GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. - The leaderboard following Day 3 of the Bassmaster Elite Series' Southern Challenge bass fishing tournament on Lake Guntersville reads like a "who's who" in the world of professional tournament fishing.
First, Michael Iaconelli of New Jersey tops the list with 56 pounds, 10 ounces. The 2003 Classic champion commanded the lead after bringing in 17-3 from Lake Guntersville, a famed body of water where junk fishing is serving him well.
Right behind him is Alton Jones of Texas with 54-10. Jones previously held the lead on Days 1 and 2. He is slightly behind but has plenty of room to win, he said.
And in third, fourth and fifth? 2004 Bassmaster Classic champ Takahiro Omori of Texas (53-10), 2005 Classic winner Kevin VanDam of Michigan (52-5) and current Toyota Rookie of the Year leader Steve Kennedy (51-15).
Iaconelli, who so far has remained relatively quiet in the Elite Series, said he now has turned his engines on full throttle. "I'm always confident and I have patterns that are working" said Iaconelli. "The key to winning is that I've got to boat every fish and make right decisions. I feel good about what I'm doing out there."
Iaconelli spent most of his time junk fishing, using several different types of rods, lines and lures to get the bite he needed. He had 15 rods on his deck, ranging from light line on a spinning rod to a baitcaster with a 20-pound test line. He fished patterns in water 4 to 12 feet deep.
Jones, in second place, said he too is confident in his ability to take the tournament. "I know the fish are still on," said Jones. "I lost a real big one this morning. I ended up having to go shallow to catch my limit and target bedding bass. Tomorrow is a new day and I still have a chance for a good sack."
Jones fished deep early in the morning, using both spinnerbaits and jigs. In the afternoon, he moved to shallow water and threw a YUM Dinger and sight-fished.
VanDam believes he too can make a run for the $100,000 top prize, which will be awarded on Sunday. "I've got two different patterns that I'm running and I'm trying to catch quality bites," he said. "That's my best opportunity."
Winning the Bag of the Day was Oklahoman Jeff Reynolds, in sixth with 51-13. His Day 3 catch of 20-1 earned him $1,000 bonus and if it remains one of the 10 heaviest in Elite Series season, Reynolds will qualify for the BUSCH Shootout later in the year.
Also fishing on Sunday when the field is cut to the Elite 12 are Arizona's Dean Rojas, in seventh with 51-0; Alabama's Gerald Swindle and Yusuke Miyazaki of Texas, who are tied for eighth with 50-6; Oklahoma's Edwin Evers in 10th with 50-5; Alabama native Timmy Horton in 11th with 50-0; and Missouri's Mark Tucker in 12th with 49-13.
Saturday's competition concluded the Elite Series co-angler division. Local angler Hadley Coan of Huntsville, Ala., won the top prize, a Triton boat and Mercury outboard worth $45,000. Coan led wire-to-wire all three days with a three-day total of 30 pounds, 3 ounces.
2006 Southern Challenge Pro 04/20-04/23
Lake Guntersville, Guntersville Ala.
(PRO Division) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Michael Iaconelli Runnemede, N.J. 15 56-10 305 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-12 Day 2: 5 22-01 Day 3: 5 17-13
2. Alton Jones Waco, Texas 15 54-10 305
Day 1: 5 20-11 Day 2: 5 20-12 Day 3: 5 13-03
3. Takahiro Omori Emory, Texas 15 53-10 290
Day 1: 5 19-10 Day 2: 5 15-02 Day 3: 5 18-14
4. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, Mich. 15 52-05 285
Day 1: 5 17-00 Day 2: 5 21-09 Day 3: 5 13-12
5. Steve Kennedy Auburn, Ala. 15 51-15 280
Day 1: 5 17-04 Day 2: 5 17-06 Day 3: 5 17-05
6. Jeff Reynolds Idabel, Okla. 15 51-13 276 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-04 Day 2: 5 14-08 Day 3: 5 20-01
7. Dean Rojas Lake Havasu, Ariz. 15 51-00 272
Day 1: 5 16-03 Day 2: 5 19-06 Day 3: 5 15-07
8. Yusuke Miyazaki Mineola, Texas 15 50-06 266
Day 1: 5 16-05 Day 2: 5 15-09 Day 3: 5 18-08
8. Gerald Swindle Warrioir, Ala. 15 50-06 266
Day 1: 5 16-06 Day 2: 5 17-11 Day 3: 5 16-05
10. Edwin Evers Talala, Okla. 15 50-05 260
Day 1: 5 11-02 Day 2: 5 20-05 Day 3: 5 18-14
11. Timmy Horton Muscle Shoals, Ala. 15 50-00 257
Day 1: 5 19-10 Day 2: 5 16-05 Day 3: 5 14-01
12. Mark Tucker Saint Louis, Mo. 15 49-13 254
Day 1: 5 19-00 Day 2: 5 15-04 Day 3: 5 15-09
13. Kelly Jordon Mineola, Texas 15 49-09 251 $11,800.00
Day 1: 5 20-01 Day 2: 5 13-06 Day 3: 5 16-02
14. Jimmy Mize Ben Lomond, Ark. 15 48-15 248 $10,700.00
Day 1: 5 17-04 Day 2: 5 15-12 Day 3: 5 15-15
15. Todd Faircloth Jasper, Texas 14 48-13 245 $10,600.00
Day 1: 5 19-01 Day 2: 5 20-06 Day 3: 4 9-06
16. Denny Brauer Camdenton, Mo. 15 48-10 248 $11,500.00
Day 1: 5 20-11 Day 2: 5 14-04 Day 3: 5 13-11
17. Aaron Martens Leeds, Ala. 15 47-10 241 $10,500.00
Day 1: 5 13-13 Day 2: 5 18-05 Day 3: 5 15-08
18. Jeremy Starks Charleston, W.Va. 14 47-07 239 $10,500.00
Day 1: 5 14-06 Day 2: 5 19-03 Day 3: 4 13-14
19. Elton Luce Jr Brookeland, Texas 15 46-15 237 $10,500.00
Day 1: 5 11-04 Day 2: 5 18-06 Day 3: 5 17-05
20. Terry Butcher Talala, Okla. 12 46-02 235 $10,500.00
Day 1: 5 20-01 Day 2: 4 15-04 Day 3: 3 10-13
21. Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, Ala. 15 45-11 233 $10,250.00
Day 1: 5 14-14 Day 2: 5 16-05 Day 3: 5 14-08
22. Mike Wurm Hot Springs, Ark. 15 45-09 231 $10,250.00
Day 1: 5 16-12 Day 2: 5 14-02 Day 3: 5 14-11
23. Peter E Thliveros Jacksonville, Fla. 13 44-10 229 $11,250.00
Day 1: 5 17-04 Day 2: 5 16-10 Day 3: 3 10-12
24. William Smith, Jr Somerset, Ky. 14 43-12 227 $11,250.00
Day 1: 4 9-07 Day 2: 5 19-12 Day 3: 5 14-09
25. Chad Brauer Osage Beach, Mo. 15 43-09 224 $10,125.00
Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 5 15-01 Day 3: 5 16-07
25. John Crews Salem, Va. 15 43-09 224 $10,125.00
Day 1: 5 13-10 Day 2: 5 16-05 Day 3: 5 13-10
27. Kevin Wirth Crestwood, Ky. 15 43-07 221 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-11 Day 2: 5 15-05 Day 3: 5 12-07
28. Bill Lowen North Bend, Ohio 15 43-06 219 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-10 Day 2: 5 16-11 Day 3: 5 12-01
29. John Murray Phoenix, Ariz. 14 43-02 217 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 5 20-06 Day 3: 4 9-01
30. Davy Hite Ninety Six, S.C. 15 42-11 215 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-00 Day 2: 5 18-11 Day 3: 5 14-00
31. Dave Wolak Warrior Run, Pa. 15 42-09 213 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-07 Day 2: 5 15-09 Day 3: 5 15-09
32. Rick Morris Virginia Beach, Va. 15 41-15 211 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 5 15-12 Day 3: 5 14-06
33. Ishama Monroe Hughson, Calif. 15 41-11 209 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 14-08 Day 3: 5 14-07
34. Skeet Reese Auburn, Calif. 15 41-05 207 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 16-15 Day 3: 5 11-02
35. Chris Lane Winter Haven, Fla. 14 41-00 205 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-09 Day 2: 4 10-03 Day 3: 5 12-04
36. Zell Rowland Montgomery, Texas 15 40-15 203 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-13 Day 2: 5 14-09 Day 3: 5 13-09
37. Scott Rook Little Rock, Ark. 13 39-15 201 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-02 Day 2: 5 15-14 Day 3: 3 7-15
38. Randy Howell Springville, Ala. 13 39-10 199 $10,000.00
Day 1: 4 13-07 Day 2: 5 13-11 Day 3: 4 12-08
39. Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande, Calif. 14 39-03 197 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 5 14-03 Day 3: 4 11-09
40. Joe Thomas Milford, Ohio 13 38-03 195 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-12 Day 2: 5 13-02 Day 3: 3 10-05
41. Kenyon Hill Norman, Okla. 13 38-00 193 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 5 15-12 Day 3: 3 8-12
42. Jami Fralick Martin, S.D. 12 37-15 191 $10,000.00
Day 1: 4 14-01 Day 2: 5 15-14 Day 3: 3 8-00
43. Greg Hackney Gonzales, La. 12 37-07 189 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-06 Day 2: 5 15-01 Day 3: 2 6-00
44. Rick Clunn Ava, Mo. 11 36-04 187 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-12 Day 2: 5 16-07 Day 3: 1 2-01
45. Russ Lane Prattville, Ala. 12 34-03 185 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-14 Day 2: 5 14-06 Day 3: 2 5-15
46. Guy Eaker Cherryville, N.C. 12 33-13 183 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-06 Day 2: 5 13-09 Day 3: 2 4-14
47. Jason Quinn York, S.C. 10 33-10 181 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-02 Day 2: 5 16-08 Day 3: 0 0-00
48. Bradley Stringer Huntington, Texas 12 33-07 179 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-05 Day 2: 5 12-09 Day 3: 2 4-09
49. Morizo Shimizu Murrieta, Calif. 11 31-10 177 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-04 Day 2: 5 15-11 Day 3: 1 1-11
50. Terry Scroggins Palatka, Fla. 10 30-13 175 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-04 Day 2: 5 12-09 Day 3: 0 0-00
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Big Bass
Day
1 Kelly Jordon Mineola, Texas 7-01 $1,000.00
2 William Smith, Jr Somerset, Ky. 6-12 $1,000.00
3 Peter E Thliveros Jacksonville, Fla. 6-09 $1,000.00
Busch Heavyweight
Day
1 Denny Brauer Camdenton, Mo. 20-11 $1,000.00
2 Michael Iaconelli Runnemede, N.J. 22-01 $1,000.00
3 Jeff Reynolds Idabel, Okla. 20-01 $1,000.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 76 461 1336-04
2 70 449 1330-05
3 31 203 610-00
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177 1113 3276-09
2006 Southern Challenge NB 04/20-04/23
Lake Guntersville, Guntersville Ala.
(CO-ANGLER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Hadley Coan Huntsville, Ala. 9 30-03 0 $45,000.00
Day 1: 3 12-02 Day 2: 3 10-07 Day 3: 3 7-10
2. Jeff Cloud Pampa, Texas 9 26-09 0 $25,500.00
Day 1: 3 7-07 Day 2: 3 8-10 Day 3: 3 10-08
3. Blaine Bucy Weirton, W.Va. 9 26-00 0 $10,000.00
Day 1: 3 7-12 Day 2: 3 6-12 Day 3: 3 11-08
4. Steven Williams Columbus, Miss. 8 24-15 0 $5,000.00
Day 1: 3 11-06 Day 2: 2 5-08 Day 3: 3 8-01
5. Keith Sykes Clintwood, Va. 8 24-11 0 $4,000.00
Day 1: 3 7-01 Day 2: 2 10-09 Day 3: 3 7-01
6. Michael Hearn Wetumpka, Ala. 7 24-02 0 $3,000.00
Day 1: 3 11-02 Day 2: 3 10-02 Day 3: 1 2-14
7. Todd Lee Jasper, Ala. 7 23-00 0 $3,000.00
Day 1: 3 11-05 Day 2: 3 9-01 Day 3: 1 2-10
8. Wayne Hauser Winston-Salem, N.C. 9 22-03 0 $2,000.00
Day 1: 3 9-10 Day 2: 3 6-01 Day 3: 3 6-08
9. Chad Caldwell Hampton Cove, Ala. 8 22-02 0 $1,800.00
Day 1: 2 7-09 Day 2: 3 7-02 Day 3: 3 7-07
10. Tom Heintz Waterloo, Ill. 8 21-15 0 $1,600.00
Day 1: 2 3-15 Day 2: 3 8-12 Day 3: 3 9-04
11. Peter Paulson Chesterton, Ind. 9 21-10 0 $1,400.00
Day 1: 3 7-04 Day 2: 3 8-14 Day 3: 3 5-08
12. Matt Carter Owens Cross Roads, Ala 6 21-08 0 $1,300.00
Day 1: 2 9-03 Day 2: 3 9-08 Day 3: 1 2-13
13. Albert Hudson Austin, Texas 6 21-07 0 $1,700.00
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 3 14-15 Day 3: 3 6-08
14. Howard Stephens Columbia, S.C. 8 21-04 0 $1,100.00
Day 1: 2 3-10 Day 2: 3 9-05 Day 3: 3 8-05
15. Will Cranston N Little Rock, Ark. 7 21-01 0 $1,000.00
Day 1: 3 11-01 Day 2: 3 8-07 Day 3: 1 1-09
16. David Kilgore Jasper, Ala. 7 20-08 0 $1,000.00
Day 1: 3 6-07 Day 2: 3 9-13 Day 3: 1 4-04
17. Tim Dungan Cinncinati, Ohio 7 19-12 0 $1,000.00
Day 1: 3 9-03 Day 2: 2 4-14 Day 3: 2 5-11
18. Dennis Andersen Wellington, Fla. 7 19-08 0 $1,000.00
Day 1: 2 3-07 Day 2: 3 8-15 Day 3: 2 7-02
18. Frank Picha Akron, Ohio 5 19-08 0 $1,000.00
Day 1: 1 4-12 Day 2: 3 13-02 Day 3: 1 1-10
20. Sam Mize Muscle Shoals, Ala. 8 19-07 0 $1,000.00
Day 1: 3 8-11 Day 2: 2 4-01 Day 3: 3 6-11
21. Donald Bishop Verona, Pa. 7 19-05 0 $900.00
Day 1: 3 7-03 Day 2: 3 10-06 Day 3: 1 1-12
22. William Tinsley Bessemer, Ala. 8 18-15 0 $900.00
Day 1: 2 5-12 Day 2: 3 7-06 Day 3: 3 5-13
23. Steven Oliver Westminster, Calif. 6 18-12 0 $900.00
Day 1: 1 5-00 Day 2: 2 8-03 Day 3: 3 5-09
24. Robert Mullins Vinton, Va. 6 18-11 0 $900.00
Day 1: 3 11-09 Day 2: 3 7-02 Day 3: 0 0-00
25. James Hill Ozark, Ala. 7 18-09 0 $900.00
Day 1: 2 4-04 Day 2: 2 5-12 Day 3: 3 8-09
26. Mike Frazier Orlando, Fla. 6 18-00 0
Day 1: 1 2-12 Day 2: 3 11-02 Day 3: 2 4-02
27. Charlie Raia Gardendale, Ala. 7 17-14 0
Day 1: 1 1-13 Day 2: 3 10-02 Day 3: 3 5-15
28. Brian Merriman Falkville, Ala. 6 16-11 0
Day 1: 1 2-15 Day 2: 3 8-06 Day 3: 2 5-06
29. William Pickard Portland, Tenn. 5 16-07 0
Day 1: 3 9-06 Day 2: 1 1-13 Day 3: 1 5-04
30. Shane Underwood Trussville, Ala. 5 16-04 0
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 3 11-05 Day 3: 2 4-15
31. Leonard Polacek Hixson, Tenn. 7 16-03 0
Day 1: 2 3-08 Day 2: 3 7-03 Day 3: 2 5-08
32. Bobby Hicks Piney Flats, Tenn. 6 16-02 0
Day 1: 3 8-07 Day 2: 3 7-11 Day 3: 0 0-00
33. Robert Myers Prior Lake, Minn. 7 15-15 0
Day 1: 3 8-07 Day 2: 3 5-10 Day 3: 1 1-14
34. Richard Coldiron Somerset, Ky. 6 15-13 0
Day 1: 2 4-14 Day 2: 3 6-15 Day 3: 1 4-00
35. Marty Scoggins Trion, Ga. 6 15-10 0
Day 1: 2 4-05 Day 2: 3 8-04 Day 3: 1 3-01
36. Bill Williams Corbin, Ky. 4 14-08 0
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 3 12-06 Day 3: 1 2-02
37. Scott Whitson Erwin, Tenn. 5 14-06 0
Day 1: 3 9-02 Day 2: 1 2-04 Day 3: 1 3-00
38. Larry Summey Clermont, Fla. 5 14-03 0
Day 1: 2 5-13 Day 2: 2 5-08 Day 3: 1 2-14
39. Shane Breeden Chickamauga, Ga. 5 14-02 0
Day 1: 1 1-11 Day 2: 3 10-01 Day 3: 1 2-06
40. Wesley Hood Annandale, Va. 5 13-15 0
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 3 10-02 Day 3: 2 3-13
41. Mike Lewis Ponca City, Okla. 5 13-14 0
Day 1: 2 6-04 Day 2: 2 5-07 Day 3: 1 2-03
42. Jimmy Sparks Tuscumbia, Ala. 6 13-13 0
Day 1: 3 7-02 Day 2: 2 3-08 Day 3: 1 3-03
43. Jack Long Columbia, Tenn. 5 13-08 0
Day 1: 2 5-02 Day 2: 2 4-07 Day 3: 1 3-15
44. Harry Potts Ozark, Ala. 5 13-07 0
Day 1: 1 1-12 Day 2: 3 8-07 Day 3: 1 3-04
44. William Carter Owens Cross Roads, Ala 5 13-07 0
Day 1: 1 4-15 Day 2: 3 6-05 Day 3: 1 2-03
46. Joel Etheredge Springville, Ala. 6 13-05 0
Day 1: 2 4-06 Day 2: 3 6-10 Day 3: 1 2-05
47. Eddie Matteson Farmington, Mich. 4 11-13 0
Day 1: 1 2-01 Day 2: 3 9-12 Day 3: 0 0-00
48. Walter Stringer Tallassee, Ala. 4 11-02 0
Day 1: 1 2-08 Day 2: 3 8-10 Day 3: 0 0-00
49. Daryl James Malone Manchester, Tenn. 4 10-14 0
Day 1: 2 3-05 Day 2: 2 7-09 Day 3: 0 0-00
50. Michael Potter Maryville, Tenn. 4 10-12 0
Day 1: 1 1-14 Day 2: 3 8-14 Day 3: 0 0-00
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Big Bass
Day
1 Todd Lee Jasper, Ala. 7-00 $500.00
2 Albert Hudson Austin, Texas 8-07 $500.00
3 Jeff Cloud Pampa, Texas 5-05 $500.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 34 182 490-08
2 41 184 517-06
3 16 83 216-08
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91 449 1224-06