Ike Bags 20 lbs, Day 2 Lead

Settling into one of his customary grooves, Mike Iaconelli of Runnemede, N.J., surged into the Day 2 lead at the Champion’s Choice presented by Ramada Worldwide on Oneida Lake, boating a limit weighing 20 pounds, 1 ounce Friday to build his two-day total 32 pounds, 12 ounces, enough to fend off a hard-charging Dean Rojas of Lake Havasu City, Ariz., by just 5 ounces.

Iaconelli, the 2003 Bassmaster Classic champion, has had a disappointing season by his lofty standards. Heading into Oneida Lake, he was 18th in the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings, but the 36-year-old “hit a groove” through the last few events, finishing seventh at an Elite event on Old Hickory Lake and fifth on Lake Erie last weekend. 

Fishing fans can watch the on-the-water action from the Aug. 7-10 Champion’s Choice on The Bassmasters, which airs Saturday, Aug. 16, at 9 a.m. ET on ESPN2. Additionally, fans can check in at http://www.Bassmaster.com for live, streaming video of the weigh-ins, real-time leaderboards, analysis, photo galleries and more throughout the four-day event.

In other news, Kevin VanDam scored his fourth Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year trophy Friday, barely making the top-50 cut for Saturday. VanDam held off a consistent Todd Faircloth of Jasper, Texas, to earn the prestigious award and the $250,000 top prize. Furthermore, with the prize money, VanDam made history in becoming the first pro to cross the $3 million threshold in career BASS earnings.

A former AOY winner himself, Iaconelli had a magical day, his five-fish limit counting as the Berkley Heavyweight Bag of the tournament.

“I didn’t think it was possible to catch that much weight on Oneida,” Iaconelli said. “It was just an amazing day. I couldn’t do anything wrong. I’ve just never seen that much weight caught here.”

Duplicating a steady pattern he used Thursday, Iaconelli focused on one small area, throwing a “magic bait.” He attributed some of his success to his Northern roots. 

“I think it definitely helps,” Iaconelli said. “I feel comfortable making the adjustments that I need to make. I understand how the fish move and change because I have had a lot of experience on Northern fisheries.”

Trailing Iaconelli by ounces was Rojas, who weighed in 32 pounds, 7 ounces. Rojas was able to move up three spots from fifth Friday by executing the same pattern. He is focusing on three primary areas and believes that the weather is conducive to his fishing style. 

 

He hasn’t seen much boat traffic in his areas and previously has had much success on New York fisheries. He finished second last year at a 2007 Bassmaster Memorial and was first after the two-day preliminary competition on Oneida, showing off his New York chops.

Rojas is focusing on largemouths and feels that is the only way to win the tournament. Experiencing a seven-year drought in the win department, he is eager to score victory. 

“I’ve been really close a few times,” the 37-year-old said. “It’s been awhile and I can almost taste it. I’m ready to go fishing tomorrow.”

Heading into the tournament, Rojas had more than $970,000 in BASS career earnings. A solid showing along with his Angler of the Year bonus – he should finish in the top 10 – will push him into the ranks of the BASS Millionaires’ Club. 

Rounding out the top five were Kevin Langill of Terrell, N.C., with 31 pounds, 4 ounces in third; Terry Butcher of Talala, Okla., in fourth with 31 pounds, 0 ounces; and Steve Kennedy of Auburn Ala., who slipped from first to fifth with a two-day total of 30 pounds, 9 ounces.

The field was cut to the top 50 anglers Friday. Mike McClelland of Bella Vista, Ark., is 13th and could supplant Faircloth for second place in the Angler of the Year standings, while 2007 Angler of the Year winner Skeet Reese qualified for yet another cut in 28th. 

In the co-angler division, Kyle Kempkers of Hamilton, Mich., overtook Day 1 leader Ron Plocek of Liverpool, N.Y., for the Friday lead. Co-anglers are vying for a $25,000 top prize. Kempkers’ two-day total was 18 pounds, 4 ounces while the local Plocek has a two-day total of 17 pounds, 13 ounces.

Known as the “thumb” of New York’s Finger Lakes, Oneida is 21 miles long and 5 miles wide, with shelves and shoals formed by glaciers. The natural body of water features plenty of shoreline vegetation and an abundance of rocky offshore structure.

As part of the celebration of crowning the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year, BASS’ outdoors expo Saturday and Sunday at the season finale will include performances by national recording artist Heartland and local musical group The Custom Taylor Band. At the conclusion of the final weigh-in Sunday night, BASS will host a fireworks display at Oneida Shores, set for approximately 8:40 p.m.

Launches Thursday-Saturday for the Champion’s Choice begin at 8 a.m. ET and weigh-ins at 5 p.m. at Oneida Shores County Park, 9400 Bartell Road, Brewerton, N.Y. Sunday’s final-day launch begins at 10 a.m. and the final weigh-in begins at 7:30 p.m.

Weekend activities at the Champion’s Choice include a Berkley Beginner fishing class at 3:30 p.m. and a “Boat Performance with Skeeter” class daily at 4 p.m. On Saturday, fans can talk to the Elite pros during “Ask the Experts” at Bassmaster University, set for 4:30 p.m. on the weigh-in stage.

Sunday’s activities include the live taping at 6:35 p.m. of Hooked Up, hosted by ESPN Outdoors personalities Mark Zona and Tommy Sanders. The show will preview the final weigh-in. Live, streaming video of the Champion’s Choice weigh-in begins at 4:30 p.m. Saturday and at 7 p.m. Sunday on Bassmaster.com.

For more information, contact BASS Communications at (407) 566-2208 or visit Bassmaster.com. Visit ESPNMediaZone.com for ESPN’s latest releases, schedules and other news, plus photos, video, audio clips and more.

Sponsors of the Bassmaster Elite Series include Toyota Tundra, Advance Auto Parts, Berkley, Lowrance, Mercury, Purolator, Skeeter, Yamaha, Evan Williams Bourbon, Longhorn, OPTIMA Batteries, Triton Boats, Costa Del Mar, MotorGuide and Ramada Worldwide. 

 

 

KVD Clinches AOY

He didn’t realize how difficult a Bassmaster Elite Series season with two victories could be, but Friday, Elite pro Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Mich., put the ups and downs behind him as he was named the 2008 Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year. VanDam endured a seasonlong fight with Todd Faircloth of Jasper, Texas, but overtook Faircloth on Day 2 of the Champion’s Choice presented by Ramada Worldwide on Oneida Lake to claim his fourth Bassmaster Angler of the Year award.

To claim the title and the $250,000 top prize, VanDam, 40, had to overcome several discouraging finishes in the 11-event Bassmaster Elite Series season. Despite being the only pro with two wins on the circuit this year, he came perilously close to losing out on the AOY title.

Going into the season finale here on Oneida Lake, VanDam had five top-10 finishes and made the top-50 cut in all but one tournament, the Battle on the Border at Texas’ Lake Amistad, where he finished 56th.

VanDam started the year with a third-place showing at the 2008 Bassmaster Classic, which doesn’t count toward the Angler of the Year standings. He opened the regular season with a decent 31st-place finish at the March 6-9 Sunshine Showdown at the Harris Chain of Lakes out of Leesburg, Fla., but followed that up with his first victory of 2008, in the Citrus Slam on the Kissimmee Chain out of Lake Wales, Fla.

“I have to thank my family and my sponsors,” VanDam said from the BASS weigh-in stage where he accepted his trophy Friday from Tom Ricks, Vice President and General Manager, BASS. “And BASS has done a really phenomenal job to give us a platform like the Elite Series, to go out here and follow our dreams.

“There are a lot of young, aspiring anglers here, the Junior World Championship is going to go this weekend. Those kids want to be up here, they want to do this, this is the top level of professional bass fishing, and BASS has made it this way, and ESPN. I am just so excited to be here.”

The AOY points lead ping-ponged among VanDam, Faircloth and Mike McClelland of Bella Vista, Ark., who won the season opener. The chase eventually was narrowed to Faircloth and VanDam as Faircloth remained consistent throughout the season and VanDam claimed a second victory, this time at the Bluegrass Brawl on Kentucky Lake out of Gilbertsville, Ky.

“It really hasn’t sunk in yet, I can’t believe it,” VanDam said Friday after raising his fourth Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year trophy. “I knew this week would be critical and Todd has not had a bad tournament all year. For both of us to stumble yesterday, I was really disappointed. I thought I’d blown it, but I knew I had a second chance, I knew I had to make it happen. It’s a relief.”

Faircloth fought VanDam to the end, winning the Battle on the Border – ironically the one event in which VanDam stumbled out of the top 50 – but VanDam’s legendary determination and competitiveness gave him the edge.

“I found some deep fish during practice, I really wish I wouldn’t have even found them. It really messed with my head throughout this tournament,” said Faircloth, whose second-place finish in the AOY points was the best effort of his career. “That’s fishing. You can’t bank on anything.

“This would’ve been a really big deal for me in my career. The Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year title is a good deal to have on your resume. I was real close, and wish the outcome would’ve been a little bit different. But I had a really good year, I don’t have anything to hang my head about.”

A full list of the finalized standings will be available after the Champion’s Choice presented by Ramada Worldwide ends Sunday.

Kennedy Grabs Day 1 Lead

On a day when most Bassmaster Elite Series competitors were plagued by constant rain on Oneida Lake, Steve Kennedy managed to remain mostly dry. The Auburn, Ala., pro weighed in 17 pounds, 14 ounces, Thursday also grabbing the lead at the Champion’s Choice presented by Ramada Worldwide, the final Bassmaster Elite Series event of the season.

Fishing fans can watch the on-the-water action from the Aug. 7-10 Champion’s Choice on The Bassmasters, which airs Saturday, Aug. 16, at 9 a.m. ET on ESPN2. Additionally, fans can check into Bassmaster.com for live, streaming video of the weigh-ins, real-time leaderboards, analysis, photo galleries and more throughout the four-day event.

While Kennedy staked his lead in the chase for the $100,000 top prize, the two anglers battling for the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year competition, Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Mich., and Todd Faircloth of Jasper, Texas, took center stage. With this, the 11th event in 2008, the ‘Trail to the Trophy’ will culminate and the winner will take home $250,000.

The two, however, failed to capitalize on each other’s struggles. Faircloth, the leader by 21 points heading into the event, was 62nd while VanDam, a two-time Angler of the Year, limped to 59th place. The winner could be crowned on any of the final three days and the race appears that it will go down to the wire for the third consecutive season since the Elite Series was created.

While VanDam and Faircloth will sweat out the top spot, many anglers who are at or below the cutline to qualify for the 2009 Bassmaster Classic, set for Shreveport-Bossier City, La., on Feb. 20-22, needed to perform this week to cement their status in the marquee event. The top 36 will earn qualifying berths and have a shot at the $500,000 top prize.

Kennedy is safely in the Classic cutline as he was 20th in the AOY standings heading into this week’s event. The 2006 Advance Auto Parts Rookie of the Year is searching for his second BASS victory after narrowly missing out by ounces at a 2007 Bassmaster Major event on New York fisheries last year. In the first two days of competition on Oneida, Kennedy was second, only trailing Dean Rojas, who is fifth this week.

Behind Kennedy was Terry Butcher of Talala, Okla., in second with 16 pounds, 8 ounces; Britt Myers of Lake Wylie, S.C., in third with 16 pounds, 6 ounces; Dean Rojas of Phoenix with 15 pounds, 14 ounces in fourth and four-time Bassmaster Classic champ Rick Clunn of Ava, Mo., was fifth with 15 pounds, 13 ounces.

“I’m not sure what I have will hold up all week,” said Kennedy, a one-time BASS winner. “Today was a struggle early. You can’t expect to catch 18 pounds every day so I’ll just have to go back at them tomorrow.”

He attributed most of his success to the pattern he was running and felt it was effective throughout the lake. He was focusing on shallow water with a Kinami Flash and another lure he kept close to the vest.

Despite his banner day, Kennedy said he missed a few quality fish that could have added to his weight. During the three-day practice period, he had no indication he would do well on Oneida but made the necessary slight adjustments Thursday.

He had most of the areas he fished mainly to himself as other competitors were targeting deeper fish and expects more of the same Friday.

“Honestly, I’m very concerned about the way the fish were biting,” said Kennedy, 39. “I’m just not certain that I can continue to catch them well.”

Butcher, who has had a somewhat disappointing season as he is 70th in the AOY standings, is looking for redemption on Oneida. Like Kennedy and Rojas, Butcher has found success on New York fisheries, finishing in fourth place at an Elite event on Lake Erie out of Buffalo last year.

A one-time BASS winner, Butcher weighed in both largemouth and smallmouth bass. One of the few competitors to target both species, Butcher played it close to the vest on the tactics he used Thursday.

“I ran multiple patterns and caught them in a couple different areas,” the 37-year-old said. “I had a rough practice so I’m happy to get the bites that I did today.”

Myers, in third, needed a big tournament to propel himself into the Classic cutline. In 37th in the AOY standings heading into the event, he put himself in good position to qualify for his first Bassmaster Classic.

Perhaps Rojas is Kennedy’s biggest threat. In fourth, he is targeting shallow water, much like Kennedy, and has his areas all to himself. If he is to earn $25,000 between his finish from Oneida and his Angler of the Year winnings, a very real possibility, Rojas will push his career BASS earnings over $1 million.

In the co-angler division and the race for the $25,000 top prize, local Ron Plocek of Liverpool, N.Y, took the Day 1 lead with 10 pounds, 13 ounces. Trailing Plocek were Allan Hall of Brandon, S.D., with 9 pounds, 11 ounces and Tom Frink of Simi Valley, Calif., with 8 pounds, 15 ounces. Frink is searching for his third BASS win in the co-angler division.

Known as the “thumb” of New York’s Finger Lakes, Oneida is 21 miles long and 5 miles wide, with shelves and shoals formed by glaciers. The natural body of water features plenty of shoreline vegetation and an abundance of rocky offshore structure.

As part of the celebration of crowning the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year, BASS’ outdoors expo Saturday and Sunday at the season finale will include performances by national recording artist Heartland and local musical group The Custom Taylor Band. At the conclusion of the final weigh-in Sunday night, BASS will host a fireworks display at Oneida Shores, set for approximately 8:40 p.m.

Launches Thursday-Saturday for the Champion’s Choice begin at 8 a.m. ET and weigh-ins at 5 p.m. at Oneida Shores County Park, 9400 Bartell Road, Brewerton, N.Y. Sunday’s final-day launch begins at 10 a.m. and the final weigh-in begins at 7:30 p.m.

Weekend activities at the Champion’s Choice include a Berkley Beginner fishing class at 3:30 p.m. and a “Boat Performance with Skeeter” class daily at 4 p.m. On Saturday, fans can talk to the Elite pros during “Ask the Experts” at Bassmaster University, set for 4:30 p.m. on the weigh-in stage.

Sunday’s activities include the live taping at 6:35 p.m. of Hooked Up, hosted by ESPN Outdoors personalities Mark Zona and Tommy Sanders. The show will preview the final weigh-in. Live, streaming video of the Champion’s Choice daily weigh-ins begins at 4:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and at 7 p.m. Sunday on Bassmaster.com.

For more information, contact BASS Communications at (407) 566-2208 or visit Bassmaster.com. Visit ESPNMediaZone.com for ESPN’s latest releases, schedules and other news, plus photos, video, audio clips and more.

Sponsors of the Bassmaster Elite Series include Toyota Tundra, Advance Auto Parts, Berkley, Lowrance, Mercury, Purolator, Skeeter, Yamaha, Evan Williams Bourbon, Longhorn, OPTIMA Batteries, Triton Boats, Costa Del Mar, MotorGuide and Ramada Worldwide.

Location and Field
Champion’s Choice presented by Ramada Worldwide
Oneida Lake
Syracuse, N.Y.
August 7-10, 2008

Field
106 pros, 106 co-anglers
Cut to top 50 pros and co-anglers after Day 2
Cut to top 12 pro anglers after Day 3

Launch/Weigh-in
Oneida Shores County Park
9400 Bartell Road
Brewerton, N.Y,
Thurs-Sat (8 a.m./5 p.m.)
Sunday- 10 a.m./7 p.m.

Lane Takes Rookie Honors

While he has suspected for a few weeks now that the victory was his, Bassmaster Elite Series pro Bobby Lane of Lakeland, Fla., did not want to put the hex on his luck in the race to claim the 2008 Advance Auto Parts Rookie of the Year award, so he patiently waited out the final few Elite Series tournaments of the season.

At the season-ending Champion’s Choice presented by Ramada Worldwide, Lane, 34, officially accepted the Rookie of the Year trophy during Bassmaster Elite Series festivities Thursday at Oneida Shores County Park. Conveniently, a lot of his family was present to celebrate with him – his brother, Chris Lane of Winter Haven, Fla., is also a Bassmaster Elite Series pro. Bobby’s wife and children, as well as Chris’ wife and children, are attending the Champion’s Choice.

In winning the $25,000 top prize, Lane cinched the title after the first day of competition at the Champion’s Choice with 12 pounds, 4 ounces. Wade Grooms of Bonneau, S.C., finished in second place. Through 10 Elite Series tournaments, Lane placed in the top 50 and earned a check in seven, including two top-10s. (NOTE: Final Rookie of the Year points standings will be posted on Sunday, August 10 on http://www.bassmaster.com)

Lane sold his Florida landscaping company in 2003 and set out to become a professional angler.
Lane signed up for the three annual Bassmaster Southern Opens in 2007 and qualified for the 2008 Elite Series season with finishes of 20th, (March; Kissimmee Chain) 10th (May; Santee Cooper Reservoir) and fourth (October; Wheeler Lake).

He also qualified for fishing’s most prestigious event, the Bassmaster Classic, held in 2008 on South Carolina’s Lake Hartwell. Lane finished fourth and earned $30,000 in the biggest tournament of his life so far, which he said was “an amazing experience that words can’t even explain.”

“Fishing with the Elite anglers, they make me a better fisherman,” said Lane, whose first Bassmaster event was the 2005 Southern Open out of Kissimmee, Fla., in which he finished a very respectable seventh. “Every day this year I’ve been at the boat ramp as early as they open, as soon as the sun comes up. You know you’ve got to catch them. Whatever you caught the first day, you better double it just to remain in contention at all.”

As the 2008 Bassmaster Elite Series season started, Lane’s odds for performing well weren’t hurt by tournament locations: two Florida chains on which he had spent a decent amount of time fishing while he was growing up, the Harris Chain out of Leesburg and the Kissimmee Chain out of Lake Wales.

He finished third in his first tournament as an Elite Series pro, on the Harris Chain, and seventh on the Kissimmee Chain. After the Florida swing, his season progressed less predictably with finishes of 73rd (Falcon Lake); 37th (Lake Amistad); 72nd (Wheeler Lake) and 58th (Kentucky Lake) as Lane visited some lakes across the country that he’d never seen, much less fished.

“Starting out the year, it was awesome in Florida,” Lane said. “But if I didn’t do well the first day, I never let it get me down, I’d always go back on the second days and do something different. You have to make yourself learn a lake that you’ve never been to.

While he bounced around in the midseason standings, other rookies had success – Billy Brewer of Bruceville, Texas, finished eighth and 45th on Texas’ lakes Falcon and Amistad; Wade Grooms of Bonneau, S.C., — and Lane’s ROY lead was threatened. But eventually, Lane realized the ROY trophy was his to lose.

While he took 20th at the Tennessee Triumph on Old Hickory Lake out of Nashville, Grooms, who was in second place in the ROY standings, stumbled, closing the door on any chance to catch Lane.

“I knew I did well at Old Hickory, made a big mark,” Lane said. “When it came down to it I knew I had to do well at Lake Erie and I’ve never been there and the waves kind of had me a little worried.

Lane joins past ROY winners Derek Remitz of Grant, Ala. (2007); Steve Kennedy of Auburn, Ala. (2006); Dave Wolak of Wake Forest, N.C. (2005) and Greg Hackney of Gonzales, La. (2004). All are BASS tournament winners.

“It means everything to earn that title. My success has come from dedication and a lot of hard work,” Lane said. “I know there were nine or 10 other rookies who were trying just as hard as I was. Just because I’ve fished professionally before doesn’t mean I’m any better than these guys.

“The next goal is to go out and get a Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year title, a Classic title and an Elite Series win.”

The Advance Auto Parts Rookie of the Year award is determined by anglers’ positions in the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings. All standings will be finalized after the final day of the Champion’s Choice and posted on http://www.bassmaster.com.

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