Long-time pro Mike Gofron of Antioch, Ill., won the AIM Pro Walleye Series International Championship on Lake Winnibigoshish in the Chippewa National Forest in Northern Minnesota. He beat 49 of the circuit's top pros to win a new Lund 2075 boat powered by a 300 HP Mercury Verado, a package valued at $65,000. Gofron's total inches for the event were 288.5, estimated to weigh 53.95 pounds.

 

Gofron bested the field by a sizable margin with his winning program on an event that was shortened by one day due to hazardous conditions. Gofron had a huge limit of 7 walleyes that weighed 36.09 pounds the first day but struggled on day two a little with a smaller limit of 7 walleyes weighing 17.86 pounds. At the start of day three the winds were blowing 25-35 with gusts over 40 mph. The AIM advisory council called the event on account of dangerous water conditions. That gave Gofron the victory.

 

"Actually I had all my gear in the boat, I had four shirts on, two sweatshirts, two pairs of rain pants so the water wouldn't bleed through, and I was a minute from getting into my boat when I heard it was called," Gofron said. "I was ready to go, but it was definitely the right call."

 

Gofron pulled spinners with No. 2 blades armed with crawlers and leeches, but used No. 5 Rapala Jointed Shad Raps over the tops of weeds to locate the fish. He also had some fish suspended outside the weeds 6 feet deep over 20 feet of water. He would locate the fish with the Shad Raps then go back over the small areas with spinners because it was easier to turn over the fish with crawler harnesses.

 

"Basically I found an area in the weeds, and I called it Dave Anderson's spot," Gofron said. Anderson passed away last year but Gofron and Anderson worked together in their fishing. "Last year Dave found some fish in this area. All week when talking with my parents, Mark Brumbaugh and Scott Duncan, I would say I was over in Dave's spot or Dave's weeds. I told Mark it would be cool to win this tournament in his area to honor him. And that's what happened, so that's really cool!"

 

Robert Blosser of Poynette, Wis. took second place with a total weight of 46.77 pounds and that gave him the Angler of the Year title for 2010.

 

"I'm stoked," said Blosser. "I'm excited! They give five wins away each year but only  one Angler of the Year, and that means everything to me. To be able to accomplish two of my goals in one season, winning my first major and winning angler of the year, is an incredible feeling."

 

Blosser never finished outside the top 10 this year. He notched an 8th-, 5th-, 2nd-, a win and a 2nd-place finish at the championship this season.

 

After spending six days prefishing using a trolling presentation, it was a live bait rig along steep breaklines in 14 to 35 feet of water that would prove most successful. Chubs were the ticket on day one but he switched to crawlers on day two. He won $10,000 for angler of the year and $6,500 for second place at the championship. For more details, coverage, photos and complete standings, visit aimfishing.com.

 

Top 10 from the Aim Fishing Championship:

 

1 Mike Gofron   288.5 inches, 53.95 pounds
2 Robert Blosser 281 inches, 46.78 pounds
3 Joe Okada, 268 inches, 43.53 pounds
4 Brett King, 273.5 inches, 42.82 pounds
5 Bruce Samson, 267.75 inches, 42.41 pounds
6 Nick Shertz, 268.25 inches, 41.06 pounds
7 Tommy Skarlis, 267.25 inches, 39.7 pounds
8 Kevin Audrain, 218 inches, 38.59 pounds
9 Chris Kindraka, 261.25 inches, 36.63 pounds
10 Scott Glorvigen, 257.25 inches, 34.37 pounds