CELEBRATION, Fla. - With two events left in the race for the CITGO Bassmaster Angler of the Year title, leader Michael Iaconelli will have to fight to hold off a charging field of accomplished Elite Series anglers.
The Angler of the Year award is a season-long points race that awards the most consistent Elite Series angler with the title and $125,000 cash.
Iaconelli, 34, of Runnemede, N.J., has built an impressive BASS career that includes five BASS tournament wins and 26 top-10 finishes. Iaconelli, the 2003 Classic champion, is one of just 17 anglers to earn more than $1 million fishing BASS. But one title has always eluded him: Angler of the Year.
Iaconelli assumed the Angler of the Year lead after the Clarks Hill Lake tournament in May. And, with solid performances throughout the season, he hasn't flinched, leading for the 14th consecutive week with a cumulative point total of 2,170.
However, narrowing the gap and within striking distance are current Toyota Rookie of the Year leader Steve Kennedy of Auburn, Ala., just 50 points behind (2,120); Dean Rojas of Lake Havasu, Ariz., in third (2,117); and two-time Bassmaster Classic champion and three-time Angler of the Year Kevin VanDam tied with seven-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier Kevin Wirth for fourth place (2,116). Reigning Angler of the Year Aaron Martens is sixth (2,073).
"It's pretty incredible to be in the company of Ike, VanDam and Rojas and be right in the middle of that mix," said Kennedy of Alabama. "When I got the schedule at the beginning of the year, I was drooling. They were all big-fish lakes at the right time of year. I knew I was going to catch them, but I had no idea I was going to be this high in the points."
Looking at the field of anglers behind him, Kennedy said VanDam was the angler he most worried about. "He's unstoppable at this point. I don't think Ike's going to roll over, but VanDam is determined."
Despite a disqualification earlier this year, VanDam successfully worked his way to the top of the standings. His other performances have provided an opportunity to capture his fourth Angler of the Year title - which would trail only Roland Martin's top record of nine.
Adding to the allure, BASS has increased the total prize purse by 100 percent in 2006 to $601,000. The Angler of the Year award boasts a top prize of $125,000 and will pay 50 anglers.
"I'm extremely excited about it," said Rojas. "It's going to come down to a lot of hard work and how bad I want it. Those are the two things driving me right now."
The Angler of the Year title will be awarded Sept. 17 in Kimberling City, Mo., at the conclusion of The Rock on Table Rock Lake, the last Elite Series event of the season.
2006 CITGO Bassmaster Angler of the Year Points After Lake Champlain, Plattsburgh, N.Y. Ending 07-16-2006Place Name St Pts1 Michael Iaconelli N.J. 21702 Steve Kennedy Ala. 21203 Dean Rojas Ariz. 21174 Kevin VanDam Mich. 21164 Kevin Wirth Ky. 21166 Aaron Martens Ala. 20737 Matt Reed Texas 19558 Edwin Evers Okla. 19469 John Crews Va. 194410 Greg Hackney La. 193911 Jason Quinn S.C. 192712 Mike Wurm Ark. 192613 Denny Brauer Mo. 192514 Gerald Swindle Ala. 192015 Tommy Biffle Okla. 191916 Russ Lane Ala. 189217 Skeet Reese Calif. 189118 Peter Thliveros Fla. 188019 Kelly Jordon Texas 187220 Jeff Reynolds Okla. 182621 Timmy Horton Ala. 182522 Alton Jones Texas 181123 Gary Klein Texas 178424 Davy Hite S.C. 177325 Jared Lintner Calif. 176826 Zell Rowland Texas 176727 John Murray Ariz. 176328 Takahiro Omori Texas 174129 Bill Lowen Ohio 172730 Mark Tucker Mo. 171931 Terry Scroggins Fla. 171532 Jeff Kriet Okla. 170933 Terry Butcher Okla. 169934 Randy Howell Ala. 169035 Lee Bailey Ala. 168936 Kenyon Hill Okla. 167537 Brent Chapman Kan. 167438 Mike McClelland Ark. 166139 Todd Faircloth Texas 165740 Rick Clunn Mo. 164641 Greg Gutierrez Calif. 164542 Paul Elias Miss. 164043 Mark Tyler Ariz. 163944 Bradley Hallman Okla. 161545 Scott Rook Ark. 158946 Dave Wolak Pa. 157947 Yusuke Miyazaki Texas 156948 Darrin Schwenkbeck Md. 156449 Bernie Schultz Fla. 155950 Ken Cook Okla. 154550 Morizo Shimizu Calif. 154552 Ishama Monroe Calif. 154053 Kotaro Kiriyama Ala. 153554 Jimmy Mize Ark. 152655 Shaw Grigsby, Jr Fla. 152456 Chad Brauer Mo. 152357 Ray Sedgwick S.C. 152258 Stephen Browning Ark. 152059 Chris Lane Fla. 150760 Jeff Connella La. 150261 William Smith, Jr Ky. 147062 Steve Daniel Fla. 146163 Jeremy Starks W.Va. 145464 Dave Smith Okla. 145165 Mike Reynolds Calif. 141265 Marty Stone N.C. 141267 Preston Clark Fla. 141068 Fred Roumbanis Calif. 140969 Jami Fralick S.D. 140370 Jon Bondy Canada 140271 Paul Hirosky Pa. 140072 Pete Ponds Miss. 136273 Terry Segraves Fla. 136073 Mark Menendez Ky. 136075 Keith Phillips Ala. 134375 Charlie Hartley Ohio 134377 Kevin Langill N.C. 134177 Charlie Youngers Fla. 134179 Brian Snowden Mo. 133780 Joe Thomas Ohio 130881 David Gliebe Ky. 129482 Kurt Dove Va. 128683 Jarrett Edwards Ariz. 128083 Britt Myers N.C. 128085 Vince Hurtado Calif. 126486 Frank Scalish Ohio 124787 Bradley Stringer Texas 124088 Elton Luce Jr Texas 122989 Byron Velvick Nev. 122490 Bink Desaro Idaho 120691 Mike O'Shea Calif. 120492 Guy Eaker N.C. 120393 Rick Morris Va. 115594 Kevin Short Ark. 114795 Grant Goldbeck Md. 114596 Mark Rogers Fla. 104197 Brooks Rogers Texas 103198 Doc Merkin Ill. 103099 Rick Ash Pa. 1014100 Charlie Weyer Calif. 1011101 Ken Brodeur Conn. 987102 Randy Yarnall Pa. 941103 Jimmy Houston Okla. 880104 Robert Hamilton Jr Tenn. 551105 Conrad Picou La. 390106 Dustin Wilks N.C. 151