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. 

 

 

Ike Takes Day Two

He’s known for his “Never Give Up” motto, and the 2006 Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year and 2003 Bassmaster Classic winner followed his own advice in grabbing the lead Friday, the second day of the Empire Chase presented by Farmer’s Insurance on Lake Erie and the Niagara River.

With a victory, Iaconelli would earn $100,000, adding to his Berkley Big Bag honors and a $1,000 premium Friday for the heaviest bag of the day’s competition at 22 pounds, 15 ounces. Trailing him by less than 1 pound is Day 1 leader Matt Reed of Madisonville, Texas, with a two-day total of 43-6. Edwin Evers of Talala, Okla., the 2007 Empire Chase champion, is right behind, in third with 42-14, while Kotaro Kiriyama of Moody, Ala., who finished second in 2007, trails Evers in the 2008 tournament by a mere ounce, in fourth with 42-13. Aaron Martens of Leeds, Ala., rounds out the top five with 42-11.

Fishing fans can catch all of the action from the Empire Chase on The Bassmasters on Saturday, Aug. 9, at 9 a.m. ET on ESPN2.

More than the trophy is at stake at the Empire Chase, as the drama of the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year race continues to build. With just one event remaining after Buffalo, Todd Faircloth of Jasper, Texas, has taken over the lead in the AOY title race by five points. Faircloth remains in eighth at the Empire Chase after Day 2 with an overall weight of 44 pounds, 5 ounces. Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Mich., now second in the AOY race, is tied for 14th in the tournament with 36-10.

The winner of the AOY race will receive $250,000 and the points will also determine the brunt of the 2009 Bassmaster Classic qualifiers. The top 36 Elite pros will qualify for the Classic, set for Feb. 20-22 out of Shreveport-Bossier City, La. Also derived from the AOY points will be the first 84 qualifiers for the 2009 Bassmaster Elite Series roster.

Milder wind conditions prevailed Friday, which helped Iaconelli, 36, control his bait a little better, he said. He narrowly missed earning the Purolator Big Bass of the Day honors, weighing in a fish at 5-11 and one at 5-9. The Purolator Big Bass and its $1,000 premium Friday went to Elton Luce Jr. of Brookeland, Texas, for a 5-13 smallmouth.

Iaconelli, who missed the cut in 2007 on Lake Erie by one position in finishing 51st, is fishing a drop-shot in 30 to 35 feet of water on the main lake. He said that, during this tournament in which weather plays a key role, using all of the equipment at the pros’ disposal – from electronics to the line to the bait, even the weight – has been critical.

“Last year I fished 40 to 45, this year I’m a lot shallower than that,” Iaconelli said. “I’m more like in that 30-35 range. That’s a key zone for me. The baits are key, too. I’m fishing a couple of different baits, the Berkley baits, the Tru-Tungsten baits – they’re really doing a good job of imitating gobies.”

Among those making the cut in the top 50: Mike McClelland of Bella Vista, Ark., who is third in the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year race (30th, 33-4), and local favorite Matthew Sphar of Pavilion, N.Y. (35th, 32-13).

Reed, who said the bite Friday wasn’t quite as on fire as it was Thursday, added that getting to his spots has been tough but critical in the windy conditions on Lake Erie.

“You’ve got to be able to know how to position your boat in those kinds of waves and know how to get your bait where those fish are,” said Reed, who lost three smallmouth Friday that were 5-plus-pounders.

In the co-angler division, Tim Creighton of Buffalo leads the chase for the $25,000 top prize with a two-day total of 27-9. Trailing Brodnicki are Shawn Maynor of Oklahoma, with 24-10, and South Carolina’s Marcos Malucelli, with 24-1. Saturday’s competition among the top 50 co-anglers will conclude the amateur event.

Daily tournament launches and weigh-ins will take place at the NFTA Small Boat Harbor, 111 Fuhrmann Blvd. Launches begin at 8 a.m. ET and weigh-ins at 5 p.m.

Before Saturday’s weigh-in, activities for fans at the park include Bassmaster University’s “Ask the Experts,” a Berkley Beginner Fishing Class, Skeeter boat demo rides and the Purolator Big Bass Fan $1,000 Giveaway.

On Sunday, Bassmaster.com will provide updates throughout the day and preview the final weigh-in with Hooked Up, live at 4:30 p.m., hosted by ESPN2 Outdoors personalities Mark Zona and Tommy Sanders and BASS emcee Keith Alan.

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

The local sponsor of the Empire Chase is the Buffalo Convention & Visitors Bureau.

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
Empire Chase presented by Farmer’s Insurance
Lake Erie/Niagara River
Buffalo
July 31-Aug. 3, 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
NFTA Small Boat Harbor
111 Furhmann Blvd.
Buffalo, NY
8 a.m./5 p.m. ET