Ike 3-10 Back
Rojas' 18-Pound Day Puts Him Solidly Out Front

Photo: ESPN Outdoors Dean Rojas is on the verge of disproving the idea that this year's Oneida Bassmaster Elite Series can't be won on the backs of largemouths.

The veteran from Arizona boxed 18-03 today to complete his ascent to the top of the standings (he was 4th after day 1 and 2nd after day 2). It was the biggest stringer of the day by more than 2 pounds, and with a 3-day total of 50-10, he'll carry an advantage of more than 3 1/2 pounds into the final day.

His closest pursuer is New Jersey's Mike Iaconelli, the day-2 leader who exchanged places with him today. Ike's 14-04 bag (which gave him a 47-00 total) was nearly 6 pounds lighter than the one he weighed yesterday, but he attributed much of that to the slick conditions and is confident he can go big once again if the gray, wet weather returns, as expected, tomorrow.

North Carolina's Kevin Langill caught 14-10 today and remained in 3rd with a 45-14 total. He's been solid every day, but will likely need to do something spectacular tomorrow to have a shot at his first tour-level win.

North Carolina's Dustin Wilks and Texan Alton Jones both sacked 15-13 today to make big jumps into the Top 5. Wilks, who was 16th when the day began, has a 43-09 total and Jones, who was 18th, has 43-03. Jones' bag was headed by a 5-10 brute – the biggest fish of the tournament thus far.

Here's a look at the Top 12 who'll fish tomorrow, with numbers in red indicating deficit margin from the leader:

1. Dean Rojas: 50-10
2. Mike Iaconelli: 47-00 3-10
3. Kevin Langill: 45-14 4-12
4, Dustin Wilks: 43-09 7-01
5. Alton Jones: 43-03 7-07
6. Mike McClelland: 43-01 7-09
7. Terry Butcher: 42-05 8-05
8. Casey Ashley: 42-02 8-08
9. Bill Lowen: 41-13 8-13
10. Mark Davis: 41-07 9-03
11. (tie) Bernie Schultz: 41-06 9-04
11. (tie) Dave Wolak: 41-06 9-04

The prevailing idea was that this tournament couldn't be won with largemouths because the lake is relatively small and too many anglers were targeting the available green fish. Rojas is about to put that theory to a stern test ¬– he's caught them in all kinds of weather and from numerous parts of the lake, and he has plenty of spots to run tomorrow that he hasn't visited since day 1.

And this isn't a game of ounces anymore. If Rojas hits his average of nearly 17 pounds, then Ike would need another 20-pound sack to beat him, and he's caught exactly one of those here in his career (the one he weighed on day 2). If the leader catches just 12 pounds, it'll still take a special stringer to unseat him.

In addition to Wilks and Jones, others who moved into the Top 12 today were Mike McClelland (13th to 6th with 15-00), Bernie Schultz (16th to tied for 11th with 13-12) and Dave Wolak (17th to tied for 11th with 13-14).

Sent packing were day-1 leader Steve Kennedy (5th to 19th, 8-13), Rick Clunn (6th to 25th, 8-08), Chris Lane (8th to 13th, 12-03), Ray Sedgwick (9th to 22nd, 10-00) and Kelly Jordon (10th to 31st, 8-07).

Photo: ESPN Outdoors Rojas is finding a lot of hidden gems in Oneida's large grassbeds.

Tomorrow's forecast for the Syracuse, N.Y. area is for thundershowers with a high of 70 degrees and a south/southeast wind to 8 mph. The winner will be determined following tomorrow's weigh-in by highest total weight for all 4 days.

Rojas Ready to Scratch

Rojas threw out the 7-year-itch analogy in reference to his tour-level victory drought. He hasn't won since 2001, when he notched two victories just a month apart.

"I'm ready," he said. "I have so many spots I want to go to because I know there's the possibility of catching good fish there.

"I'm not nervous about the whole ordeal, though. It's the end of the year, I'm pretty tire and it is what it is. I've been in this position many times."

He caught 10 keepers today and his biggest fish was a 4-05. He carried around a 3-pound smallmouth for quite awhile, but eventually culled it.

"It was the quickest limit so far – I had it by 10:00 – and then I culled three or four times after that. The number of bites was about the same (as the previous 2 days), but I caught some better fish today.

"I'm a little surprised that my weights keep going up, but I know I'm having a lot of fun out there."

The later start time tomorrow doesn't concern him at all.

"Today I caught three of my biggest ones – like after 1:30 or 2:00 this afternoon."

2nd: Ike Still Excited

Iaconelli was satisfied with the bag he weighed and said the day was a learning experience.

"Anytime you catch 14 to 16 pounds on this lake, that's a good day," he said. "Dean just had a tremendous day, and those don't happen often.

"I'm excited because I learned a little bit today about my area and the layout of if, and I definitely learned that when it's calm and sunny, the bite's a lot tougher. Yesterday (the fish) absolutely inhaled the bait, and today I almost had to finesse them. I missed a lot of bites because they weren't getting it good.

"I'm really hoping for rain tomorrow," he added. "That's the best thing that could happen for me."

He caught about a dozen keepers, the best of which was a 4-pounder. He also had a 3 1/2 and three in the 2- to 2 1/2-range.

"I'm in a good area and I think the winning fish are there. What I have to do is keep my head down and focus on every cast and capitalize on every bite.

"I want this one bad. I can taste it. To be this close on a lake that's semi-home turf with my kids and my mom and my girlfriend here – I want it."

4th: Wilks Settled In

Wilks spent about an hour and a half in his best spot today – considerably longer than he'd stayed on either of the previous days – and had all of his weight by 9:30.

Photo: ESPN Outdoors Mike Iaconelli said he learned some things about his primary area today that might help him tomorrow.

He went through about three dozen keepers and ended up weighing three largemouths and two smallmouths. The biggest was a little under 4 pounds.

He'll start day 4 in his primary area and with the hope that no local anglers have worked it over for several hours already.

"I'll do the same thing, but this time I'll have the freedom to beat it and beat it and see what it's got. There's some 4-pounders in there, and it's possible I could catch five of those.

"I'd feel real good if I caught 18 pounds, although somebody would still need to stumble for me to win."

5th: Big One Carried Jones

Jones had the 5-10 hawg. which he caught under some unusual circumstances, to thank for his Top-12 berth.

"I was making long casts on a shallow flat to holes in the grass," he said. "There was one hole about 2 feet deep and the wind kept blowing the boat closer and closer.

"I looked down and saw (what he thought was) this enormous drum and I reeled my bait in because I didn't want to waste time messing with it. Then the drum swam off, and it was actually that bass."

He figured he'd missed a golden opportunity.

"It was running straight away from the boat, so I cast about 50 feet in front of it and turned around and told my partner that that was the biggest mistake I'd made all season and that it would cost me the Top 12. Then when I turned back around my line was taking off, and I caught her."

That fish improved his bag by about 3 pounds.

"I still would've had a decent day, but I wouldn't have made it into the final cut. I'll admit I got a little lucky, but I was trying to get lucky."

He's catching a mixture of smallmouths and largemouths. "I was a little heavy on the smallmouth side today."

6th: McClelland Thinking Points

McClelland is locked in for next year's Bassmaster Classic and Kevin VanDam has already laid claim to the Angler of the Year (AOY) award, but the points race will still be on his mind for the season's final day. If he finishes 4th or higher, he would edge Todd Faircloth for 2nd place in the AOY standings, and that would be worth about $40,000 in bonus money.

"I'm excited about tomorrow because my smallmouth deal has gotten a little better each day," he said. "I pretty much caught cookie-cutters today – they were all 3-pounders."

He's sharing an area with Terry Butcher, and so far, that may have benefited both.

"With two people there it's a little easier to find them and get them fired up. It's a broad area that's 75 or 100 yards long that they're using to feed, and when you get them going you can catch them pretty quick.

"He said he might leave it to me tomorrow because he has a couple other deals he might fish. I could fish for largemouths, but I spent most of the day on them today and only caught four, and the biggest was 2-12."

He's done most of his damage in the mornings on a prototype bait he designed for Spro called the McStick.

Photo: ESPN Outdoors Mike McClelland's smallmouth action has improved as the tournament has gone on.

"It wouldn't bother me a bit if it was cloudy and rainy tomorrow. That'd give me better opportunities to catch largemouths, too."

31st: Jordon's Quality Down

A lack of quality bites was behind Jordon's 21-place nosedive.

"I think the weather had to have something to do with it because I don't think I caught them all," he said. "I hadn't been getting little bites doing what I was doing until today. They were all small (today) and some were like 5 inches."

He was fishing extremely shallow and said an overnight drop in water temperature might have pushed the bigger fish out. He'd been catching his fish by flipping and pitching underneath docks and grass mats.

In any case, his finish likely secured his spot in the '09 Classic.

"That was my goal going it, but I'm still really disappointed about today."

Notable

> Day 3 stats – 50 anglers, 46 limits, 1 three, 2 twos, 1 one.

> This Top 12 is Schultz's first since the last regular-season Elite Series event here 2 years ago.

> McClelland won the 2008 Berkley Heavyweight Award (worth $20,000) for catching the heaviest total weight over the first 2 days of all Elite Series events. His 368-09 beat out runner-up Kevin VanDam by 16 pounds. Todd Faircloth was 3rd.

> John Murray spent much of the first 3 days fishing near Iaconelli, but couldn't hook up with the kind of quality that's kept Ike at or near the top of the leaderboard. To read his competition report, click here to go On Tour With the BassFan Big Sticks.

Weather Forecast

Here's the forecast for the remaining tournament days. For more weather information, including satellite and radar imagery, visit OutdoorsFanWeather.com.

> Sat, August 9 – Partly Cloudy – 76°/58°
- Wind: From the W at 9 mph

> Sun, August 10 – T-Showers – 70°/57°
- Wind: From the S/SE at 8 mph

Day 3 Standings

1. Dean Rojas -- Lake Havasu City, AZ -- 15, 50-10 -- 305
Day 1: 5, 15-14 -- Day 2: 5, 16-09 -- Day 3: 5, 18-03

2. Michael Iaconelli -- Runnemede, NJ -- 15, 47-00 -- 300
Day 1: 5, 12-11 -- Day 2: 5, 20-01 -- Day 3: 5, 14-04

3. Kevin Langill -- Terrell, NC -- 15, 45-14 -- 290
Day 1: 5, 15-03 -- Day 2: 5, 16-01 -- Day 3: 5, 14-10

4. Dustin Wilks -- Rocky Mount, NC -- 15, 43-09 -- 285
Day 1: 5, 14-05 -- Day 2: 5, 13-07 -- Day 3: 5, 15-13

5. Alton Jones -- Waco, TX -- 15, 43-03 -- 280
Day 1: 5, 14-03 -- Day 2: 5, 13-03 -- Day 3: 5, 15-13

6. Mike McClelland -- Bella Vista, AR -- 15, 43-01 -- 276
Day 1: 5, 10-03 -- Day 2: 5, 17-14 -- Day 3: 5, 15-00

7. Terry Butcher -- Talala, OK -- 15, 42-05 -- 272
Day 1: 5, 16-09 -- Day 2: 5, 14-07 -- Day 3: 5, 11-05

8. Casey Ashley -- Donalds, SC -- 15, 42-02 -- 268
Day 1: 5, 13-11 -- Day 2: 5, 15-02 -- Day 3: 5, 13-05

9. Bill Lowen -- North Bend, OH -- 15, 41-13 -- 264
Day 1: 5, 14-04 -- Day 2: 5, 14-03 -- Day 3: 5, 13-06

10. Mark Davis -- Mount Ida, AR -- 15 41-07 -- 260
Day 1: 5, 13-13 -- Day 2: 5, 15-05 -- Day 3: 5, 12-05

11. Bernie Schultz -- Gainesville, FL -- 15, 41-06 -- 256
Day 1: 5, 15-03 -- Day 2: 5, 12-07 -- Day 3: 5, 13-12

11. Dave Wolak -- Wake Forest, NC -- 15, 41-06 -- 256
Day 1: 5, 13-13 -- Day 2: 5, 13-11 -- Day 3: 5, 13-14

The following anglers did not make the cut and will not be fishing tomorrow.

13. Chris Lane -- Lakeland, FL -- 15, 41-03 -- 251 -- $10,800
Day 1: 5, 15-10 -- Day 2: 5, 13-06 -- Day 3: 5, 12-03
14. Glenn Delong -- Bellville, OH -- 15, 40-09 -- 248 -- $10,700
Day 1: 5, 11-02 -- Day 2: 5, 14-15 -- Day 3: 5, 14-08
15. Boyd Duckett -- Demopolis, AL -- 15, 39-15 -- 245 -- $10,600
Day 1: 5, 12-00 -- Day 2: 5, 14-09 -- Day 3: 5, 13-06
16. Tommy Biffle -- Wagoner, OK -- 15, 39-13 -- 243 -- $10,500
Day 1: 5, 14-06 -- Day 2: 5, 12-08 -- Day 3: 5, 12-15
17. Bobby Lane -- Lakeland, FL -- 15, 39-10 -- 241 -- $10,500
Day 1: 5, 12-04 -- Day 2: 5, 14-01 -- Day 3: 5, 13-05
18. Fred Roumbanis -- Bixby, OK -- 15, 39-07 -- 239 -- $10,500
Day 1: 5, 13-11 -- Day 2: 5, 13-00 -- Day 3: 5, 12-12
19. Steve Kennedy -- Auburn, AL -- 15, 39-06 -- 242 -- $11,500
Day 1: 5, 17-10 -- Day 2: 5, 12-15 -- Day 3: 5, 08-13
20. Randy Howell -- Springville, AL -- 15, 39-04 -- 235 -- $10,500
Day 1: 5, 12-15 -- Day 2: 5, 12-10 -- Day 3: 5, 13-11
21. Terry Scroggins -- San Mateo, FL -- 15 39-00 -- 233 -- $10,250
Day 1: 5, 13-10 -- Day 2: 5, 13-03 -- Day 3: 5, 12-03
22. Ray Sedgwick -- Cross, SC -- 15, 38-15 -- 231 -- $10,750
Day 1: 5, 14-03 -- Day 2: 5, 14-12 -- Day 3: 5, 10-00
23. Marty Robinson -- Lyman, SC -- 15, 38-13 -- 229 -- $10,250
Day 1: 5, 13-05 -- Day 2: 5, 13-15 -- Day 3: 5, 11-09
24. Jon Bondy -- Windsor, Canada -- 15, 38-12 -- 227 -- $10,250
Day 1: 5, 12-07 -- Day 2: 5, 13-06 -- Day 3: 5, 12-15
25. Rick Clunn -- Ava, MO -- 15, 38-05 -- 225 -- $10,250
Day 1: 5, 15-13 -- Day 2: 5, 14-00 -- Day 3: 5, 08-08
26. Timmy Horton -- Muscle Shoals, AL -- 15, 38-01 -- 223 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 13-14 -- Day 2: 5, 10-10 -- Day 3: 5, 13-09
27. Aaron Martens -- Leeds, AL -- 15 37-15 -- 221 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 13-06 -- Day 2: 5, 12-05 -- Day 3: 5, 12-04
28. John Murray -- Phoenix, AZ -- 15, 37-14 -- 219 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 14-03 -- Day 2: 5, 11-10 -- Day 3: 5, 12-01
29. Cliff Pace -- Petal, MS -- 15, 37-10 -- 217 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 14-02 -- Day 2: 5, 12-15 -- Day 3: 5, 10-09
30. Greg Hackney -- Gonzales, LA -- 15, 37-07 -- 215 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 11-00 -- Day 2: 5, 16-01 -- Day 3: 5, 10-06
31. Kelly Jordon -- Mineola, TX -- 15, 37-05 -- 213 -- $10,500
Day 1: 5, 14-11 -- Day 2: 5, 14-03 -- Day 3: 5, 08-07
32. Russ Lane -- Prattville, AL -- 15, 37-00 -- 210 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 15-10 -- Day 2: 5, 09-12 -- Day 3: 5, 11-10
32. Skeet Reese -- Auburn, CA -- 15, 37-00 -- 210 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 11-09 -- Day 2: 5, 14-06 -- Day 3: 5, 11-01
34. Peter E Thliveros -- St Augustine, FL -- 15, 36-13 207 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 10-14 -- Day 2: 5, 13-03 -- Day 3: 5, 12-12
35. Mark Tyler -- Vian, OK -- 15, 36-05 -- 205 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 15-05 -- Day 2: 5, 09-13 -- Day 3: 5, 11-03
36. Ken D Cook -- Lawton, OK -- 15 36-04 -- 202 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 11-00 -- Day 2: 5, 13-02 -- Day 3: 5, 12-02
36. Derek Remitz -- Grant, AL -- 15, 36-04 -- 202 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 12-06 -- Day 2: 5, 11-11 -- Day 3: 5, 12-03
38. Mark Menendez -- Paducah, KY -- 15, 36-03 -- 198 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 11-05 -- Day 2: 5, 13-01 -- Day 3: 5, 11-13
38. Kevin VanDam -- Kalamazoo, MI -- 15 36-03 -- 198 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 10-13 -- Day 2: 5, 13-01 -- Day 3: 5, 12-05
40. Brent Chapman -- Lake Quivira, KS -- 15, 35-14 -- 195 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 12-08 -- Day 2: 5, 12-11 -- Day 3: 5, 10-11
41. Matthew Sphar -- Pavilion, NY -- 15 35-10 -- 193 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 12-00 -- Day 2: 5, 12-05 -- Day 3: 5, 11-05
42. Charlie Hartley -- Grove City, OH -- 15, 35-08 191 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 09-15 -- Day 2: 5, 15-04 -- Day 3: 5, 10-05
43. Ish Monroe -- Hughson, CA -- 15, 35-07 -- 189 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 13-09 -- Day 2: 5, 10-06 -- Day 3: 5, 11-08
44. Kenyon Hill -- Norman, OK -- 15, 33-04 -- 187 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 13-00 -- Day 2: 5, 11-08 -- Day 3: 5, 08-12
45. Kevin Wirth -- Crestwood, KY -- 15, 32-12 185 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 12-08 -- Day 2: 5, 11-05 -- Day 3: 5, 08-15
46. Pat Golden -- High Point, NC -- 15, 31-12 183 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 14-03 -- Day 2: 5, 09-10 -- Day 3: 5, 07-15
47. Mark Tucker -- Saint Louis, MO -- 12 31-08 -- 181 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 15-07 -- Day 2: 5, 12-10 -- Day 3: 2, 03-07
48. Jeff Kriet -- Ardmore, OK -- 13, 28-01 -- 179 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 13-06 -- Day 2: 5, 10-07 -- Day 3: 3, 04-04
49. Byron Velvick -- Del Rio, TX -- 12, 27-12 -- 177 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 12-11 -- Day 2: 5, 11-01 -- Day 3: 2, 04-00
50. Mike Wurm -- Hot Springs, AR -- 11, 26-07 175 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 10-03 -- Day 2: 5, 14-09 -- Day 3: 1, 01-11

Big Bass

Day 3: Alton Jones -- Waco, Texas -- 5-10 -- $1,000
Day 2: Ray Sedgwick -- Cross, S.C. -- 5-00 -- $500
Day 2: Kelly Jordon -- Mineola, Texas -- 5-00 -- $500
Day 1: Britt Myers -- Lake Wylie, S.C. -- 4-14 -- $1,000