Q: You've fished a bunch and had tremendous success since the Bassmaster Elite Series season concluded; what spurred you to fish so much?
Ike: It's not typical for me to fish so many events after the season. I intended to only fish two FLW tournaments in upstate NY, but I did well in those, I got on a roll, and I figured out that if I fished a couple more events, I could qualify for the FLW Championship next summer.
Q: If you could pick one body of water to fish anywhere in the United States over Thanksgiving break, where would it be?
Ike: I'd pick Falcon Lake in Texas. It's by far the best big bass lake I've ever fished in my whole life. I'd throw all big lures like giant worms, the big Tru Tungsten swimbait, the ¾ oz. Ike's Finesse Jig and big crankbaits.
Q: What could we expect if we were hanging with you on Turkey Day?
Ike: Thanksgiving for me means spending time with my children and Becky and eating a great meal. You could expect to see me try to eat everything on the table, but seriously, I also think it's a great day to reflect on everything I'm so fortunate to have in life.
Q: You love sports. What are Ike's Monday Morning Sports insights these days?
Ike: I love all Philly teams because I grew up a stone's throw from downtown Philly. I was filming for City Limits in Nashville when the Phillies won the World Series. We were in one of Nashville's many country music bars to watch the game. We were glued to a TV in the corner of the bar while the rest of the folks watched a country music band. When the last pitch was thrown, and the Phillies became world champions, we went nuts, and everybody in the place looked at us like we were aliens. It was priceless!
Q: You mentioned fishing winter 'jackpot' tournaments around Philly this winter - are you serious?
Ike: Heck yea! There might only be 5 or 10 boats, but there are two leagues around the home that host tournaments. It keeps my fishing sharp and lets me get back to my roots. I love getting to see the guys I grew up fishing against. The guys like having me out - probably because they take my money half the time.
