Iaconelli's Not Panicking

CELEBRATION, Fla. – For many Bassmaster Elite Series pros, holding down the 39th spot in the yearlong Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings nearing the midway point of the season would be an acceptable position. After all, that standing puts the angler square in the middle of the race for a coveted invitation to the Bassmaster Classic – the top 37 in the standings advance to the superbowl of bass fishing.

But Michael Iaconelli is anything but satisfied with 39th place. The controversial New Jersey pro who is the reigning Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year is not thrilled with his current Bassmaster Elite Series season.

“I’m having what I call a mediocre season,” the 34-year-old said. “It seems like I’m figuring them out on the second day of every event and that’s too late. You can’t have a bad start.

“So I’m just kind of in the middle of the road. And for me it’s frustrating and disappointing. But I think a lot of guys would be happy be to place in the 30s in the standings. But for me it feels unsatisfying — especially after coming off such a good season.”

Iaconelli started the Elite Series season in the style with which he is more accustomed — a second-place finish on Texas’ Lake Amistad. But since then, his performances have spiraled downward — 54th, 56th, and a pair of 64ths.

“I don’t know what else to do except keep fishing,” he admitted. “You try to learn something from a bad tournament and move on. I’ve got a whole season ahead of me so I can’t get down in the dumps and worry about what happened in the last one. I’ve got to look forward to the next one. I’m not really too worried about it, to be honest with you.”

With six events remaining on the Elite Series circuit, Iaconelli still has ample time to move upwards in the AOY standings. The 2003 Classic champion still thinks he has a shot at retaining the coveted title.

“I think so,” he replied. “What Kevin [VanDam] did last year proved you can come back from a devastating event and do it. Obviously, I’m going to have to have some really high finishes in the next couple of events. But it’s possible. I’ve done stranger things in the past. So I’ve got to keep my head up and keep fishing.”

With his Angler of the Year achievement last year came increase responsibilities and demands on his time. But Iaconelli refuses to fall back on such an excuse.

“I do have more obligations with sponsors and that tends to come after winning a title,” he said. “So that’s there. But I don’t blame it on that. I try never to blame my performance on outside factors. It’s me.

“I’m not catching the breaks this year. And that’s fishing. I’ve been through it before and I’ll go through it again, I’m sure. So I just have to fish through it.”
 

From BASS