by Brian Jensen and Mike Iaconelli
He’s not your run-of-the-mill pro angler. He wears a crooked, flat-billed hat, and loves listening to hip-hop. His outbursts of excitement while on the water can be ear-piercing. His name is Michael Iaconelli, lovingly referred to as Ike, and despite his unconventional tendencies, he can flat out fish! Iaconelli holds the title of 2003 Bassmaster Classic Champion, as well as 2006 Toyota Tundra Angler of the Year, and has become recognized as one of the most popular professional bass anglers on the tournament trail with his slogan, “Never Give Up.”
Born and raised in South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Mike quickly became accustomed to the outdoors on frequent summer trips to the Pocono Mountains with his family. It was during these trips that Iaconelli developed a love for fishing. He caught his first ever bass on one of those trips and described it as “a life changing moment.”
Reflecting on his Northeast roots in his own words, “Growing up in New Jersey and the Northeast has helped tremendously in becoming a consistent angler on the professional bass trails. New Jersey offers a lot of different types of water in a very small area. I grew up fishing tannic bogs, sand quarries, natural lakes and tidal rivers. In addition, because of the immense amount of fishing pressure, I learned how to catch bass under tough conditions.”
One of Iaconelli’s earliest victories came on New Jersey’s Lake Hopatcong where he broke the lake and one-day Federation record of just over 18 lbs. According to Iaconelli, “Lake Hopatcong was one of the lakes I fished a lot as I worked my way through the B.A.S.S. Federation and regional ranks. Lake Hopatcong was always a challenge because of the immense amounts of fishing pressure and weekend pleasure boating traffic. It was also a challenge because there were several locals that really had that lake wired. Some of my best tournaments there, including the one where I broke the lake record, happened using the same general patterns. Basically, I would target outside grass lines in the early morning hours. Once the sun got up and all of the pleasure boaters started coming out, I would switch to fishing docks. Over the years I developed ways to try and get my lures as far back under docks and boats. That was the key to my success.”
In September of 1999, Iaconelli won the Bassmaster Vermont Top 150 on Lake Champlain bagging over 61 lbs. “That victory was an amazing time in my life. That win basically launched my professional career and allowed me a bit of financial security during a very financially insecure time. Also, it gave me the confidence that I could compete with the best pro anglers in the country. On top of that I finished one spot ahead of one of my heroes in the sport, Rick Clunn. That really meant a lot!” said Iaconelli.
Today, Iaconelli competes on the Bassmaster Elite Tournament Series which takes him to some of the most exciting bass fishing waterways across the entire country. He continues to develop new fishing methods and is a proponent of using the most advanced technology available in the outdoor industry including web/mobile technology like Fishidy, and cutting-edge lures designed by Berkley, Molix, and Rapala.
When Iaconelli’s not hunting down lunkers on the tournament trail he’s spending time with family or taking a break from bass to target other species known to put up a fight including big stripers, redfish in the Gulf Coast, trout fishing streams, and even catching big carp and catfish.
The On The Water staff is made up of experienced anglers from across the Northeast who fish local waters year-round. The team brings firsthand, on-the-water experience and regional knowledge to coverage of Northeast fisheries, techniques, seasonal patterns, regulations, and conservation.