FORT WORTH, Texas - You can call it a Texas tangle between two anglers. Following Day 2 of the Bassmaster Memorial bass fishing tournament on Eagle Mountain Lake, a couple of young and personable BASS pros, Mike Iaconelli and Dave Wolak, sat atop the leaderboard - just ounces separating their weights. Mike Iaconelli led with 27 pounds, 6 ounces while Dave Wolak - the Day 1 leader - was right behind with 26-14.
Iaconelli, 33, continued to build on an impressive year during Day 2 of the Bassmaster Memorial, even by his own high standards. The 2003 Bassmaster Classic champion won the $100,000 top prize at the Southern Challenge in April and has not finished an Elite Series event lower than 20th place since then.
"I was fishing with a confidence technique in spinning tackle," the Runnemede, N.J., pro said. "I am fishing great this year and I am supremely confident heading into Benbrook."
While anglers fished Thursday and Friday on Eagle Mountain Lake, the field has been cut to the top 12 pros and they will move to Benbrook Lake on Saturday and Sunday to fish a six-hole course. Weights will be zeroed and because Iaconelli is leading the Angler of the Year race, he gets to choose where on the course he will begin tomorrow.
The fan-friendly pro is going into Benbrook Lake without knowing which pattern he will fish. Although some anglers in the top 12 viewed the lake previously - which is allowed under BASS rules- none of them were allowed to practice, and Iaconelli has no knowledge of the fishery, he said. "Sometimes when you have no preconceived notions, you perform better," Iaconelli explained.
While Iaconelli has found consistence this season, second-place Wolak is in a sophomore slump. But a strong finish at the first-ever Bassmaster Major would turn the tide for the 29-year-old pro, he said.
"I am looking forward to Benbrook," the Warrior Run, Pa., pro said. Qualifying for the Majors on the strength of his 2005 Rookie of the Year win, Wolak on Friday stuck with what vaulted him to the Day 1 lead. He targeted suspending fish in deep water around boat docks with spinning tackle.
Rounding out the top 12 fishing Saturday were Californian Skeet Reese (26-3), Texan Matt Reed (25-8), Arkansan Mike McClelland (24-10), Virginian John Crews (22-0), Floridian Peter Thliveros (21-15), Texan Todd Faircloth (21-3), Louisiana's Greg Hackney (21-1), Oklahoman Edwin Evers (20-14), Kentucky's Mark Menendez (20-14) and Alabama's Randy Howell (19-12).
One unexpected fan in the crowd at Friday's weigh-in was Fort Worth Mayor Mike Moncrief, who took the stage to greet the competitors and kick off the festivities. "$250,000 is a lot of money and I want you to clap as hard as you can when these anglers cross the stage," Moncrief urged the crowd.
Twice as Nice
BASS gave away a brand new Triton boat to the observer of the angler who had the biggest bass on Day 2 of the Memorial. When angler Peter Thliveros pulled his big bass out of the bag, Kent Caulfield, who observed Kevin VanDam, thought his chance of winning the fully-equipped, $50,000 boat was gone.
"When I saw that thing, I knew it wasn't going to happen," the Cherryville, Kansas, native said. "That fish was huge." But as Caulfield waited in the wings, looking at Thliveros' 7-pound fish, he found out that the Florida pro's observer was ineligible because he was an event employee.
"I had no idea," Caulfield said. This isn't the first time Caulfield has won a boat. "Three years ago, I won the first Triton boat that Purolator gave away in a draw out of 200,000 people," he said. "The IRS loves me."
He also will be an observer at the Bassmasters Legends at Little Rock in August. VanDam finished in 26th place with 15-18.
2006 Bassmaster Memorial 05/18-05/21
Eagle Mountain Lake, Ft. Worth Texas
(PRO Division) Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Michael Iaconelli Runnemede, N.J. 10 27-06 0 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-08 Day 2: 5 16-14
2. Dave Wolak Warrior Run, Pa. 9 26-14 0 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-14 Day 2: 4 10-00
3. Skeet Reese Auburn, Calif. 10 26-03 0
Day 1: 5 14-06 Day 2: 5 11-13
4. Matt Reed Madisonville, Texas 10 25-08 0
Day 1: 5 13-15 Day 2: 5 11-09
5. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, Ark. 9 24-10 0
Day 1: 5 16-09 Day 2: 4 8-01
6. John Crews Salem, Va. 7 22-00 0
Day 1: 2 6-10 Day 2: 5 15-06
7. Peter E Thliveros Jacksonville, Fla. 9 21-15 0 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 8-03 Day 2: 4 13-12
8. Todd Faircloth Jasper, Texas 10 21-03 0
Day 1: 5 9-01 Day 2: 5 12-02
9. Greg Hackney Gonzales, La. 10 21-01 0
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 9-11
10. Edwin Evers Talala, Okla. 9 20-14 0
Day 1: 4 8-02 Day 2: 5 12-12
10. Mark Menendez Paducah, Ky. 7 20-14 0 $1,000.00
Day 1: 3 12-03 Day 2: 4 8-11
12. Randy Howell Springville, Ala. 9 19-12 0
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 4 7-04
13. Steve Kennedy Auburn, Ala. 9 19-09 0 $11,650.00
Day 1: 5 11-02 Day 2: 4 8-07
13. Lee Bailey Boaz, Ala. 8 19-09 0 $11,650.00
Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 3 6-01
15. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, Kan. 10 19-02 0 $11,400.00
Day 1: 5 10-10 Day 2: 5 8-08
15. Shaw E Grigsby, Jr Gainesville, Fla. 9 19-02 0 $11,400.00
Day 1: 4 8-07 Day 2: 5 10-11
15. Scott Rook Little Rock, Ark. 8 19-02 0 $11,400.00
Day 1: 5 15-00 Day 2: 3 4-02
18. Rick Clunn Ava, Mo. 8 18-00 0 $11,200.00
Day 1: 5 7-03 Day 2: 3 10-13
19. Gerald Swindle Hayden, Ala. 8 17-15 0 $11,050.00
Day 1: 3 5-02 Day 2: 5 12-13
19. Kelly Jordon Mineola, Texas 4 17-15 0 $11,050.00
Day 1: 3 15-06 Day 2: 1 2-09
21. Yusuke Miyazaki Mineola, Texas 7 17-13 0 $10,900.00
Day 1: 5 10-15 Day 2: 2 6-14
22. Mike Wurm Hot Springs, Ark. 7 17-08 0 $10,800.00
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 2 5-02
23. Charlie Hartley Grove City, Ohio 7 17-00 0 $10,700.00
Day 1: 5 13-03 Day 2: 2 3-13
24. Zell Rowland Montgomery, Texas 7 16-00 0 $10,600.00
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 2 3-10
25. Gary Klein Weatherford, Texas 7 15-13 0 $10,500.00
Day 1: 5 11-07 Day 2: 2 4-06
26. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, Mich. 7 15-08 0
Day 1: 2 2-10 Day 2: 5 12-14
27. John Murray Phoenix, Ariz. 7 14-14 0
Day 1: 4 7-15 Day 2: 3 6-15
28. Aaron Martens Leeds, Ala. 8 14-13 0
Day 1: 3 5-01 Day 2: 5 9-12
28. Davy Hite Ninety Six, S.C. 7 14-13 0
Day 1: 2 4-03 Day 2: 5 10-10
30. Terry Scroggins Palatka, Fla. 7 14-12 0
Day 1: 4 9-00 Day 2: 3 5-12
31. Denny Brauer Camdenton, Mo. 9 14-11 0
Day 1: 5 8-14 Day 2: 4 5-13
31. Ishama Monroe Hughson, Calif. 8 14-11 0
Day 1: 5 9-04 Day 2: 3 5-07
33. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, Fla. 10 14-06 0
Day 1: 5 2-15 Day 2: 5 11-07
33. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, Mo. 7 14-06 0
Day 1: 2 5-01 Day 2: 5 9-05
35. Alton Jones Waco, Texas 6 14-05 0
Day 1: 5 11-12 Day 2: 1 2-09
36. Takahiro Omori Emory, Texas 7 13-15 0
Day 1: 3 7-13 Day 2: 4 6-02
37. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, Okla. 7 13-01 0
Day 1: 4 7-07 Day 2: 3 5-10
38. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, Okla. 8 12-15 0
Day 1: 3 5-02 Day 2: 5 7-13
39. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, Ark. 6 12-14 0
Day 1: 2 2-12 Day 2: 4 10-02
39. Mark Tucker Saint Louis, Mo. 6 12-14 0
Day 1: 3 6-14 Day 2: 3 6-00
41. Mike Reynolds Modesto, Calif. 6 12-11 0
Day 1: 3 5-14 Day 2: 3 6-13
42. Morizo Shimizu Murrieta, Calif. 6 12-02 0
Day 1: 3 5-05 Day 2: 3 6-13
43. Jeff Reynolds Idabel, Okla. 6 12-01 0
Day 1: 4 6-12 Day 2: 2 5-05
44. Guy Eaker Cherryville, N.C. 6 10-12 0
Day 1: 2 2-08 Day 2: 4 8-04
44. Paul Elias Laurel, Miss. 4 10-12 0
Day 1: 4 10-12 Day 2: 0 0-00
46. Marty Stone Linden, N.C. 5 10-00 0
Day 1: 3 6-04 Day 2: 2 3-12
47. Chad Brauer Osage Beach, Mo. 5 9-15 0
Day 1: 1 1-03 Day 2: 4 8-12
48. Mark Tyler Scottsdale, Ariz. 5 9-00 0
Day 1: 2 3-05 Day 2: 3 5-11
49. Jason Quinn Lake Wylie, S.C. 4 8-04 0
Day 1: 3 5-14 Day 2: 1 2-06
50. Kenyon Hill Norman, Okla. 4 7-13 0
Day 1: 4 7-13 Day 2: 0 0-00
51. Jimmy Mize Ben Lomond, Ark. 5 7-12 0
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 5 7-12
52. Timmy Horton Muscle Shoals, Ala. 3 7-07 0
Day 1: 2 5-10 Day 2: 1 1-13
53. Dean Rojas Lake Havasu, Ariz. 2 6-09 0
Day 1: 2 6-09 Day 2: 0 0-00
54. Kevin Wirth Crestwood, Ky. 2 3-08 0
Day 1: 1 1-13 Day 2: 1 1-11
55. Brooks Rogers Quitman, Texas 1 2-06 0
Day 1: 1 2-06 Day 2: 0 0-00
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Big Bass
Day
1 Mark Menendez Paducah, Ky. 7-01 $1,000.00
2 Peter E Thliveros Jacksonville, Fla. 7-00 $1,000.00
Day
1 David Wolak Warrior Run, Pa. 16-14 $1,000.00
2 Michael Iaconelli Runnemede, N.J. 16-14 $1,000.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 23 201 455-11
2 17 181 400-15
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40 382 856-10