With a little luck, a little bit of help from new friends and some increased efforts out of himself, Mike Iaconelli kept alive the longest active streak of qualifying to consecutive Classics.
“It’s amazing what just happened,” Ike said. “I had mentally sort of checked out when it looked like I wouldn’t be at the Classic next year. We started looking at the positives of not making it … But I’m so excited. I can’t believe that I’m in again.”
By winning the Bass Pro Shops Central Open on Grand Lake on Saturday, James Elam double qualified for the 2018 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods. That opened a spot from the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year point standings, and Ike was next up.
The March 16-18 Classic on Hartwell will be Ike’s 17th consecutive appearance – the 45-year-old from Pittsgrove, N.J., last missed the big show in 2001. In his 19 appearances, Iaconelli has eight Top 6 finishes, including his 2003 title on the Louisiana Delta.
The record for most consecutive Classic appearances is held by Rick Clun, who had 28 from 1974-2001. Kevin VanDam stands second with 24, which ended in 2014, and Larry Nixon third with 18. Ike has tied Gary Klein for fourth all-time at 17. Aaron Martens has the second-longest active streak at 15.
On Facebook, Iaconelli posted a photo of Elam posing with his Open trophy, and he thanked his newest best friend. He also said he owes a bit of gratitude to Jesse Wiggins, who won the Southern Open the week before. That put Steve Kennedy in the Classic and moved Ike one rung closer.
“I’m certainly happy to keep the streak alive,” Iaconelli said. “I’m happy to be fishing, not watching. I’m just fortunate it happened the way it happened.
“At the same time, I helped put myself in that position. I worked hard at St. Clair and Mille Lacs. The work that I put in is really what did it.”
After placing 93rd at Lake Champlain, Ike’s Classic hopes appeared grim. He fell to 55th in the point standings and knew he needed a top finish in the last regular season event just to make the 50-man field in the AOY Championship. A 31st on St. Clair sent him to Mille Lacs at 46th, then his 11th moved him to 41st in the points and eventually to the last man in.
Amazed he’s in the Classic after one of his worst seasons, Ike said he can point to many positive and negative things this year. He had several top finishes – including a run at the Conroe Classic before finishing sixth – but some poor outings as well. He said he could look back at each tournament and point to one lost fish that cost him points to qualify without the drama.
A good example was at Lake Okeechobee, where he finished 93rd. He said he fished an area near an Elite who made the Top 12, and he saw him land a 9-pounder 20 feet from him. He also missed a shot in the last-chance Classic Bracket event with a berth on the line.
“Even in bad tournaments, I thought I was there,” said Ike, who in years past has needed similar good fortunes to keep the streak alive.
During the 2013 season, he missed the Classic in AOY points but got there by winning a Northern Open on Lake Erie in September. The following season, he was lagging in points when he claimed a dramatic win-and-in at home on the Delaware River, which helped him climb and double qualify via the points.
Although it’s been a long time since he hasn’t been to a Classic, Iaconelli said he recalls exactly how he missed it.
“I was in the Classic going into the last event, which was on Douglas Lake,” he said, “and I had a bad event (129th) and fell out. Back then it was a little different setup – there wasn’t as many second opportunities to get into the Classic. That was a lot of years ago, but I vividly remember it. I always want to be in the Classic.”
Often, when an angler misses the Classic, Ike said, that can help fuel a fire and refocus them to fish better the next season.
“A lot of guys come back with a vengeance,” he said. “Honestly, it’s like a really good slap in the face that stings, and I think it’s a great motivator. It gives me reason to push a little bit harder next year.”
Calling himself a “fat thin guy,” Ike said he’s already started training with wife, Becky, so he’ll be better prepared physically in 2018. Mentally, he said he plans to do more research and legwork, like going out of his way to pre-practice. And he wants those practices to count.
“Maybe I’ve been a bit complacent and going through motions,” he said. “In the practice days, you need to go out and believe it’s your last day of practice, your last hours. That drive and hustle, I want to get back to it a little bit more.”
There’s also being out on the water. He said he plans to fish a bunch of smaller tournaments around the house this year, which he called the winter leagues.
“I’m going to fish them to try to keep fresh the decision-making process,” he said. “One last thing, from the standpoint of my equipment and what I’m bringing with me. I feel like every year I’ve tried to organize and cut back. This year I really want to streamline what I’m taking in the boat and in the truck. Sometimes I’ve felt overwhelmed with too much stuff, too many choices. I think that will help me.”
There’s been talk that Iaconelli could possibly be positioning for retirement from the Elite Series, and some have suggested sooner rather than later. Ike said he doesn’t see it now, but it might be there if he clicks on the high beams.
“I love to compete and I love tournament fishing. At this point in time, I couldn’t imagine not competing on the Bassmaster tour,” Ike said. “In the same breath, and this is nothing against guys like Rick Clunn, Roland Martin and Jimmy Houston – those guys are my heroes. I respect those guys – but I don’t see that being me.”
Even when he does decide to step away from the Elites, Iaconelli said he expects to stay involved in the sport on other levels. The retirement rumors might be fueled by his work on Ike LIVE, Bass University and the Ike Foundation, among others.
“The other thing, I’m probably about two to four weeks from making an official announcement on an amazing opportunity, a life-changing opportunity to reach people outside this realm,” he said.
With all that, retirement won’t be getting out of the sport, just tournaments.
“Is it three years away. Is it five, is it 10?” he said. “When it comes, I think I’ll know.”
Iaconelli couldn’t exit while holding the active consecutive Classic streak, could he? With an AOY title and a Classic among his seven B.A.S.S. victories and all his enterprises, was the streak even that huge of a deal?
“Yes and no,” he said. “Yeah, because it’s a great accomplishment and you’re proud of that. Bottom line, every year you want to fish that event. You want to fish it for your sponsors and have a chance to win. The streak means something.
“The other part, if it didn’t happen this year, it wasn’t going to kill me. I wouldn’t fall into a deep depression and never catch another fish. I’d like to keep it going until that big ‘R’ word happens.”
