ESPN Freshwater

When veteran professional fisherman Keith Kavajecz and other walleye pros back their boats into the waters of Saginaw Bay of Lake Huron on May 22, it will be to compete for the first time in the new Anglers Insight Marketing (AIM) Pro Walleye Series.

The tourney concept and format are so unique compared to other walleye tournament events, however, that it will be interesting to see how both anglers and fans respond — or if they do at all.

One of the major differences between AIM and other pro walleye tournament circuits is that it is owned and operated by the anglers themselves.

"Seventy-seven of us [walleye pros] started our own company, AIM," said Kavajecz of Kaukauna, Wis. "We hope to pick up where the PWT left off."

Kavajecz was referring to the now defunct In-Fisherman Professional Walleye Trail (PWT). Holding its first tournament in 1989, the PWT was the oldest and longest running pro-am format walleye tournament circuit until holding its final tournament last fall.

The PWT's first champion was Mark Martin, a full-time professional walleye angler still on the tournament trail today. He is also one of AIM's 77 new owners and sits on the board of directors.

"The field for each of four tournaments this first year will be limited to 100 boats and entry preference will be given to the 77 AIM owners, then its life members," said Martin of Twin Lake, Mich. "But not all the owners or life members are expected to fish every tournament, so that leaves quite a few slots open for other pro anglers, as well."

The entry fee for individual AIM tournaments has been set at $1,500, in the ballpark with other high-profile pro walleye tournament circuits. But that figure is for AIM owners or life members only. Other pro anglers will have to ante up an additional $250 per tournament. Owners paid $5,000 for shares of the company and voting privileges in AIM. Life memberships have been set at $4,000, with no voting privileges.

Amateur co-anglers pay an entry fee of $250 per tournament for a guaranteed two days of fishing with a pro. In addition, they have a 50 percent chance of fishing the third and final tournament day — based on a random drawing — when the pro field is cut to 50.

If a full field of 100 boats enters a tournament, a cool $50,000 is guaranteed to the pro winner. Additional payouts are being finalized based on contracts with AIM corporate marketing partners and will be disclosed prior to each event.

Another difference between AIM and other tournament circuits — walleyes as well as other finny species, such as bass and redfish — will be a new catch-record-release format. Upon catching a fish, anglers will measure it, snap a digital photo of the fish while it's on the official measuring board, then immediately return the fish to the water with the hopes of preventing any fish loss.

"The AIM Catch-Record-Release" (CRR) format has two huge advantages for the sport of competitive angling," said Scott Matheson, AIM's president and CEO. "First, AIM tournaments are scheduled at the best times of the year for catching the most fish for each tournament site.

"Secondly, AIM tournaments will reward the anglers who catch the biggest fish, not the anglers who were fortunate enough to catch fish in a certain order, dictated by local slot limits and possession rules."

To determine an AIM tournament winner, the length of an angler's five to seven longest walleyes caught each day (the specific number varies by tournament venue) will be converted to pounds and ounces using a standardized formula.

"The CRR format puts a positive spin on professional fishing and has allowed AIM to schedule tournaments in communities that have received negative public feedback following tournament events in the past," said Matheson.

He also said that BASS and other tournament circuits will be watching the CRR process very closely.

But whether walleye fans will accept weigh-ins without actual fish is yet to be seen. The planned procedure is that instead of walleye pros hoisting fish from their boats' livewells as they're towed to the weigh-in, they will instead stand on stage in front of photos of their catch projected onto large video screens. The question, however, is if walleye fans will find this fishless format worth attending.

On the third and final day of AIM tournaments, Web technology will allow viewers worldwide to follow the top 10 anglers "nearly live" through the AIM Web site, www.aimfishing.com. Leading anglers will be featured in head-to-head, minute-by-minute competition, culminating in the final day's weigh-in.

AIM is also trying to attract new fans to professional walleye fishing by scheduling its tournaments to coincide with major local festivals. In fact, the first tournament of the year, to be held May 22-24, is scheduled around Bay Fest, a Memorial Day weekend celebration in Bay City, Mich.

A second AIM tournament, July 2-4 at Green Bay, Wis., will coincide with "Fire Over The Fox," a festival attracting as many as 100,000 people to one of the largest fireworks displays in the Midwest.

After two "Great Lakes" events, a third tournament, Aug. 13-15, on the Missouri River will coincide with the South Dakota Walleye Classic Festival. The first ever AIM International Walleye Championship, the final tournament of the inaugural season, will take place at Lake Winnibigoshish (Lake "Winnie") out of Bena, Minn., Sept. 2-4.

"Scheduling AIM events within major festivals will expose the sport of walleye fishing to an audience of literally hundreds of thousands of new people," said Scott Matheson. "The festival attendees will see tournament anglers, along with their impressive boats and tow vehicles — and sponsor affiliations — up close at the AIM weigh-ins."

The 77 AIM owners have their collective fingers crossed that this new concept in professional walleye fishing will be a win-win for fans, anglers and sponsors alike. But only time will tell.

"We couldn't be starting in worse economic times," admits Mark Martin, referring to America's current financial recession. "But we're hopeful."

W. H. "Chip" Gross (www.chipgross.com) is a professional outdoors writer/photographer and walleye enthusiast from Fredericktown, Ohio, and frequent contributor to ESPNoutdoors.com.