Somehow it happened again. Mike Iaconelli – the hottest angler in time-space right now – caught the biggest sack of the day at the Bassmaster Memorial in Texas.
The Runnemede Man, the Jersey Devil, the East Koast Kid – no matter what you call him, he'll eat you for breakfast, lunch and dinner, then scrape your remains off his plate and run them through an industrial-strength garbage disposal.
He started the day on Eagle Mountain Lake all the way back in 20th with 10-08. Today he caught 16-14, which was the heaviest sack of the day, and co-heaviest of the tournament. Spank you very much.
He made the Top 12 cut in 1st with 27-06 – a pure flex of his power – but it matters little now. The Top 12 will awake tomorrow with zero weight and move to nearby Lake Benbrook, where they'll compete on a pre-designated six-hole course.
After tomorrow, only the Top 6 advance. The heaviest 2-day combined weight wins $250,000.
Hole choice on Benbrook is based on current Elite Series Angler of the Year standings. As the leader, Ike gets first pick of the holes both tomorrow, and the day after.
Yesterday's leader, Dave Wolak, caught 10-00 today and slipped one spot to make the cut in 2nd – 12 ounces behind Ike. Skeet Reese caught 11-13 today, which brought his 2-day total to 26-03. He made the cut in 3rd.
Matt Reed's still fishing. He was 6th yesterday, but caught 11-09 today and moved up to 4th with 25-08. Mike McClelland caught the 8 pounds he wanted and made the cut in 5th with 24-10.
Ike purposely narrowed his options today and concentrated on one pattern instead of three.
At the end of the day, five new faces appeared in the Top 12. Those who moved up into the cut included:
The other two anglers who will move to Benbrook tomorrow are Mark Menendez (11th) and Randy Howell (12th).
The tumblers – meaning, those who fell out of the cut – included:
The final money spot was 25th place. Here are some other interesting moves centered around that position.
Anglers were permitted to view and drive Lake Benbrook, but don't have much to report. One key factor is the lack of shoreline cover, and the absolute absence of docks.
Therefore, anyone who fished Eagle Mt. with a dock pattern has to start completely fresh tomorrow – which could be a disadvantage. On the other hand, guys who didn't fish docks feel they'll be able to transport their pattern over to Benbrook.
Ike Excited
"I feel great," Ike said. "I feel stoked. I felt good about yesterday, but I was a little disappointed to come in and be in the middle of the pack.
"I stepped it up today and made the cut, and I'm really happy just to have an opportunity to play. That's a whole lot of money."
He worked three different patterns yesterday, which he said hurt him – he was all over the place. Today, he stuck with one and that made the difference.
"Today I settled on one thing and slowed down. The other key was the wind blew a little bit. Yesterday afternoon it was slick and still. When the wind blew, they bit better."
He hasn't even looked at Benbrook yet, and will have to decide on his starting hole tomorrow in the dark. But he's said throughout this season that he's fishing the moment – fishing by instinct.
That mentality should fit perfectly tomorrow.
"I'm going out tomorrow and fishing blind," he said. "I'll go out there and fish the moment. I think that favors me. I feel I do some of my best fishing when I'm practicing. When we go to a new lake is usually when I have my best days ever.
"I'll just go out like it's practice and hope to carry the momentum."
> He finished 17th (of 25) at the 2005 Cabela's Top Gun Championship, which also took place at Eagle Mt. "It helped," he said of his prior experience here. "I knew the layout of the lake, and I kind of knew the characteristics. It fished all new this year, but it did help."
6th: Crews Amped
John Crews is another red-hot angler. He's 3rd in the Elite series points, and after he started the year ranked No. 94, he's climbed all the way to No. 42 in the world.
Peter Thliveros landed his good bites today – that was the difference.
He came from all the way back at 36th to make the cut today in 6th.
"It feels awesome – just awesome," he said. "I like fishing for 4 days in a row in tournaments. That's fun. That's the real deal."
His 15-06 today was more than twice his weight yesterday. He stuck with the same pattern in the same area. The difference, he said, was boating keepers. Yesterday he got four good bites and put two in the boat. Today, he landed all five of his keeper bites.
He didn't fish docks at Eagle Mt., which he thinks will help him. "I think I can duplicate my pattern.
"I don't feel any pressure," he added. "I always have good expectations of myself to fish hard and fish smart and capitalize on all my bites. If I just go out and do that, then that's the best I can do."
7th: Thliveros Relieved
This is Thliveros' second Top 12 cut in as many tournaments.
"I'm tired, and kind of relieved," he said. "I made the cut again. And it wouldn't have mattered if I was 12th or 1st, as long I was in the Top 12 – that's the main thing."
His 13-12 today was quite a bit better than his 8-03 yesterday. Like others, he said the key was he landed his good bites today.
"I did exactly the same thing I did yesterday. I just landed my bigger fish – that's all. I had a big fish get off yesterday under a boat dock – it was probably a 5- to 6-pound fish."
About Benbrook, he said: "I haven't been there. I looked at Kelly Jordon's GPS map on his boat – that's all."
10th: Evers Blind at Benbrook
"I'm exited – really excited," Evers said. "I just landed the bites I had today. Yesterday I didn't land the good ones, and today I did. I fished exactly the same. That was the only difference."
He hasn't seen Benbrook yet, but is one of the anglers who focused on docks, which means he needs to find something new tomorrow. But that's okay with him.
"I was throwing a spinnerbait and swimming a jig around docks. That won't work there. But I'm great at fishing blind and shooting from the hip. I think I can catch them there.
Edwin Evers isn't afraid to fish blind at Benbrook – he feels that setup helps him.
"I'm just excited. I've got a 1-in-12 chance to win $250,000, so I'm going to go out there and give it everything I've got – try to get one step closer to winning."
13th: Bailey Disappointed
Lee Bailey followed up a strong 13-08 with a three-fish, 6-01 today and finished 4 ounces behind Randy Howell. He tied with Steve Kennedy for 13th and first out of the cut.
"I'm disappointed," he said. "I'm most disappointed in myself I guess. I lost two fish today. One jumped off – it wasn't a good fish – and I lost a 5-pounder right at the boat. Either one would have made it work."
He's also second-guessing one of his throwbacks. Eagle Mt. has a 14-inch minimum length, and he worked a fish this morning. It only touched once, and he decided to throw it back.
"Normally, if I can get it to touch at least once, I throw it in the livewell," he said. "I debated it today. A lot of times when you put them in the livewell with the juice (livewell additive), they'll relax a little bit.
"Now I'm second-guessing that decision. But that was early in the day, and I didn't think it was going to matter."
About his pattern, he said: "I was flipping a little 5/16-ounce prototype jig with a Yamamoto craw. The difference was I was throwing it on 17- and 20-pound line, which is heavy for that jig, but I wanted the slow fall.
"And I was also in the way backs of pockets. A lot of guys didn't want to go all the way back if there was only one dock or blowdown tree."
Notable
> Day 1 stats – 55 anglers, 17 limits (6 fewer than yesterday), 11 fours, 11 threes, 7 twos, 5 ones, 4 zeroes (three more than yesterday).
> Scott Rook (15th) on falling out of the cut: "I'm disappointed, definitely. I did about the same thing as yesterday and caught about 50 bass. I just didn't get a lot of quality bites. I got six keeper bites and only caught three."
> Gerald Swindle (19th) on moving into the money: "After the hole I dug for myself yesterday on a lake this tough and hard to make a big comeback on, I have to be satisfied to get a check. I really wanted to make the cut, but to put it in perspective, I'm proud I got a check."
> BassFan Big Stick John Murray only weighed three fish today and finished 27th – 15 ounces out of the money. To read his report, click here to go On Tour With the BassFan Big Sticks.
> Marty Stone (46th) on fishing his first Major: "I never thought in my career that I'd ever get to fish for a quarter-million dollars with no entry fee, using my own boat all 4 days. Yet here it is. I'm seeing it. I'll be part of history. Somewhere along the line I'll be a trivia question – me and 54 other guys. I think we've set a pretty good precedent here."
> Stone on his continuing slump: "It's a bittersweet deal – this finish. I had the fish on to more than make the cut. It's been this way all year long. But I've been around fish, so my instincts are still good. I know I have what it takes to get right back up there. Every time I've come out of one of these, I've been a better, stronger angler."
Weather Forecast
> Sat, May 20 – Sunny – 95°/68°
- Wind: From the S at 10 mph
> Sun, May 21 – Sunny – 92°/68°
- Wind: From the S at 14 mph
Day 2 Standings
1. Michael Iaconelli -- Runnemede, N.J. -- 10, 27-06 -- 0
Day 1: 5, 10-08 -- Day 2: 5, 16-14
2. Dave Wolak -- Warrior Run, Pa. -- 9, 26-14 -- 0
Day 1: 5, 16-14 -- Day 2: 4, 10-00
3. Skeet Reese -- Auburn, Calif. -- 10, 26-03 -- 0
Day 1: 5, 14-06 -- Day 2: 5, 11-13
4. Matt Reed -- Madisonville, Texas -- 10, 25-08 -- 0
Day 1: 5, 13-15 -- Day 2: 5, 11-09
5. Mike McClelland -- Bella Vista, Ark. -- 9, 24-10 -- 0
Day 1: 5, 16-09 -- Day 2: 4, 8-01
6. John Crews -- Salem, Va. -- 7, 22-00 -- 0
Day 1: 2, 6-10 -- Day 2: 5, 15-06
7. Peter E Thliveros -- Jacksonville, Fla. -- 9, 21-15 -- 0
Day 1: 5, 8-03 -- Day 2: 4, 13-12
8. Todd Faircloth -- Jasper, Texas -- 10, 21-03 -- 0
Day 1: 5, 9-01 -- Day 2: 5, 12-02
9. Greg Hackney -- Gonzales, La. -- 10, 21-01 -- 0
Day 1: 5, 11-06 -- Day 2: 5, 9-11
10. Edwin Evers -- Talala, Okla. -- 9, 20-14 -- 0
Day 1: 4, 8-02 -- Day 2: 5, 12-12
10. Mark Menendez -- Paducah, Ky. -- 7, 20-14 -- 0
Day 1: 3, 12-03 -- Day 2: 4, 8-11
12. Randy Howell -- Springville, Ala. -- 9, 19-12 -- 0
Day 1: 5, 12-08 -- Day 2: 4, 7-04
The following anglers didn't make the cut and won't be fishing tomorrow:
13. Steve Kennedy -- Auburn, Ala. -- 9, 19-09 -- 0, $11,650
Day 1: 5, 11-02 -- Day 2: 4, 8-07
13. Lee Bailey -- Boaz, Ala. -- 8, 19-09 -- 0, $11,650
Day 1: 5, 13-08 -- Day 2: 3, 6-01
15. Brent Chapman -- Lake Quivira, Kan. -- 10, 19-02 -- 0, $11,400
Day 1: 5, 10-10 -- Day 2: 5, 8-08
15. Shaw E Grigsby, Jr -- Gainesville, Fla. -- 9, 19-02 -- 0, $11,400
Day 1: 4, 8-07 -- Day 2: 5, 10-11
15. Scott Rook -- Little Rock, Ark. -- 8, 19-02 -- 0, $11,400
Day 1: 5, 15-00 -- Day 2: 3, 4-02
18. Rick Clunn -- Ava, Mo. -- 8, 18-00 -- 0, $11,200
Day 1: 5, 7-03 -- Day 2: 3, 10-13
19. Gerald Swindle -- Hayden, Ala. -- 8, 17-15 -- 0, $11,050
Day 1: 3, 5-02 -- Day 2: 5, 12-13
19. Kelly Jordon -- Mineola, Texas -- 4, 17-15 -- 0, $11,050
Day 1: 3, 15-06 -- Day 2: 1, 2-09
21. Yusuke Miyazaki -- Mineola, Texas -- 7, 17-13 -- 0, $10,900
Day 1: 5, 10-15 -- Day 2: 2, 6-14
22. Mike Wurm -- Hot Springs, Ark. -- 7, 17-08 -- 0, $10,800
Day 1: 5, 12-06 -- Day 2: 2, 5-02
23. Charlie Hartley -- Grove City, Ohio -- 7, 17-00 -- 0, $10,700
Day 1: 5, 13-03 -- Day 2: 2, 3-13
24. Zell Rowland -- Montgomery, Texas -- 7, 16-00 -- 0, $10,600
Day 1: 5, 12-06 -- Day 2: 2, 3-10
25. Gary Klein -- Weatherford, Texas -- 7, 15-13 -- 0, $10,500
Day 1: 5, 11-07 -- Day 2: 2, 4-06
26. Kevin VanDam -- Kalamazoo, Mich. -- 7, 15-08 -- 0
Day 1: 2, 2-10 -- Day 2: 5, 12-14
27. John Murray -- Phoenix, Ariz. -- 7, 14-14 -- 0
Day 1: 4, 7-15 -- Day 2: 3, 6-15
28. Aaron Martens -- Leeds, Ala. -- 8, 14-13 -- 0
Day 1: 3, 5-01 -- Day 2: 5, 9-12
28. Davy Hite -- Ninety Six, S.C. -- 7, 14-13 -- 0
Day 1: 2, 4-03 -- Day 2: 5, 10-10
30. Terry Scroggins -- Palatka, Fla. -- 7, 14-12 -- 0
Day 1: 4, 9-00 -- Day 2: 3, 5-12
31. Denny Brauer -- Camdenton, Mo. -- 9, 14-11 -- 0
Day 1: 5, 8-14 -- Day 2: 4, 5-13
31. Ishama Monroe -- Hughson, Calif. -- 8, 14-11 -- 0
Day 1: 5, 9-04 -- Day 2: 3, 5-07
33. Bernie Schultz -- Gainesville, Fla. -- 10, 14-06 -- 0
Day 1: 5, 2-15 -- Day 2: 5, 11-07
33. Brian Snowden -- Reeds Spring, Mo. -- 7, 14-06 -- 0
Day 1: 2, 5-01 -- Day 2: 5, 9-05
35. Alton Jones -- Waco, Texas -- 6, 14-05 -- 0
Day 1: 5, 11-12 -- Day 2: 1, 2-09
36. Takahiro Omori -- Emory, Texas -- 7, 13-15 -- 0
Day 1: 3, 7-13 -- Day 2: 4, 6-02
37. Tommy Biffle -- Wagoner, Okla. -- 7, 13-01 -- 0
Day 1: 4, 7-07 -- Day 2: 3, 5-10
38. Jeff Kriet -- Ardmore, Okla. -- 8, 12-15 -- 0
Day 1: 3, 5-02 -- Day 2: 5, 7-13
39. Stephen Browning -- Hot Springs, Ark. -- 6, 12-14 -- 0
Day 1: 2, 2-12 -- Day 2: 4, 10-02
39. Mark Tucker -- Saint Louis, Mo. -- 6, 12-14 -- 0
Day 1: 3, 6-14 -- Day 2: 3, 6-00
41. Mike Reynolds -- Modesto, Calif. -- 6, 12-11 -- 0
Day 1: 3, 5-14 -- Day 2: 3, 6-13
42. Morizo Shimizu -- Murrieta, Calif. -- 6, 12-02 -- 0
Day 1: 3, 5-05 -- Day 2: 3, 6-13
43. Jeff Reynolds -- Idabel, Okla. -- 6, 12-01 -- 0
Day 1: 4, 6-12 -- Day 2: 2, 5-05
44. Guy Eaker -- Cherryville, N.C. -- 6, 10-12 -- 0
Day 1: 2, 2-08 -- Day 2: 4, 8-04
44. Paul Elias -- Laurel, Miss. -- 4, 10-12 -- 0
Day 1: 4, 10-12 -- Day 2: 0, 0-00
46. Marty Stone -- Linden, N.C. -- 5, 10-00 -- 0
Day 1: 3, 6-04 -- Day 2: 2, 3-12
47. Chad Brauer -- Osage Beach, Mo. -- 5, 9-15 -- 0
Day 1: 1, 1-03 -- Day 2: 4, 8-12
48. Mark Tyler -- Scottsdale, Ariz. -- 5, 9-00 -- 0
Day 1: 2, 3-05 -- Day 2: 3, 5-11
49. Jason Quinn -- Lake Wylie, S.C. -- 4, 8-04 -- 0
Day 1: 3, 5-14 -- Day 2: 1, 2-06
50. Kenyon Hill -- Norman, Okla. -- 4, 7-13 -- 0
Day 1: 4, 7-13 -- Day 2: 0, 0-00
51. Jimmy Mize -- Ben Lomond, Ark. -- 5, 7-12 -- 0
Day 1: 0, 0-00 -- Day 2: 5, 7-12
52. Timmy Horton -- Muscle Shoals, Ala. -- 3, 7-07 -- 0
Day 1: 2, 5-10 -- Day 2: 1, 1-13
53. Dean Rojas -- Lake Havasu, Ariz. -- 2, 6-09 -- 0
Day 1: 2, 6-09 -- Day 2: 0, 0-00
54. Kevin Wirth -- Crestwood, Ky. -- 2, 3-08 -- 0
Day 1: 1, 1-13 -- Day 2: 1, 1-11
55. Brooks Rogers -- Quitman, Texas -- 1, 2-06 -- 0
Day 1: 1, 2-06 -- Day 2: 0, 0-00
Big Bass
> Day 2 -- Peter E Thliveros -- Jacksonville, Fla. -- 7-00 -- $1,000
> Day 1 -- Mark Menendez -- Paducah, Ky. -- 7-01 -- $1,000
