Philly Goes IKE!

Mike's Bassmaster Elite win on the Delaware River was something special
for him, his family and BASS. Watch as it unfolds and witness how Philly loves going IKE!
(Photo: Steve Bowman BASS)

LINK here to see the video.

Mike Iaconelli Wins Bassmaster Elite Delaware River!

Philly Goes IKE!

By Deb Johnson

bass press release

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — Michael Iaconelli hopped five feet down off the Bassmaster Elite Series stage, turned and hoisted his 55-pound winner’s trophy, then practically danced with it up through the roaring audience stacked on the concrete steps of the Great Stage of Penn’s Landing.

Moments before, he had told the crowd exactly what he was feeling as he won Bassmaster Elite on the Delaware River.

“I won today, but not for me. I won for you guys,” said Iaconelli, Philly-born and raised in New Jersey.

Mike with the whole family celebrate
his home town win.
(Photo: James Overstreet BASS)

Suddenly, “Going Ike” took on a new meaning.

When the fishing goes very right and when the fishing goes horribly wrong, Iaconelli is famous for his, um, unrepressedvocal and physical expression. Now, “Going Ike” also means achieving the win of any pro angler’s dreams.

Sunday, Ike nailed what few anglers have been able to: win a Bassmaster Elite Series event on home water. He topped that by whipping the field by no less than 8 pounds.

His winning total was 47 pounds, 14 ounces — a respectable weight for any midsummer tournament, and, as Iaconelli pointed out, proof that the Delaware River is a fishery worth any bass angler’s time.

Now living in Pittsgrove, N.J., Iaconelli recovered from a start at 21st place to lead for two days running before triumphing on the fourth and final competition day on the Delaware River, where he learned as a kid what bass fishing was all about.

2014 Bassmaster Elite at Delaware River Day 2: Ike Take Lead in Hometown!

Difficult fishing makes for tight tournament. 

By Deb Johnson

bass press release

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — The crowd began to cheer and chant “Ike, Ike, Ike” even before Philadelphia-born Michael Iaconelli, now also a New Jersey fishing hero, took the stage Friday for the second weigh-in of the Bassmaster Elite on the Delaware River.

Iaconelli wows the hometown crowd with
slim lead on Day 2.
(Photo: James Overstreet BASS)

It was as if the boisterous Ike fans felt their voices could pull their hometown guy up from 21st place, almost 8 pounds behind first-day leader Boyd Duckett after the initial round Thursday.

But “Ike,” as it turned out, was able to get up all by himself. He turned in 15-1, the biggest sack of bass to meet the scales Friday, and deftly slipped the lead away from Duckett, albeit by only 14 ounces.

Duckett gave Iaconelli’s rocket ride from 21st place a boost by posting 6-7, relegating Duckett to second place. Iaconelli had 24-3 on the board to Duckett’s 23-5.

But Duckett, who’s from Guntersville, Ala., and Iaconelli, now living in Pittsgrove, N.J., have plenty of competition left before either can claim the Elite event’s first prize of $100,000 and an instant 2015 Bassmaster Classic qualification.

Morizo Shimizu of Osaka, Japan, is one prime threat. He produced 10-4 for a two-day total of 22-6. That put him in third place and 1 pound, 13 ounces behind Iaconelli.