Wissota likes Ike: Jersey pro leads Elite 50

2005 Bassmaster Elite 50 Series - Chippewa Falls, Wis.

Chippewa Falls, Wis. - With big money and the final 10 CITGO Bassmaster Classic berths on the line, 50 BASS pros are giving it all they've got on Wisconsin's Lake Wissota at the final event of the 2004 Bassmaster Elite 50 Series.

So who's atop the leaderboard?

A couple of former Classic champs who already have their tickets to Pittsburgh and the 35th edition of bass fishing's biggest tournament, July 29-31 - that's who.

2003 Classic champion Michael Iaconelli of Runnemede, N.J., and 2001 champ Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Mich., proved they know a thing or two about northern waters and northern bass on Wednesday. Iaconelli managed the only five-bass limit of the first round and boated 9 pounds, 12 ounces of largemouths and smallmouths to take the early lead and claim an extra $1,000 for the Busch Heavyweight catch of the day.

"I had three smallmouths early, and then switched to some slower largemouth baits," Ike said. "The cloudy, cold, windy weather we've been having is great smallmouth weather, so I keyed on them first. After the sun came out, I knew the largemouths would be more active, so I changed tactics and targeted them."

The Elite 50s have been a source of pride and frustration for Iaconelli. After a runner-up finish at Lake Dardanelle and a third place finish at Lewisville, he's ready to break through with a win.

Iaconelli has already earned his spot in the 2005 and 2006 Classics by virtue of his eighth place finish in the CITGO Bassmaster Angler of the Year race during the Bassmaster Tour season. In the Elite 50 Series, he's fishing for pride & and some very big money. Ike is currently in second place in the Elite 50 points standings.

Just a single point ahead of Iaconelli in Elite 50 points is VanDam, the winner of the last Elite 50 event on Texas' Lewisville Lake and a three-time Angler of the Year. At Wissota, VanDam is in second place with four bass weighing 9 pounds, 4 ounces - just half a pound behind Iaconelli.

"I worked a lot of different waters and patterns to catch the fish I had today," VanDam said, "and I needed one more keeper. Unfortunately, a lot of the fish I caught were short."

Arkansas' Mike Wurm is in third place with 8 pounds, 2 ounces and took Purolator Big Bass honors for the first day with a three-pound, 10 ounce smallmouth. The big bronzeback struck a Strike King 3X jerkbait.

While Iaconelli and VanDam can relax in the comfort of knowing they've already qualified for the Classic, Wurm isn't so fortunate. He's presently on the bubble for making the Classic through the Tour standings and in 27th place in the Elite 50s. Even with a strong finish at Wissota he'll likely need some help to earn a berth in the Classic.

Texas' Dean Rojas (7-7), Alabama's Randy Howell (7-4) and South Carolina's Davy Hite (6-11) round out the top six. Hite and Rojas can secure their spots in the Classic with solid performances at Wissota. Howell needs at least a top six finish to have a chance to go to Pittsburgh this year.

A couple of Classic regulars, Larry Nixon (23 Classics) and Gary Klein (22 Classics) have their work cut out for them in the second round. The two semifinalists in ESPN's Greatest Angler Debate presented by John Deere were sixth and ninth, respectively, in Elite 50 Series points going into the Wissota event. After the first round, they're in 28th and 30th place in the event with less than two pounds apiece. Unless they can bounce back on Thursday, their chances of making the Classic will essentially disappear.

Part one of the Bassmaster Elite 50 Series event on Lake Wissota will be telecast on The CITGO Bassmasters on Saturday, July 2 at 10:00 a.m. ET on ESPN2. Part two will air on Saturday July 9 at 10:00 a.m. ET on ESPN2.

Sponsors of the Bassmaster Elite 50 Series include CITGO Petroleum Corp., Toyota, Busch Beer, Purolator, Triton Boats, Mercury Marine, Berkley, Lowrance Electronics, MotorGuide, Bass Pro Shops and Cialis (tadalafil).

Local Sponsors include the Chippewa Valley Sports Commission.

BASS Communications -June. 15, 2005

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Posted by DODGE at June 16, 2005 04:57 PM in Tournament (BASS)