Turns out 76 pounds and 12 ounces wasn't quite enough.
That was the 3-day mark set by both Texas pro Keith Combs and New Jersey pro Mike Iaconelli today at Lake Conroe during the Toyota Texas Bass Classic. The two ended their 3-day rampage locked in a tie, and officials declared a 1-hour sudden-death fish-off to determine the winner.
It was 35-year-old Combs who caught the first keeper after 45 minutes of overtime, and it was Iaconelli who finished 2nd for the second year in a row.
For Combs, a 4th-year tour pro, it marked his first major win and it delivered a $150,000 payday.
For Iaconelli, who hasn't visited a full-field winner's circle since 2006, it's yet one more bitter pill from a prescription sheet that exhibits an epidemic of 2nds – two TTBCs, the Forrest Wood Cup and the Bassmaster Classic just within the past 2 1/2 years.
It almost didn't happen for Combs, who had two keepers late in the day. He made a fateful decision and moved to the other side of the lake. It was an area that had let him down in the past, but he gave it another go.
"That spot owes me," he thought to himself on the way over, and when he pulled up it was lights out. He boated five keepers to the tune of 21 pounds and left them biting to return to weigh-in.
Combs Blown Away
Combs played the hometown hero today. Southeast Texas is where he cut his tournament teeth, and he put in extensive practice time in order to revisit, explore and amass hundreds of waypoints to stop and crank.
"I'm finally calmed down now that it's over with, I think," he told BassFan after festivities wound down. "This has been the craziest week. It looks like a lot of weight, and you'd look at it and think everything went easy, but it's been a grind from start to finish and today was probably the worst. I had two keepers at 2:00 and I pulled up on one spot and caught 21 pounds and 10 or 11 keepers.
"Then I started to think, 'Man, now I've got a chance.' Then I got to weigh-in and it was a tie game."
Because Iaconelli had been catching his fish early, Combs figured he had to win during tonight's 1-hour fish-off. If a winner couldn't be declared, which would force another fish-off tomorrow, Combs figured Ike would clinch.
But inexplicably, Combs went right to his hot area when sudden-death began and the fish were gone. He then visited other spots and caught the keeper on about his fifth stop.
"They sent us back out and the first keeper wins. At 6:45 we had to put our rods down and if nobody caught anything, then we'd go back out in the morning. It was crazy."
About how the winning catch went down, Combs said: "The judge had to call it in. When I saw that fish come over the side, I knew it was a keeper – it was about 15 1/2 inches. I said, 'Call him in – Call him in.' I just wanted somebody to tell me, 'Okay, Ike doesn't have one. It's over.' My judge called it, then Tim Cook from (Texas) Parks & Wildlife said, 'Congratulations. You won.'
Mike Iaconelli has finished 2nd four times in championships over the past 2 1/2 years.
"I just wouldn't believe it until he said it."
He never saw Ike.
About what the win means, Combs said: "This is a heck of a win. It's not just the money, although it couldn't come at a better time because deposits for the Elite Series are due this week and this takes a load off from that end. But just to win, and in front of so many people at the weigh-in that I know.
"I fished this area of Texas since I was 13 years old. It's an awesome feeling."
He caught all his fish on a Norman DD 14 crank, which he said was the biggest key to his victory. Details of his winning pattern will be published soon.
Iaconelli could not be reached for comments.
Final Standings
1. Keith Combs -- TX -- 15, 76-12
2. Mike Iaconelli -- NJ -- 15, 76-12
3. Todd Auten -- SC -- 14, 50-00
4. Ott Defoe -- TN -- 15, 48-08
5. Steve Kennedy -- AL -- 15, 44-12
6. Mark Rose -- AR -- 15, 44-00
7. Edwin Evers -- OK -- 12, 41-04
8. Brian Snowden -- MO -- 13, 41-00
9. Wesley Strader -- TN -- 12, 38-00
10. Alton Jones -- TX -- 10, 36-00
