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Defending Louisiana Delta Bassmaster Classic champ Michael Iaconelli is right where he wants to be

Category: press release

 Jan 13th, 2011 by OutdoorsFIRST 

Modified Jan 13th, 2011 at 12:00 AM

The Jersey Score are the words printed under Michael Iaconelli’s photo, his victory-pumping arm frozen by the camera. It’s an ad that promotes the Feb. 18-20 Bassmaster Classic’s return to New Orleans and the Louisiana Delta for the first time since the New Jersey pro won the world championship there in 2003.

	Michael Iaconelli(Photo B.A.S.S.)

That Classic title was a huge score for Iaconelli – and the reason he dropped his half-formed plan to quit fishing professionally.

Roughed up by a bad patch in life, he had convinced himself that his career was the cause. He had vowed that the 2003 Classic would be his final competition. It was his way of going out with a bang.

A bang it indeed was, but the only thing that ended was Iaconelli’s negative view of fishing.

“Now, my life is almost a full 180 degrees the other way: My personal life has never been better, I’ve never been happier, I’ve got a baby on the way, my professional life is full. I’m in a totally different place than I was in 2003,” said the Bassmaster Elite Series pro as he talked this week about that pivotal year and his upcoming 12th Classic appearance.

Since his Classic victory, he has earned his first Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year title (2006). He has his own fishing show, “City Limits,” on the Versus channel. He and another pro launched The Bass University this year; he’s happy to be teaching, one of his passions. He also started “Going Ike,” a fun, self-produced video project for social media sites and his own website.

Between commitments, he spent more than a week on the delta before the off-limits period set in Dec. 13. The scouting trip was his first look at the water since his Classic victory.

“Just being back at the place that changed my life was a neat experience. It was almost surreal,” he said. “And it was probably the most productive week of pre-practice I’ve ever had.”

Like Ike himself, the delta has changed, but some things are the same. He said he located some familiar areas, but an equal number of his spots had vanished. He had to relearn navigation of the delta, torn by hurricanes, the oil spill and the wear of time.

	Michael Iaconelli (Photo B.A.S.S.)

He declared that he is ready for the contest to begin. Yet there’s an important consideration that’s got him wondering when he’ll take off for Louisiana. It’s literally a very small issue: The baby he and his wife, Becky, are expecting is due Feb. 3. He said he can wait as late as Feb. 10 to fly into New Orleans so he’ll be on time for the practice days of Feb. 11-13 and Feb. 16. He would send his boat ahead via a hired driver.

“That gives us about a seven-day window to have this baby, so we’re cutting it close,” he said.

As winner of the 2003 Classic, Iaconelli is regarded as the defending delta champion. But in the more traditional sense, it’s the 2010 winner who is the defending champ of the 2011 Classic. That would be, of course, Kevin VanDam, the 2010 Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year who will be making his 21st consecutive Classic appearance.

The dual defending champs are just two in the field of 50 anglers who will compete over three days for a first-place prize of $500,000. Daily launches will be at Bayou Segnette State Park in Westwego, La. The weigh-ins will take place at the New Orleans Arena, across the street from the Louisiana Superdome. All events are free and open to the public. More about the Feb. 18-20 competition is available at Bassmaster.com.

For information about the concurrent Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo presented by Dick’s Sporting Goods at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Feb. 18-20, click here.

About B.A.S.S.

For more than 40 years, B.A.S.S. has served as the authority on bass fishing. The organization advances the sport through advocacy, outreach and an expansive tournament structure while connecting directly with the passionate community of bass anglers through its Bassmaster media vehicles.

The Bassmaster brand and its multimedia platforms are guided by a mission to serve all fishing fans. Through its industry-leading publications – Bassmaster Magazine and B.A.S.S. Times – comprehensive website Bassmaster.com, and ESPN2 television programming, Bassmaster provides rich, leading-edge content true to the lifestyle.

The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series, B.A.S.S. Federation Nation events presented by Yamaha and Skeeter Boats and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bassmaster Classic.

B.A.S.S. offers an array of services to its more than 500,000 members and remains focused on issues related to conservation and water access. The organization is headquartered in Celebration, Fla.