Russellville, Ark. - They call it junk fishing, but it sure has been valuable to 2003 Bassmaster Classic Champion Michael Iaconelli at the Lake Dardanelle Bassmaster Elite 50 bass fishing event. Iaconelli brought in the biggest catch of the day at 18 pounds, two ounces - the second consecutive day he's accomplished that feat. He leads going into the semifinal round.
The biggest drawback of the tournament for New Jersey's Iaconelli is the Elite 50 format, which zeroes weights after two days, making for an even playing field on Day Three.
"It's called junk fishing," said Iaconelli, whose two day total is 33 pounds, three ounces. "Post-spawn conditions usually call for throwing a number of baits, and that's just what I'm doing."
Junk fishing, in simple terms, is throwing a variety of baits at all types of cover. Iaconelli's style of fishing certainly qualified on Day Two. He caught fish on a topwater bait, a jig, a spinnerbait and a crankbait, focusing primarily on three locations.
"I'll be junk fishing until I get knocked out of the tournament." Iaconelli said. "This type of tournament really suits my style. I like to be forced to make a lot of decisions out there, and that's what this lake makes you do."
At the very least, Iaconelli's junk fishing has earned him $3,000. He earned $1,000 each for the two Bags for Days One and Two. His big bag on Day Two included a six pound, one ounce lunker, which was good enough for the Purolator Big Bass of the Day and another $1,000.
Trailing Iaconelli is perhaps the most feared angler on the BASS circuit right now, three-time Bassmaster Angler of the Year Kevin VanDam (28-10). Although the Kalamazoo, Mich., angler would have faced a daunting challenge to overtake Iaconelli on the final two days while trailing by more than four pounds, the weights start over at zero tomorrow, and VanDam will start in a 12-way tie for first along with everyone else.
"I got to fish on the course last year," the 2001 Classic champion said, "so I'm ready. This is just a great lake no matter where you go."
Van Dam is keying on bass that are holding on drops and ledges, throwing a wide variety of baits, much like Iaconelli.
Although Van Dam is already Classic-bound, 22-time Classic qualifier Gary Klein (28-5) is not. He sits in third place after two days and desperately needs a good finish on Dardanelle to have a chance to qualify for the Classic through the Elite 50s. The series represents the last method to qualify for the 2005 Classic to be held in Pittsburgh, Pa., July 29-31.Klein has been working a crankbait and a big worm for all of his fish. After weighing in his fish, like Van Dam, he was eager to get things started for the final two days.
"Just from what I saw out there earlier," Klein said. "I'm really looking forward to fishing on the course. I really like it."
Rounding out the top 12 and surviving to fish on the Illinois Bayou course tomorrow are 1993 Bassmaster Classic Champion David Fritts (27-15), Texas' Alton Jones (27-8), North Carolina's Dustin Wilks (26-2), Florida's Terry Scroggins (26-2), 2005 Angler of the Year Aaron Martens (26-0), South Carolina's Davy Hite (25-13), four-time Classic Champion Rick Clunn (24-15) and Texans Dean Rojas (22-4) and Zell Rowland (20-12).
Noticeably missing from the final 12 are any Arkansas anglers. The highest finisher from the Natural State was Mike Wurm in 17th place. Defending champion Randy Howell also missed the cut, finishing 25th.
Weigh-ins will be held at 7:00 p.m. at Dardanelle State Park on Friday and 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 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total
$$$
1. Michael Iaconelli Runnemede, N.J. 10 33-03 310
$4,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-01 Day 2: 5 18-02
2. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, Mich. 10 28-10 295
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 15-14
3. Gary Klein Weatherford, Texas 9 28-05 290
Day 1: 5 14-11 Day 2: 4 13-10
4. David Fritts Lexington, N.C. 10 27-15 285
Day 1: 5 13-06 Day 2: 5 14-09
5. Alton Jones Waco, Texas 10 27-08 280
Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 5 15-05
6. Dustin Wilks Rocky Mount, N.C. 10 26-02 276
Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 5 14-13
6. Terry Scroggins Palatka, Fla. 9 26-02 276
Day 1: 4 8-07 Day 2: 5 17-11
8. Aaron Martens Leeds, Ala. 10 26-00 268
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 5 13-09
9. Davy Hite Prosperity, S.C. 10 25-13 264
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 5 11-13
10. Rick Clunn Ava, Mo. 10 24-15 260
Day 1: 5 12-04 Day 2: 5 12-11
11. Dean Rojas Grand Saline, Texas 6 22-04 257
$1,000.00
Day 1: 2 9-14 Day 2: 4 12-06
12. Zell Rowland Montgomery, Texas 6 20-12 254
Day 1: 4 14-09 Day 2: 2 6-03
13. Chad Morgenthaler Coulterville, Ill. 9 20-11 251
$5,700.00
Day 1: 5 11-02 Day 2: 4 9-09
14. Marty Stone Linden, N.C. 7 20-08 248
$5,600.00
Day 1: 3 7-14 Day 2: 4 12-10
15. Gerald Swindle Hayden, Ala. 7 20-06 245
$5,500.00
Day 1: 3 8-15 Day 2: 4 11-07
16. Stacey D King Reeds Spring, Mo. 7 19-13 243
$5,500.00
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 2 7-05
17. Mike Wurm Hot Springs, Ark. 8 18-04 241
$5,500.00
Day 1: 3 7-09 Day 2: 5 10-11
18. Kevin Wirth Crestwood, Ky. 7 18-03 239
$5,500.00
Day 1: 4 11-05 Day 2: 3 6-14
19. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, Okla. 8 17-14 237
$5,500.00
Day 1: 3 7-00 Day 2: 5 10-14
20. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, Kan. 7 17-13 235
$5,400.00
Day 1: 2 4-03 Day 2: 5 13-10
21. Ishama Monroe Hughson, Calif. 7 17-05 233
$5,200.00
Day 1: 3 7-06 Day 2: 4 9-15
22. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, Okla. 5 16-13 231
$5,200.00
Day 1: 4 13-04 Day 2: 1 3-09
23. Mike Reynolds Modesto, Calif. 6 16-12 229
$5,200.00
Day 1: 1 2-04 Day 2: 5 14-08
24. Peter E Thliveros Jacksonville, Fla. 8 16-05 227
$5,200.00
Day 1: 3 5-15 Day 2: 5 10-06
25. Randy Howell Springville, Ala. 6 15-15 225
$5,200.00
Day 1: 1 2-07 Day 2: 5 13-08
26. Takahiro Omori Emory, Texas 7 15-13 223
$5,200.00
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 2 5-04
27. Larry Nixon Bee Branch, Ark. 7 15-08 221
$5,200.00
Day 1: 2 4-04 Day 2: 5 11-04
28. Bud Pruitt Spring, Texas 6 15-07 219
$5,200.00
Day 1: 1 1-10 Day 2: 5 13-13
29. Skeet Reese Auburn, Calif. 6 15-05 217
$5,200.00
Day 1: 5 13-02 Day 2: 1 2-03
29. Luke Clausen Spokane Valley, Wash. 6 15-05 217
$5,200.00
Day 1: 1 2-04 Day 2: 5 13-01
31. Jimmy Mize Ben Lomond, Ark. 8 14-15 213
$5,200.00
Day 1: 5 9-00 Day 2: 3 5-15
31. Jeff Reynolds Platter, Okla. 6 14-15 213
$5,200.00
Day 1: 1 2-10 Day 2: 5 12-05
33. Mark Tyler Scottsdale, Ariz. 5 14-13 209
$5,200.00
Day 1: 1 1-15 Day 2: 4 12-14
34. Kenyon Hill Norman, Okla. 6 14-12 207
$5,200.00
Day 1: 5 12-13 Day 2: 1 1-15
35. Ron Shuffield Bismarck, Ark. 6 14-09 205
$5,200.00
Day 1: 3 6-00 Day 2: 3 8-09
36. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, Mo. 6 14-03 203
$5,100.00
Day 1: 4 9-05 Day 2: 2 4-14
37. Guy Eaker Cherryville, N.C. 5 14-01 201
$5,100.00
Day 1: 3 9-06 Day 2: 2 4-11
38. David Wharton Sam Rayburn, Texas 5 14-00 199
$5,100.00
Day 1: 2 5-04 Day 2: 3 8-12
39. Roland Martin Naples, Fla. 6 13-06 197
$5,100.00
Day 1: 3 7-01 Day 2: 3 6-05
39. Tim Horton Muscle Shoals, Ala. 5 13-06 197
$5,100.00
Day 1: 4 11-00 Day 2: 1 2-06
41. George Cochran Hot Springs, Ark. 5 13-05 193
$5,000.00
Day 1: 3 9-07 Day 2: 2 3-14
42. Kelly Jordon Mineola, Texas 5 13-02 191
$5,000.00
Day 1: 2 5-01 Day 2: 3 8-01
43. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, Fla. 5 12-14 189
$5,000.00
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 5 12-14
44. Jim Bitter Fruitland Park, Fla. 5 12-13 187
$5,000.00
Day 1: 2 4-09 Day 2: 3 8-04
45. Dave Wolak Warrior Run, Pa. 5 12-08 185
$5,000.00
Day 1: 4 10-13 Day 2: 1 1-11
45. Mark Davis Mount Ida, Ark. 4 12-08 185
$5,000.00
Day 1: 2 5-14 Day 2: 2 6-10
47. Shaw E Grigsby, Jr Gainesville, Fla. 6 12-01 181
$5,000.00
Day 1: 3 5-11 Day 2: 3 6-06
48. Denny Brauer Camdenton, Mo. 5 11-05 179
$5,000.00
Day 1: 4 8-09 Day 2: 1 2-12
49. Jay Yelas Tyler, Texas 3 5-07 177
$5,000.00
Day 1: 3 5-07 Day 2: 0 0-00
50. Edwin Evers Mannsville, Okla. 1 2-06 175
$5,000.00
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 1 2-06
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Big Bass
Day
1 Dean Rojas Grand Saline, Texas 7-00 $1,000.00
2 Michael Iaconelli Runnemede, N.J. 6-01 $1,000.00
Protected by Purolator Bonus
Day
2 Michael Iaconelli Runnemede, N.J. 6-01 $1,000.00
Busch Heavyweight
Day
1 Michael Iaconelli Runnemede, N.J. 15-01 $1,000.00
2 Michael Iaconelli Runnemede, N.J. 18-02 $1,000.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 15 163 414-05
2 20 173 468-09
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35 336 882-14