Winnebago Walleye Factory Awaits
Jul 11th, 2014 by OutdoorsFIRST
Modified Jul 11th, 2014 at 12:00 AM
With unstable weather cooling off the mud bite, and a weed bite that is running behind schedule, anglers fishing the AIM Weekend Walleye Series (AWWS) Alumacraft Open on Lake Winnebago will be digging into their bag of tricks to find the bigger fish this Sunday. Mud, weeds, rocks, and current areas might all be a factor and anglers will be looking at everything the Lake Winnebago system has to offer.
“The system is jammed full of fish and the C-R-R (Catch-Record-Release) format will work out really well at this tournament because you might be upgrading all day long,” commented tournament fisherman Steve Wagner. “We will be trying to find a good few spots in prefish and looking in lots of different areas. My Yamaha powered Warrior is made for big water and if we have to, we can make a long run to get on good fish.”
Yamaha pro Joe Okada will have limited time to prefish for this event, so he is doing a lot of homework to maximize his time on the water. Having just downloaded the Freshest Data on his Navionics chip, he is looking for new structure to fish while refreshing his memory on the lake. “The cool thing about tournaments on Lake Winnebago is that it is usually hard to put together a pattern two days in a row. But I can run around with confidence knowing that my 300hp Yamaha is getting great gas mileage and I’ll make it back to the weigh-in no matter where I go. You only have to be a hero one day, so you just have to swing for it and whatever happens, happens.”
Lake Winnebago is the largest inland lake in Wisconsin and boasts a very healthy walleye population. Talk around the dock is that it will take an estimated four pound average to win, with the tournament field set and full at 100 boats and some of the hottest local sticks fishing the event.
Tournament registration will begin at 5:00pm on Saturday, July 12th at The Reel Shot in Appleton, WI. The rules meeting will follow at 7:00pm.
Boats will take-off from Jefferson Park in Menasha on Sunday, July 13th at 7:00am and return at 3:00pm. The awards ceremony will follow at 5:00pm.
After Sunday’s event, the qualifying field will be set for the AWWS Wisconsin State Championship which will be held September 6-7 on the Bay of Green Bay. The 2014 AWWS Wisconsin State Champs will be awarded a brand new Alumacraft 165 Escape Tiller powered by a Yamaha motor.
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. AIM is committed to marketing excellence on behalf of its tournament competitors, the tournament host communities, and the brands that partner with it. AIM is also committed to maintaining healthy fisheries across the nation by the development of the exclusive AIM Catch-Record-Release™ format which is integral to its dynamic events and unparalleled consumer engagement. For more information about AIM™, AIM Pro Walleye Series™, AIM Weekend Walleye Series, AIM sponsors and AIM anglers, visit www.aimfishing.com.
AIM Marketing Partners: Yamaha Marine, Warrior Boats, Alumacraft Boats, Nitro Boats, Mercury Marine, Navionics, Amsoil, Power Pole, Worldwide Marine Insurance, Team Lodge, Gemini Sport Marketing, National Fleet Graphics, and The City of Oconto.