motor Guide, Yamaha Marine, Navionics, John Butts Outdoors, Oahe Wings & Walleyes, Luck E Strike Lures, Worldwide Marine Insurance, Pier of d’Nort, Come By Chance Resort, Gemini Custom Apparel, Reef Runner Lures, The Judge Tournament Ruler, Rite in the Rain Paper, G2 Angling, M419 Guide Service, Walleye Madness Guide Service, Allen’s Guide Service