AIM 2010 Pro Walleye Series Payout Press Release

[Jim Carroll]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

AIM™ Announces “Angler-Friendly” Increased Payouts for the 2010 AIM Pro Walleye Series™.

Plymouth, WI – November 17, 2009 - Anglers Insight Marketing LLC™ (AIM) announces a revised payout schedule to make its tournaments even more lucrative for Pro Angler competitors.

The current economic downturn has had a sobering effect on much of the marine industry. Similarly, Pro Angler tournament competitors have been forced to more closely watch their expenses in relation to the potential event payouts.

In light of these economic realities, AIM and its Board of Directors has accepted the input of the AIM Owners/Members in revising the payout schedule for the 2010 AIM Pro Walleye Series™ to accomplish three main objectives:

1. Guarantee a first place prize of not less than $30,000 for each tournament.
2. Guarantee that the lowest place paid will be not less than $3,000 for each tournament.
3. Continue to guarantee a minimum 100% payback of entry fees.

Scott Matheson, AIM President and CEO reported, “Both the Board and our owners felt that it was crucial to provide the highest possible return on investment for the 2010 AIM Pro Walleye Series™. The first place winner will receive $30,000, at the same time we have increased the payouts at every position in the remainder of the field. In fact, the lowest payout will be $3,000 – which is double the entry fee to insure that both the Pro’s entry and other key expenses are covered when the Pro finishes in the money.”

The payout amounts are variable depending on the number of entries per event. Examples of the payouts for several entry levels are displayed below: (SEE PDF ATTACHMENT)

Scott Matheson continued, “Our Owner and Members provided invaluable input to compile these payout schedules. The goal of AIM continues to be to raise the bar when it comes to walleye tournament formats. The AIM Catch-Record-Release™ system continues to revolutionize walleye tournaments across North America. We are proud to announce that the AIM Pro Walleye Series™ will also be one of the most profitable tournament venues.”

Further information about AIM as well as up-to-the-minute updates about tournaments can be found at the AIM web site: www.aimfishing.com.

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.

# # #


Anglers Insight Marketing, LLC
PO Box 110
Plymouth, WI 53073
Office: 920-526-3399 501-984-0953 cell
Scott Matheson, President and CEO Randy Reek, Operations Director
smatheson@aimfishing.com rreek@aimfishing.com

[Questions]

What are the payouts for less than 50 entries? The pdf shows it starting at 75 entries??? Is Lund still a sponsor and is there a boat offered for first place at the championship again? Will AIM payout 30K for first if there is less than 75 entries? Also how many spots will it pay down at say 50 entries or less? Thanks

[TJN]

This payout is not much diffrent from the FLW payout. I guess the 100,000 payday for a tournament event is now gone.
TJ

[Juls]

Thanks for the info Jim. What sites are they going to? I'm guessing it's the same as last year...yes?

Juls

[guest]

Are you kidding me, TFN?
Would you rather fish for $30,000 against 75 guys or $25,000 against 150? Do you understand odds?
Would you rather "earn" $1,000 for 30th place or $3,000? Do you understand return on investment?
Would you rather fish in a tournament that pays back 73% of entries or more than 100%? Do you understand the importance of the purse being returned to the entrants.
Loks to me like AIM has listened to the Pros and maximized the payouts, while the FLW has made drastic cuts to insure that their "series" survives - to the detriment of the Pros.

[Both]

Both the FLW and AIM are like two-engine prop bombers with both engines shot out. They are both on a death drop trying to glide to safety.

The only difference now is if one can draw anglers with cheaper entry fees and if one can lure more than 50 anglers ever at one of their events with the prospect of double the entry fee compared to the other.

Neither is attractive to new sponsors and neither offers a tv show to promote their respective "circuits" to anyone new to grow the sport. Only the small group of folks tuning in to the tournaments online will give a darn.

Stick with team events, split the costs with a partner and you will prosper more than chasing this bad money that the two "pro" circuits now offer.

[stpper]

I like the adjustmets AIM has made on their payouts - spreads the wealth and allows more people to cover their expenses.

Withthatsaid, I am holding comments about payback comparing AIM and FLW until I understand the whole picture. FLW has still not released the contingency payouts ( if there will be any) and I still do not understand if they are paying down 50 spots or 30 spots. The press release says 50, the schedule shows 30. With contingencys, a 750 fee vs 1500 ( actually 1750 if you not an AIM owner or life time member) the FLW return might be in the end the better return. Time will tell.

[GJPoygan]

I would agree that there are some ongoing variables in determining what series favors a potentially better ROI. This is especially true depending on whether a person is fishing as a pro or co-boater, or in the case of AIM an owner.

I assume the 100% payback with AIM is partially due to no cash payouts to co-boaters and the co entry money is used to supplement the pro side.

Most Tournament series offers a "free" year end championship to the top qualifiers. Not really sure how the revenue is generated for those events, especially if the series has a 100% payback? Great sponsors??

Everyone will have to review their specific situation and determine what best fits their schedule and finances.

Enjoy the season, it's just around the corner...
Good luck to all.
:happy:

[Guest to guest]

Are you kidding me, TFN?
Would you rather fish for $30,000 against 75 guys or $25,000 against 150? Do you understand odds?
Would you rather "earn" $1,000 for 30th place or $3,000? Do you understand return on investment?
Would you rather fish in a tournament that pays back 73% of entries or more than 100%? Do you understand the importance of the purse being returned to the entrants.
Loks to me like AIM has listened to the Pros and maximized the payouts, while the FLW has made drastic cuts to insure that their "series" survives - to the detriment of the Pros.

First off all AIM never seen 75 boats, let alone 150, and the cost is 1750 vs 750 this year, not to metion 250 bux of that 1750 is a membership fee (you must get a heck of a magazine for that) o0o thats right if your a member you don't hafta pay the 250, Instead you paid 4000 bux to be an owner..(what do you really own anyways) besides the flw will be coming out with contingency money soon and then we will see where eveybodys at..o0o you don't fish out of a Ranger,,sorry to hear that.

[Juls]

What are the payouts for less than 50 entries? Will AIM payout 30K for first if there is less than 75 entries? Also how many spots will it pay down at say 50 entries?

What I've been able to find out is that they will pay back 20% of the field, so even with my less than stellar math skills, I can figure at 50 entries it's going to pay back 10 spots with first place guaranteed 30K and 10th place guaranteed 3K. That's what? A One in five chance of cashing a check that at a minimum will pay your expenses for that event? Or, is that a one in four chance? See? I hate math. LOL

I don't think they have to worry about having less than a 50 boat field in my opinion. They were close to that number last year, and I'm sure they will be picking up a few more this year.

Now, we just need to see a schedule. I'm guessing they will be going to the same locations as last year, since they are tied into festivals, and the festivals are the same time every year. Just a guess.

Juls