Russellville, Ark. - With the BASS Federation Championship just concluded, it's only fitting that New Jersey's Michael Iaconelli is in the lead at the Lake Dardanelle Elite 50 bass fishing event. The 2003 Bassmaster Classic champion earned his way into the pro ranks by first qualifying for the Classic as a Federation angler. In the first round at Dardanelle, Iaconelli bagged a limit of five bass that weighed 15 pounds, one ounce - good enough for a six ounce lead over Texas' Gary Klein, the 9th greatest bass angler of all-time according to ESPN Outdoors' Greatest Angler Debate poll.
"I'm optimistic about the rest of the tournament," Iaconelli said. "I'm one step closer to making the cut, and that's my ultimate goal with any tournament."
Iaconelli caught his limit by keying on post-spawn fish holding on shallow ledges. He caught only five bass all day and has yet to put together a solid pattern on Dardanelle.
"I caught five fish on five different baits," Iaconelli said. "I'm not really on them, but I'm covering as much water as possible, and I'm in a great position to make the cut."
Adding to Iaconelli's uncertainty is a pair of veteran Texas bass pros who are less than a pound behind him - Gary Klein (14-11) and Zell Rowland (14-9). The two have 35 Classic appearances between them.
Klein's situation is as precarious as the leader's. He, too, caught only five keepers on the day, but Klein's fish were taken on shallow banks.
"I was really fortunate to catch these fish today," Klein said. "I was junk fishing with a worm and a crankbait."
Of the leaders, only Rowland had a pattern working. He's swimming a jig in just 1-3 feet of water. Rather than look back at his third place catch, though, Rowland is busy looking at tomorrow's weather report.
"If it gets cloudy tomorrow," Rowland said, "watch out because I'm really going to catch 'em."
Luckily for Rowland, the forecast calls for clouds on Day Two.
Rounding out the top five are a couple of Classic champions, 1999 champ Davy Hite (14-0) of South Carolina and 1993 champ David Fritts (13-6) of North Carolina.
Missing not only from the top five, but even from the top 20, are any of the six Arkansas pros in the tournament. George Cochran of Hot Springs is the top ranking Natural State resident, and he's in 21st place.
Just in front of Cochran in 20th place is Texas' Dean Rojas, who caught only two fish on the day, but one of those was a seven pounder - by far the biggest bass of the day - that earned Rojas a check for $1,000 and took Big Bass honors.
Rojas landed his behemoth on a prototype frog that is the talk of the tournament.
"Kevin VanDam is begging me for some of these frogs." Rojas said.
Weigh-ins will be held at 7:00 p.m. at Dardanelle State Park on Thursday - Saturday.
Each Elite 50 angler will have a payday in the no-entry-fee event. The winner will take home a check for $100,000, and the last place finisher will earn $5,000. The total payout for each of the four Elite 50 events is $400,000.
2005 Arkansas Bassmaster Elite 50 Pro 05/18-05/21
Lake Dardanelle, Russellville, Ark.
Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total
$$$
1. Michael Iaconelli Runnemede, N.J. 5 15-01 305
$1,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-01
2. Gary Klein Weatherford, Texas 5 14-11 295
Day 1: 5 14-11
3. Zell Rowland Montgomery, Texas 4 14-09 290
Day 1: 4 14-09
4. Davy Hite Prosperity, S.C. 5 14-00 285
Day 1: 5 14-00
5. David Fritts Lexington, N.C. 5 13-06 280
Day 1: 5 13-06
6. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, Okla. 4 13-04 276
Day 1: 4 13-04
7. Skeet Reese Auburn, Calif. 5 13-02 272
Day 1: 5 13-02
8. Kenyon Hill Norman, Okla. 5 12-13 268
Day 1: 5 12-13
9. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, Mich. 5 12-12 264
Day 1: 5 12-12
10. Stacey D King Reeds Spring, Mo. 5 12-08 260
Day 1: 5 12-08
11. Aaron Martens Leeds, Ala. 5 12-07 257
Day 1: 5 12-07
12. Rick Clunn Ava, Mo. 5 12-04 254
Day 1: 5 12-04
13. Alton Jones Waco, Texas 5 12-03 251
Day 1: 5 12-03
14. Dustin Wilks Rocky Mount, N.C. 5 11-05 248
Day 1: 5 11-05
14. Kevin Wirth Crestwood, Ky. 4 11-05 248
Day 1: 4 11-05
16. Chad Morgenthaler Coulterville, Ill. 5 11-02 243
Day 1: 5 11-02
17. Tim Horton Muscle Shoals, Ala. 4 11-00 241
Day 1: 4 11-00
18. Dave Wolak Warrior Run, Pa. 4 10-13 239
Day 1: 4 10-13
19. Takahiro Omori Emory, Texas 5 10-09 237
Day 1: 5 10-09
20. Dean Rojas Grand Saline, Texas 2 9-14 235
$1,000.00
Day 1: 2 9-14
21. George Cochran Hot Springs, Ark. 3 9-07 233
Day 1: 3 9-07
22. Guy Eaker Cherryville, N.C. 3 9-06 231
Day 1: 3 9-06
23. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, Mo. 4 9-05 229
Day 1: 4 9-05
24. Jimmy Mize Ben Lomond, Ark. 5 9-00 227
Day 1: 5 9-00
25. Gerald Swindle Hayden, Ala. 3 8-15 225
Day 1: 3 8-15
26. Denny Brauer Camdenton, Mo. 4 8-09 223
Day 1: 4 8-09
27. Terry Scroggins Palatka, Fla. 4 8-07 221
Day 1: 4 8-07
28. Marty Stone Linden, N.C. 3 7-14 219
Day 1: 3 7-14
29. Mike Wurm Hot Springs, Ark. 3 7-09 217
Day 1: 3 7-09
30. Ishama Monroe Hughson, Calif. 3 7-06 215
Day 1: 3 7-06
31. Roland Martin Naples, Fla. 3 7-01 213
Day 1: 3 7-01
32. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, Okla. 3 7-00 211
Day 1: 3 7-00
33. Ron Shuffield Bismarck, Ark. 3 6-00 209
Day 1: 3 6-00
34. Peter E Thliveros Jacksonville, Fla. 3 5-15 207
Day 1: 3 5-15
35. Mark Davis Mount Ida, Ark. 2 5-14 205
Day 1: 2 5-14
36. Shaw E Grigsby, Jr Gainesville, Fla. 3 5-11 203
Day 1: 3 5-11
37. Jay Yelas Tyler, Texas 3 5-07 201
Day 1: 3 5-07
38. David Wharton Sam Rayburn, Texas 2 5-04 199
Day 1: 2 5-04
39. Kelly Jordon Mineola, Texas 2 5-01 197
Day 1: 2 5-01
40. Jim Bitter Fruitland Park, Fla. 2 4-09 195
Day 1: 2 4-09
41. Larry Nixon Bee Branch, Ark. 2 4-04 193
Day 1: 2 4-04
42. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, Kan. 2 4-03 191
Day 1: 2 4-03
43. Jeff Reynolds Platter, Okla. 1 2-10 189
Day 1: 1 2-10
44. Randy Howell Springville, Ala. 1 2-07 187
Day 1: 1 2-07
45. Luke Clausen Spokane Valley, Wash. 1 2-04 185
Day 1: 1 2-04
45. Mike Reynolds Modesto, Calif. 1 2-04 185
Day 1: 1 2-04
47. Mark Tyler Scottsdale, Ariz. 1 1-15 181
Day 1: 1 1-15
48. Bud Pruitt Spring, Texas 1 1-10 179
Day 1: 1 1-10
49. Edwin Evers Mannsville, Okla. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
49. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, Fla. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
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Big Bass
Day
1 Dean Rojas Grand Saline, Texas 7-00 $1,000.00
Busch Heavyweight
Day
1 Michael Iaconelli Runnemede, N.J. 15-01 $1,000.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 15 163 414-05
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15 163 414-05