Ike Slams 20-03 To Improve Classic Chances

By BassFan Staff

With 1 day of competition at the Oneida Lake Bassmaster Elite Series in the books, several questions still remain unanswered as the final event of the season begins to come into focus.

Two questions, however, that were looming large before the tournament began may have been answered in emphatic fashion today.

> 1. Would Mike Iaconelli, who’s made the last 11 Bassmaster Classics and 13 overall, be able move himself off the bubble where he’s lived virtually all season and inside the Classic cut line?

> 2. How would Brent Chapman, who’s had the season of his career in 2012, fare entering the event with a 13 point-lead over Ott DeFoe in the race for Toyota Tundra B.A.S.S. Angler of the Year (AOY)?

One look at the day-1 standings should clear up those issues right away. Iaconelli stuck the lone 20-pound stringer of the day – a 20-03 bag – and holds a commanding lead over, yep, Chapman, who strengthened his grip on the AOY points lead with a 16-12 catch.

Iaconelli’s bag pushed him from 31st in points to 19th and it would appear he would just need to stay in the Top 30 after tomorrow to lock up a trip to Grand Lake next February.

Thanks to his day-1 effort, Chapman now enjoys a 40-point lead over Todd Faircloth in the AOY standings.

J. Todd Tucker helped his cause for making his first Classic by catching 16-06, which was good for 3rd. Clark Reehm and David Walker caught matching 15-15 bags and are tied for 4th.

Here's a look at the Top 12 after day 1 of competition, with deficit margin from Iaconelli indicated by red numbers in parentheses:

1. Michael Iaconelli: 20-03
2. Brent Chapman: 16-12(3-07)
3. J. Todd Tucker: 16-06 (3-13)
4 (tie). Clark Reehm: 15-15 (4-04)
4 (tie). David Walker: 15-15 (4-04)
6. Randy Howell: 15-12 (4-07)
7. Jason Williamson: 15-08 (4-11)
8 (tie). Jami Fralick: 15-07(4-12)
8 (tie). Scott Rook: 15-07 (4-12)
10. Edwin Evers: 15-05 (4-14)
11. Ish Monroe: 15-04 (4-15)
12. Bobby Lane: 15-03 (5-00)

DeFoe came to Oneida as Chapman’s closest challenger in the points race, but he fell virtually out of contention today (2nd to 6th) with a 12-05 sack that has him stuck in 59th and in danger of missing his first cut of the season.

While catching 14-05 has him in 22nd, Faircloth lost ground on Chapman, as did everyone save for Iaconelli. Here’s an up-to-the-minute look at the Top 10 in the AOY race:

1. Brent Chapman: 662
2. Todd Faircloth: 622
3. Terry Scroggins: 611
4. Randy Howell: 604
5. Matt Herren: 598
6. Ott DeFoe: 592
7. David Walker: 587
8. Edwin Evers: 584
9. Bill Lowen: 579
10. Kevin VanDam: 560

The 30- or 40-fish days the Elite Series veterans are used to seeing at the central New York lake just aren’t there this week. There were a lot of mixed bags brought to the scale today, as it seems the morning focus centers on smallmouth before targeting kicker largemouth bites once the sun gets up in the sky.

The main issue tomorrow and possibly through the weekend is how will the largemouth stand up to the pounding they took along the bank. Those isolated pieces of cover that held one or two fish aren’t likely to replenish in time to be fishable again and the hunt for 4-pound bites elsewhere will intensify.

Another sunny day with temperatures in the mid 80s is expected tomorrow with little to no breeze.

The field will be reduced to the Top 49 after tomorrow’s round and the Top 12 following day 3 will fish Sunday, when the winner will be determined by highest cumulative weight.

Iaconelli Felt the Pressure

> Day 1: 5, 20-03

When he went to bed last night and when he woke up this morning, Iaconelli said he was really feeling the pressure of being on the Classic bubble.

He came to Oneida in 31st place and would’ve made it had the season ended after Lake Michigan, but it’s a position he wasn’t comfortable with. He has a strong track record on Oneida and he put it to good use today.

Targeting smallmouth in the morning and then looking for kicker largemouth after mid-day – he calls it his 1-2 punch – he turned in a clutch effort that should secure him a trip to Grand next winter.

He said he didn’t get 20 bites in 3 days of practice, but he easily had that today alone.

“I got just enough bites in practice to steer me in a couple different directions and that’s what I went with today,” he said. “I had a difficult practice. I was feeling a lot of pressure being on the bubble and today was an important day for me. It was one of those you hear people talk about occasionally. It was a magic day where everything happens just perfect. You’ll go down a bank and see something you’ve never fished before and you go in there and you catch ‘em. Or all of a sudden a school erupts next to your boat and you’re able to catch a few of those.”

He had about 13 pounds of smallmouth in the morning and then “fished the moment” the rest of the day, he said. The first largemouth he landed was a 4-pounder that set the tone for his afternoon. He added a 5-05 (the big fish of the day) later on.

“After I weighed in, it felt like a ton of bricks off my shoulders,” he said. “While I’d love to win and I compete to win every time, my focal point has been the Classic. It’s what I’m concentrating on and today was a good start toward that.”

2nd: Chapman’s Emotions Ran the Gamut

> Day 1: 5, 16-12

Chapman knows this tournament and the AOY race are far from over even though he’s yet again put himself in a position to contend for a victory and extended his points lead.

He’s still not comfortable yet.

“This thing is not over yet,” he said. “I’ve definitely gotten off to the start I wanted to have, but I still need to catch them tomorrow.”

He rode an emotional roller coaster this morning after a lackluster practice, but a wicked fast start – he had a limit within the first hour – put his nerves at ease. His stringer consisted for four smallmouth and one largemouth.

“The emotions this morning were the anxiety of ‘I’ve got to catch ‘em’ to have a shot at it,” he said. “That’s enough anxiety as it is. Then I got out there and got that first fish in the boat and that’s a big relief. Within the first hour, I think I had a limit of fish. Then my anxiety of just trying to catch fish turned to, ‘Wow, I’ve got a shot at doing something in this thing.’ Then it’s the excitement and the emotions of that.”

The quick start was important to getting his emotions in check.

“That was huge. That was everything,” he said. “I was an emotional wreck because I knew I had to catch them and I wasn’t sure how it was going to pan out. Thank goodness, it went the way it needed to go.”

He caught about a dozen keepers today and fished his best areas, but there are several other boats in the same general area, including a number of pros whoi had strong days today. He’s not concerned about crowding.

“I can’t complain considering where we’re at and knowing how many people are usually on these places,” he added.

3rd: Tucker Figured ‘Em Out

> Day 1: 5, 16-06

Coming off back-to-back missed cuts at the Mississippi River and Lake Michigan, Tucker felt a Top-20 result was necessary this week if he were to qualify for his first career Classic.

He got off to a good start down that path today. He brought in a trio of brown fish and two largemouths, including a 4-05 brute.

“That’s what put me over the 15-pound mark and into the 16 1/2-pound range,” he said. “When I found those fish, all I caught were largemouth. They’re there. It’s just a matter of which one bites next. I feel like the potential for 16 pounds is there. If I catch five out of there, they’ll weigh 15 and if you get a 4 1/2-pounder in there, you’ll have 16 1/2.

“I’m not sure you can do much better than that, but I’m going to stick with it and see what happens by Sunday.”

He’s fishing an area that has plenty of other boats in it, including Chapman, so obviously they’ve gotten dialed in to the fish’s eating habits.

“It’s one of those deals where I have to keep figuring them out and keep those fish fooled,” he added. “They’re pretty smart.”

He thinks a little wind would actually help, especially in the clear-water areas.

“With it being slick, they can see everything and it’s hard to fool them and the more pressure you put on them the harder it becomes to fool them,” he said.

4th (tie): Reehm Around Good Fish

> Day 1: 5, 15-15

Despite where he’s at in the standings, Reehm was disappointed he left some good fish out there today.

“I had some poor execution,” he said. “I jumped off a 4 that would’ve helped.”

His stringer was anchored by a 5-02 that he had pinpointed in practiced. His bag consisted of three largemouth and a pair of smallies.

“I’m thinking a lot of largemouth got burned today,” he said. “I caught my largemouth deep today so I think that’s a positive sign.”

The potential negative is he's sharing water with others who weighed Top-10 bags on day 1.

“I know the fish are there and should hold up, but it makes for some tense moments,” he added. “I don’t think we’re going to neutralize each other from winning. There were some schooling fish mixed in with some grass fish.”

4th (tie): Turnaround Benefits Walker

> Day 1: 5, 15-15

After practice, Walker told BassFan that he was fearful all of the bass had swam out of the lake. That’s how challenging the 3 days of on-the-water prep were for the Tennessee pro.

How quickly things changed on day 1.

He had a limit in the boat fairly early and caught his first two keeper smallmouths of the week – they made it into his weigh sack along with three largemouth. They were the best of the dozen to 15 keepers he handled today.

“Things have turned around quickly at this place,” he said. “And it’ll probably be more of the same tomorrow. I couldn’t figure out what was wrong with the fish the last couple days, but whatever it was they seem to be coming out of it.”

59th: Bites Were Scattered For DeFoe

> Day 1: 5, 12-05

DeFoe’s best fish of the day was the first one he caught – a 3-plus pounder, but that wasn’t until after 8 a.m. He had a couple more in the next hour and didn’t box his fifth keeper until 12:30.

“It was a struggle the rest of the day,” he said. “I had a few bites that I hooked, but only one of those I saw. It was about a 3-pounder. I wasn’t getting many bites really. I don’t know. It’s pretty slow for me.”

His plan tomorrow is to hit the area that produced four of his weigh fish today and another spot where he lost a good one.

“I know there are more fish there,” he said. “It’s a timing deal, but they’re there. I’m going to fish those two areas and work some different stuff as well.”

He’s aware his chances of rallying in the points are slim at this point, but he knows he’s in an area that could help him make up some ground real fast.

“I’m disappointed I didn’t execute that well, but honestly with the practice I had, not catching five was a possibility,” he added. “I only caught five, but I feel like the way I’m fishing there’s a chance of catching a big bag. I know there are some big fish in the one area I was in today. I know that they’re in there, but making them bite is tough.”

Notable

> Day 1 stats – 97 anglers, 73 limits, 7 fours, 5 threes, 5 twos, 5 ones, 2 zeroes.

> Kevin VanDam is currently in a five-way tie for 53rd after catching 12-08. He’s seeking to make his record 20th straight Elite Series cut.

Weather Forecast

> Fri., Aug. 24 – Mostly Sunny - 82°/57°
- Wind: From the N at 4 to 6 mph

> Sat., Aug. 25 – Mostly Sunny - 85°/62°
- Wind: From the S at 3 to 5 mph

> Sun., Aug. 26 – Partly Sunny - 83°/64°
- Wind: From the S at 7 to 12 mph

Day 1 Standings

1. Michael Iaconelli -- Pittsgrove, NJ -- 5, 20-03 -- 97
Day 1: 5, 20-03

2. Brent Chapman -- Lake Quivira, KS -- 5, 16-12 -- 96
Day 1: 5, 16-12

3. J Todd Tucker -- Moultrie, GA -- 5, 16-06 -- 95
Day 1: 5, 16-06

4. Clark Reehm -- Shreveport, LA -- 5, 15-15 -- 94
Day 1: 5, 15-15

4. David Walker -- Sevierville, TN -- 5, 15-15 -- 94
Day 1: 5, 15-15

6. Randy Howell -- Springville, AL -- 5, 15-12 -- 92
Day 1: 5, 15-12

7. Jason Williamson -- Aiken, SC -- 5, 15-08 -- 91
Day 1: 5, 15-08

8. Jami Fralick -- Martin, SD -- 5, 15-07 -- 90
Day 1: 5, 15-07

8. Scott Rook -- Little Rock, AR -- 5, 15-07 -- 90
Day 1: 5, 15-07

10. Edwin Evers -- Talala, OK -- 5, 15-05 -- 88
Day 1: 5, 15-05

11. Ish Monroe -- Hughson, CA -- 5, 15-04 -- 87
Day 1: 5, 15-04

12. Bobby Lane -- Lakeland, FL -- 5, 15-03 -- 86
Day 1: 5, 15-03

13. Kevin Short -- Mayflower, AR -- 5, 15-02 -- 85
Day 1: 5, 15-02

14. James Niggemeyer -- Van, TX -- 5, 15-00 -- 84
Day 1: 5, 15-00

14. Terry Scroggins -- San Mateo, FL -- 5, 15-00 -- 84
Day 1: 5, 15-00

16. Matt Herren -- Trussville, AL -- 5, 14-14 -- 82
Day 1: 5, 14-14

17. Bernie Schultz -- Gainesville, FL -- 5, 14-13 -- 81
Day 1: 5, 14-13

18. Tommy Biffle -- Wagoner, OK -- 5, 14-10 -- 80
Day 1: 5, 14-10

19. Brandon Palaniuk -- Rathdrum, ID -- 5, 14-07 -- 79
Day 1: 5, 14-07

20. Mike McClelland -- Bella Vista, AR -- 5, 14-06 -- 78
Day 1: 5, 14-06

20. Fletcher Shryock -- Newcomerstown, OH -- 5, 14-06 -- 78
Day 1: 5, 14-06

22. Todd Faircloth -- Jasper, TX -- 5, 14-05 -- 76
Day 1: 5, 14-05

23. Kelly Jordon -- Palestine, TX -- 5, 14-04 -- 75
Day 1: 5, 14-04

24. Jonathon VanDam -- Kalamazoo, MI -- 5, 14-03 -- 74
Day 1: 5, 14-03

25. Keith Combs -- Huntington, TX -- 5, 14-00 -- 73
Day 1: 5, 14-00

26. Skeet Reese -- Auburn, CA -- 5, 13-13 -- 72
Day 1: 5, 13-13

27. Terry Butcher -- Talala, OK -- 5, 13-11 -- 71
Day 1: 5, 13-11

27. Boyd Duckett -- Demopolis, AL -- 5, 13-11 -- 71
Day 1: 5, 13-11

27. Aaron Martens -- Leeds, AL -- 5, 13-11 -- 71
Day 1: 5, 13-11

30. Denny Brauer -- Camdenton, MO -- 5, 13-10 -- 68
Day 1: 5, 13-10

30. Chris Lane -- Guntersville, AL -- 5, 13-10 -- 68
Day 1: 5, 13-10

30. Cliff Pace -- Petal, MS -- 5, 13-10 -- 68
Day 1: 5, 13-10

30. Keith Poche -- Pike Road, AL -- 5, 13-10 -- 68
Day 1: 5, 13-10

34. Stephen Browning -- Hot Springs, AR -- 5, 13-09 -- 64
Day 1: 5, 13-09

35. Jeremy Starks -- Scott Depot, WV -- 5, 13-08 -- 63
Day 1: 5, 13-08

36. Cliff Crochet -- Pierre Part, LA -- 5, 13-07 -- 62
Day 1: 5, 13-07

37. Bill Lowen -- Brookville, IN -- 5, 13-06 -- 61
Day 1: 5, 13-06

38. Kevin Ledoux -- Choctaw, OK -- 5, 13-05 -- 60
Day 1: 5, 13-05

39. Yusuke Miyazaki -- Forney, TX -- 5, 13-04 -- 59
Day 1: 5, 13-04

39. Cliff Prince -- Palatka, FL -- 5, 13-04 -- 59
Day 1: 5, 13-04

39. Morizo Shimizu -- Osaka JAPAN -- 5, 13-04 -- 59
Day 1: 5, 13-04

42. Brandon Card -- Caryville, TN -- 5, 13-02 -- 56
Day 1: 5, 13-02

42. Jason Quinn -- Lake Wylie, SC -- 5, 13-02 -- 56
Day 1: 5, 13-02

44. Zell Rowland -- Montgomery, TX -- 5, 13-01 -- 54
Day 1: 5, 13-01

45. Rick Morris -- Lake Gaston, VA -- 5, 12-15 -- 53
Day 1: 5, 12-15

45. Casey Scanlon -- Lenexa, KS -- 5, 12-15 -- 53
Day 1: 5, 12-15

47. Jared Lintner -- Arroyo Grande, CA -- 5, 12-14 -- 51
Day 1: 5, 12-14

48. Marty Robinson -- Lyman, SC -- 5, 12-13 -- 50
Day 1: 5, 12-13

48. Chris Zaldain -- San Jose, CA -- 5, 12-13 -- 50
Day 1: 5, 12-13

50. John Crews -- Salem, VA -- 5, 12-11 -- 48
Day 1: 5, 12-11

51. Matt Greenblatt -- Port St Lucie, FL -- 5, 12-09 -- 47
Day 1: 5, 12-09

52. Grant Goldbeck -- Boerne, TX -- 5, 12-09 -- 46
Day 1: 5, 12-09

53. Casey D Ashley -- Donalds, SC -- 5, 12-08 -- 45
Day 1: 5, 12-08

53. Rick Clunn -- Ava, MO -- 5, 12-08 -- 45
Day 1: 5, 12-08

53. Takahiro Omori -- Emory, TX -- 5, 12-08 -- 45
Day 1: 5, 12-08

53. Kevin VanDam -- Kalamazoo, MI -- 5, 12-08 -- 45
Day 1: 5, 12-08

53. Nate Wellman -- Newaygo, MI -- 5, 12-08 -- 45
Day 1: 5, 12-08

58. Billy McCaghren -- Mayflower, AR -- 5, 12-06 -- 40
Day 1: 5, 12-06

59. Ott DeFoe -- Knoxville, TN -- 5, 12-05 -- 39
Day 1: 5, 12-05

60. Shaw E Grigsby Jr. -- Gainesville, FL -- 5, 12-03 -- 38
Day 1: 5, 12-03

61. Brian Snowden -- Reeds Spring, MO -- 5, 11-14 -- 37
Day 1: 5, 11-14

62. Davy Hite -- Ninety Six, SC -- 5, 11-13 -- 36
Day 1: 5, 11-13

63. Travis Manson -- De Pere, WI -- 5, 11-12 -- 35
Day 1: 5, 11-12

64. Gerald Swindle -- Warrior, AL -- 5, 11-11 -- 34
Day 1: 5, 11-11

65. Russ Lane -- Prattville, AL -- 5, 11-10 -- 33
Day 1: 5, 11-10

66. Mark Davis -- Mount Ida, AR -- 5, 11-06 -- 32
Day 1: 5, 11-06

66. Dean Rojas -- Lake Havasu City, AZ -- 5, 11-06 -- 32
Day 1: 5, 11-06

68. Paul Elias -- Laurel, MS -- 5, 11-05 -- 30
Day 1: 5, 11-05

68. Matt Reed -- Madisonville, TX -- 5, 11-05 -- 30
Day 1: 5, 11-05

70. Timmy Horton -- Spruce Pine, AL -- 5, 11-00 -- 28
Day 1: 5, 11-00

71. Britt Myers -- Lake Wylie, SC -- 5, 10-13 -- 27
Day 1: 5, 10-13

72. Derek Remitz -- Grant, AL -- 4, 10-13 -- 26
Day 1: 4, 10-13

73. Dustin Wilks -- Rocky Mount, NC -- 5, 10-11 -- 25
Day 1: 5, 10-11

74. Greg Vinson -- Wetumpka, AL -- 5, 10-06 -- 24
Day 1: 5, 10-06

75. Charlie Hartley -- Grove City, OH -- 4, 08-14 -- 23
Day 1: 4, 08-14

76. Mark Menendez -- Paducah, KY -- 4, 08-10 -- 22
Day 1: 4, 08-10

77. Kenyon Hill -- Norman, OK -- 4, 08-09 -- 21
Day 1: 4, 08-09

78. Greg Hackney -- Gonzales, LA -- 4, 08-07 -- 20
Day 1: 4, 08-07

79. Byron Velvick -- Boerne, TX -- 3, 07-13 -- 19
Day 1: 3, 07-13

80. Jared Miller -- Norman, OK -- 4, 07-09 -- 18
Day 1: 4, 07-09

81. Steve Kennedy -- Auburn, AL -- 4, 07-08 -- 17
Day 1: 4, 07-08

82. Brent Broderick -- Oregonia, OH -- 3, 06-15 -- 16
Day 1: 3, 06-15

83. Fred Roumbanis -- Bixby, OK -- 2, 06-13 -- 15
Day 1: 2, 06-13

84. Scott Ashmore -- Broken Arrow, OK -- 3, 06-11 -- 14
Day 1: 3, 06-11

85. Andy Montgomery -- Blacksburg, SC -- 3, 06-08 -- 13
Day 1: 3, 06-08

86. Chad Griffin -- Cresson, TX -- 2, 05-11 -- 12
Day 1: 2, 05-11

87. Gary Klein -- Weatherford, TX -- 3, 05-06 -- 11
Day 1: 3, 05-06

88. Jamie Horton -- Centerville, AL -- 2, 04-13 -- 10
Day 1: 2, 04-13

89. Pete Ponds -- Madison, MS -- 2, 04-08 -- 9
Day 1: 2, 04-08

90. Alton Jones -- Lorena, TX -- 2, 03-02 -- 8
Day 1: 2, 03-02

91. Jeff Kriet -- Ardmore, OK -- 1, 03-02 -- 7
Day 1: 1, 03-02

92. John Murray -- Phoenix, AZ -- 1, 02-15 -- 6
Day 1: 1, 02-15

93. Russell Parrish -- Riesel, TX -- 1, 02-04 -- 5
Day 1: 1, 02-04

93. David Smith -- Del City, OK -- 1, 02-04 -- 5
Day 1: 1, 02-04

95. Bradley Roy -- Lancaster, KY -- 1, 01-15 -- 3
Day 1: 1, 01-15

96. Kotaro Kiriyama -- Moody, AL -- 0, 00-00 -- 0
Day 1: 0, 00-00

96. Michael Simonton -- Fremont, OH -- 0, 00-00 -- 0
Day 1: 0, 00-00