Iaconelli Finishes 4th in the 2013 Bassmaster Classic

Mike Iaconelli started the first arctic tournament fishing day of the Bassmaster Classic catching a flurry of bass in the first couple of hours, then moved around, boating another good keeper late in the day. Mike indicated that he was fishing a jerk bait, like most of the field, along with an additional finesse technique to land 21.5lbs. and share the lead with Cliff Pace after day 1.

Tournament day 2 yielded trolling motor issues, leading to a BassCat boat swap with another angler not competing in the Bassmaster Classic. In true Ike fashion, he never gave up, and ended the day with one of his best fish. His day 2 limit kept him near the top, in 3rd place, just behind Brandon Palaniuk, but with lots of ground to recover on day 1 leader Cliff Pace.

Though leader Cliff Pace had a difficult day on the water, opening the door for a late charge by his competitors, Iaconelli just couldn't get the big bite on the final day, and ended with a mirror day 2's 13lb. limit.

In Bassmaster's article Elder statesman Iaconelli finishes fourth, author Pete Robbins notes Ike's single Classic title, while Keven VanDam has won 3 titles. It's worth noting that of Mike's 14 Classic appearances, he's finished in the top 10 in 8, including a 2nd place finish on the Red River in 2009.

Mike continually expressed his dismay with a lackluster 2012 season, having fished for the wrong fish, and not making the right decisions after the weigh-in and in his Bassmaster article I'm a Happy Man. He also states in this Classic he fished the way he wanted, fished well, covered water, got good bites and got those bites to the boat. What he didn't get was a bite from a couple of tournament-winning giants.

Through the 3-day tournament Iaconelli fished Rapala Husky Jerk, Rapala Scatter Rap, Finesse Jig and Berkley Havoc Beat Shad to land his 48lbs. 5oz. Of Grand Lake bass.

View Full 2013 Bassmaster Classic Results Here