Ike’s passion for pro fishing
Nov 28th, 2016 by OutdoorsFIRST
Modified Nov 28th, 2016 at 12:00 AM
Mike Iaconelli is about as famous as you can get in the world of professional bass fishing. Iaconelli’s name is synonymous with winning the Bassmaster Classic, Angler of the Year (AOY) and even more famous for screaming in a near-possessed manner when he catches a decent fish during a tournament.
So, for an angler who has reached the pinnacle of the bass fishing world and sustained his status as an elite angler for over a decade, what are his favorite parts of the pro angler lifestyle that keep him going?
It’s pretty simple when it comes to Iaconelli. Passion. But, Iaconelli has broken down his love and passion for the sport into three pieces, fishing, travel and puzzle solving.
Fishing.
“The biggest misconception about professional tournament fishing that most fans have is that all we do is fish,” said Iaconelli. “That is far from true. Sure, we fish events, practice for them and fish elsewhere as well, but we also take time to work with writers, work on the web, for radio, television and on and on.
“Even though I don’t get to fish every day, I talk about it every day. It’s incredible. I get to have fishing in my life all day. I love it.”
Travel.
“I really enjoy the way I have to travel during the tournament season,” said Iaconelli. “Most people on business just buzz over the country in a plane never getting to experience the country. I drive everywhere. I’ve been to some really cool places over the years.
“Plus, I get to travel with my family an awful lot. It’s so cool for the kids to be able to see all of the country.
“Another bonus is I get to work with my wife Becky every day. Combining the travel and work with my family is so cool.”
Puzzles.
“I think I’ve found fishing intriguing from the first day I fished,” said Iaconelli. “When you are fishing, you are figuring out a puzzle every day. I love that.
“Of course, I get to do it for a living. I’ve had a lot of success, but I still fail a lot. I might zero for the day or maybe catch one keeper. I still can’t always figure them out. I think it’s so cool and challenging.
“I get to compete against a living creature. It’s always unpredictable.”