Photos by Mark Jeffreys & Matt Pangrac 

No matter how you cut it, since bursting onto the Bassmaster Classic scene with a 6th place finish at the 1999 Classic on the Louisiana Delta, the New Jersey pro has been indelibly linked to performance under duress. 

With his 11th Classic appearance rapidly approaching and along with it, another shot on the big stage, Ike is in full attack mode. It’s the time of year when the decal of a shark head with jaws agape spanning the bow of his Bass Cat starts to resemble Iaconelli’s attitude of an apex predator searching for blood in the water. 

Spend more than five minutes with Ike, and it’s easy to tell that his enthusiastic approach isn’t isolated to big tournaments. He carries the same passion and dedication with him through all aspects of the sport including preparation, learning and teaching. 

Close Calls and Classic Thoughts 
Iaconelli’s preparation for the 2010 Bassmaster Classic started the moment he made his final cast on the Alabama River at the 2009 Bassmaster Elite Series Trophy Triumph in September. 

“Even with all the things that I have been doing during the off season, in one form or another, the Classic has been on my mind. I started thinking about Lay Lake as soon as I made my last cast in 2009 and I’ve been thinking about it for months and months,” he said.

Part of his preparation included a five day scouting trip to Lay Lake prior to the cut off period. Another aspect of his preparation has included spending time analyzing and looking at lake maps and old magazine articles about the body of water. “Even though the Classic is still a month away, I’m working on my tackle preparation and making sure that everything I need is organized and in good shape.” 

After runner-up finishes in both the 2009 Bassmaster Classic and FLW Championship, Iaconelli is ready to take another crack at the Classic crown. While he will never forget what could have been, the near misses in ’09 certainly didn’t discourage the 37-year-old pro. “Does it motivate me? I don’t think consciously that it does but I want to win, so sub-consciously, maybe it does drive me a little harder to get over the hump and win one of these again,” he explained. 

“Sure, I’ve looked back on those two tournaments and it still stings a little bit because I lost by less than a pound between both championships,” Ike admitted. That being said, there was nothing that he would have done differently. “When you are meant to win, you’re going to win. I believe that things happen when they are supposed to happen and that belief has freed my mind up because I really tend not to dwell on things. I can also look back on other championships that I’ve won, so it all evens out. 

“When I won the 2003 Classic, I caught the winning bass with just a few minutes left, so it was meant to happen. In 2009, I gave 100% and it just didn’t happen.” 

Ike’s ability to be at peace with the past may stem from his approach to the Classic, where fishing for points means nothing in the stand alone event. “There’s no tendency to sit back and fish safe,” he said. “The Classic puts you in the frame of mind to ‘fish to win’ and nothing else. I love that.” That mentality, he believes, is why he has such a stellar track record in past Classics. “I love the fact that you can throw everything else out the window and look for a winning pattern,” he continued. “If it doesn’t happen, you still have a fresh start to the regular season.” 

Building the Mental Game 
The 2009 season was a banner year for Iaconelli. With nine single digit finishes in BASS and FLW competition, there’s a solid platform to build on for the 2010 season. “Last year was the best season that I’ve ever had in my life,” claimed Iaconelli. “I look at my record on paper as far as my championship and regular season performances and that’s something that I’m really focusing on.” 

Ike believes that he owes a large portion of his success to the fact that he has been able to better harness the positive energy that accompanies success and good decision making. “I’ve always had this drive and passion but when I can capture that positive energy and get in the ‘zone,’ that’s when things start going good.” 

“Over the course of my career, I’ve gotten into the flow and then fallen out and then found it again. Consciously, I can’t explain why because my preparation has always been the same.” He continued, “I honestly believe that it has to do with the sub-conscious, things that are happening deep down inside.” 

Maintaining the Passion 
Regardless of whether he’s riding a high or surviving a rough stretch in his tournament career, Iaconelli has never lacked passion, enthusiasm, and drive. But with all of the ebbs and flows, what prevents burn out? “It’s hard to predict how I’m going to feel in five, 10, or even 20 years but I can tell you that my passion has never changed,” he explained. 

“Even outside of the tournament fishing realm, the sport keeps me passionate and energized. For me, it’s about figuring out the puzzle.” 

As a kid fishing from the bank, to competing in club tournaments out of a jon boat, to his Federation days, to the pro ranks, Iaconelli has always been captivated by the challenge of unlocking a body of water one piece at a time. 

“When I launch the boat, it’s like working on a Rubik’s Cube. You put in the effort and then suddenly, the colors start to match up,” he said. “I don’t know if that passion will ever go away because figuring out that puzzle is at the core of why I am so passionate about this.” 

When you combine the passion for putting the pieces of the puzzle together and then sprinkle in the competition aspect, Iaconelli, who readily admits that he is ultra-competitive, can’t help but get fired up every day on the water.