HENDERSON, N.C. (Sept. 20, 2008) - Pro Michael Iaconelli of Runnemede, N.J., caught a five-bass limit weighing 10 pounds, 1 ounce Saturday to win the Stren Series Northern Division bass fishing tournament on Kerr Lake with a four-day total of 20 bass weighing 45-06. For his victory, Iaconelli earned $25,000 cash.
"This win really means a lot to me," said Iaconelli, who has a Classic win on his resume. "Early in my career I fished BFLs and Stren Series events, and the Stren Series events are the only level where I never notched a win. Those BFL and Stren events were very instrumental to me and where I am today.
"There are some amazing fishermen in the Stren Series events, and that just makes this win mean that much more to me," Iaconelli added.
Iaconelli said he relied on three baits during the tournament to produce his daily limits - a ½-ounce Sexy Shad-colored Strike King Red Eye Shad, a wide wobbling handmade balsa crankbait with a chartreuse back and pearl sides and a shaky head rig with a 3/16-ounce weight and a green pumpkin worm. Iaconelli said he targeted hydrilla growing in Kerr Lake.
"When I fished here eight or nine years ago, there wasn't as much grass," Iaconelli said. "That hydrilla is relatively new and fish love it. It produced and was reliable for me every day."
Rounding out the top five pros are Dustin Wilks of Rocky Mount, N.C. (18 bass, 43-05, $5,696); Jacob Powroznik of Prince George, Va. (20 bass, 43-04, $5,126 plus $5,000 Ranger bonus); David Wright of Lexington, N.C. (19 bass, 42-10, $4,557) and Chad Pipkens of Holt, Mich. (20 bass, 41-01, $3,987).
Moo Bae of West Friendship, Md., won the Co-angler Division and $35,000, including a 198VX Ranger boat, with a four-day total of 14 bass weighing 32-15.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Jerry Hayden of Charlotte, N.C. (16 bass, 31-07, $2,663); Billy Carroll of Fayetteville, N.C. (13 bass, 29-02, $2,164); Matthew Jennings of Suffolk, Va. (13 bass, 28-01, $1,663) and Mike McDonald of Randleman, N.C. (15 bass, 26-09, $1,331).