Bassfest Off To A Fast Start On Chickamauga
DAYTON, Tenn. — There are few secrets on Lake Chickamauga this week among the 140 anglers in the June 11-15 Bassmaster BASSfest event.
Even Michael Iaconelli, who caught 25 pounds, 12 ounces of bass within one hour to take the first-day BASSfest lead, claims not to have a spot to himself or a unique technique to catch the bass he’s located on the Tennessee River impoundment.
“I found five schools of fish — and they were all found by others, too. I have nothing to myself. There are no secrets here,” said the Bassmaster Elite Series pro from Pitts Grove, N.J.
“But seeing them and catching them are two different things. Ask anyone here. They’ve all found amazing, winning schools of fish. You have to get the first one to bite and fire up the school,” he added.
Camped on one of the five schools, Iaconelli did just that. But, he added, perhaps what he tempted the bass with wasn’t as important as his timing.
“My timing was right. I figured out how to get the first one to bite, and the rest of the school was ignited. I was there for that. You take away that hour, then I had a really tough day,” he said.
Iaconelli, a seven-time Bassmaster champion, including the 2003 Bassmaster Classic, has never competed before on Chickamauga.
Edwin Evers’ account of his first competition day was almost identical to Iaconelli’s. A 30- to 40-minute flurry late in the afternoon yielded 24-3 from one school of bass. His last-hour bounty was good enough for second place, just 1 pound, 9 ounces behind Iaconelli.
“It was all timing,” said Evers, an Elite pro from Talala, Okla.
Evers said he’s sharing water with other competitors, and everyone knows what everyone else is doing.
“I don’t think there are any secrets here,” Evers said.
At least one Elite pro has a secret he’s trying to keep. Tommy Biffle of Wagoner, Okla., was cagey about the bait combo he used to land 24-1 and third place.
“I am doing something different. It’s working pretty well,” Biffle said.
But Biffle was candid about where he found his quality bass: outside grasslines in about 16 feet of water.
His bite was slow; he didn’t have a limit until 11:30, he said. He hooked into about six keepers all day, including a 5-pounder that came unhooked, and would have improved his weight via a cull by about 2 pounds, he said.
“Seemed like every time I caught one, it was a good one,” he said.
Biffle weighed the day’s largest bass, an 8-6, making him the frontrunner for the event’s Carhartt Big Bass bonus of up to $1,500.
Fourth place was taken by an Elite pro and 2004 Classic champ, Takahiro Omori of Emory, Texas. He weighed 22-15. In fifth place was another Elite pro and four-time Classic champ, Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Mich., with 22-9.
Part competition, part festival, BASSfest is a unique event. The field includes the 107 pros of the Bassmaster Elite Series plus 33 anglers from the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens circuit. They are competing over five days for a first-place prize of $125,000 and a berth in the 2015 Bassmaster Classic.
Wednesday was round No. 1 with the full field on Chickamauga. All 140 pros will return to Chickamauga Thursday.
But come Friday, the Top 50 from Thursday will stay on shore. The other 90 anglers will go into a shootout on nearby Nickajack Lake. The 10 pros who survive the shootout will rejoin the 50 anglers Saturday for the next round on Chickamauga. Sunday, the Top 12 will return to “The Chick” to compete for the trophy.
While the pros are fishing Friday through Sunday, fans can enjoy the BASSfest Expo and Bassmaster University seminars solely on Friday at Point Park in Dayton. Bassmaster University sessions will feature some of the Top 50 anglers teaching their techniques for catching bass on Chickamauga and other fisheries. Fans also are invited to watch the pros take off from the park’s docks at 6:15 a.m. Thursday and at 7 a.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Weigh-ins — free, like all BASSfest events — will begin at 3:15 p.m. Thursday and at 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The Nickajack weigh-in will be streamed live to the park on Friday beginning at 2:30 p.m.
All times are Eastern.
The local host of the event is the City of Dayton.
2014 Bassmaster Elite Series Chickamauga Lake 6/11-6/15
Chickamauga Lake, Dayton TN.
Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts
1. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, NJ 5 25-12 0
Day 1: 5 25-12
2. Edwin Evers Talala, OK 5 24-03 0
Day 1: 5 24-03
3. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, OK 5 24-01 0
Day 1: 5 24-01
4. Takahiro Omori Emory, TX 5 22-15 0
Day 1: 5 22-15
5. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 5 22-09 0
Day 1: 5 22-09
6. Matt Herren Ashville, AL 5 22-07 0
Day 1: 5 22-07
7. Jacob Wheeler Indianapolis, IN 5 22-06 0
Day 1: 5 22-06
8. Jason Christie Park Hill, OK 5 22-05 0
Day 1: 5 22-05
9. Davy Hite Ninety Six, SC 5 21-08 0
Day 1: 5 21-08
10. Jason Williamson Aiken, SC 5 21-03 0
Day 1: 5 21-03
11. Scott Rook Little Rock, AR 5 20-10 0
Day 1: 5 20-10
12. David Smith Del City, OK 5 20-06 0
Day 1: 5 20-06
13. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 5 20-05 0
Day 1: 5 20-05
14. Fred Roumbanis Bixby, OK 5 20-00 0
Day 1: 5 20-00
15. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, FL 5 19-07 0
Day 1: 5 19-07
16. Brett Hite Phoenix, AZ 5 19-02 0
Day 1: 5 19-02
16. Skeet Reese Auburn, CA 5 19-02 0
Day 1: 5 19-02
18. Britt Myers Lake Wylie, SC 5 19-01 0
Day 1: 5 19-01
19. John Crews Jr Salem, VA 5 18-14 0
Day 1: 5 18-14
20. Brandon Palaniuk Hayden, ID 5 17-15 0
Day 1: 5 17-15
21. Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, AL 5 17-05 0
Day 1: 5 17-05
22. Tim Horton Muscle Shoals, AL 5 17-03 0
Day 1: 5 17-03
23. Randall Tharp Port Saint Joe, FL 5 17-01 0
Day 1: 5 17-01
24. Mike Kernan Wylie, TX 5 16-13 0
Day 1: 5 16-13
24. Chad Morgenthaler Coulterville, IL 5 16-13 0
Day 1: 5 16-13
26. Joseph Sancho New Windsor, NY 5 16-12 0
Day 1: 5 16-12
27. Gerald Spohrer Gonzales, LA 5 16-05 0
Day 1: 5 16-05
28. Tracy Adams Wilkesboro, NC 5 16-04 0
Day 1: 5 16-04
29. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 5 16-02 0
Day 1: 5 16-02
30. Casey Ashley Donalds, SC 5 16-01 0
Day 1: 5 16-01
31. Stephen Mui Bartlett, IL 5 16-01 0
Day 1: 5 16-01
32. Boyd Duckett Guntersville, AL 5 16-00 0
Day 1: 5 16-00
33. James Niggemeyer Van, TX 5 15-15 0
Day 1: 5 15-15
34. Michael Murphy Lexington, SC 5 15-13 0
Day 1: 5 15-13
35. Chris Zaldain San Jose, CA 5 15-10 0
Day 1: 5 15-10
36. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, MO 4 15-10 0
Day 1: 4 15-10
37. Luke Clausen Otis Orchards, WA 5 15-08 0
Day 1: 5 15-08
38. Gerald Swindle Warrior, AL 5 15-05 0
Day 1: 5 15-05
39. Nate Wellman Newaygo, MI 5 15-03 0
Day 1: 5 15-03
40. Jacob Powroznik Port Haywood, VA 5 15-00 0
Day 1: 5 15-00
41. Ott DeFoe Knoxville, TN 5 14-15 0
Day 1: 5 14-15
42. Brandon Card Caryville, TN 5 14-13 0
Day 1: 5 14-13
43. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 4 14-13 0
Day 1: 4 14-13
44. Rich Howes Oviedo, FL 5 14-08 0
Day 1: 5 14-08
45. Jared Knuth Wahoo, NE 5 14-03 0
Day 1: 5 14-03
46. Russ Lane Prattville, AL 5 14-03 0
Day 1: 5 14-03
47. Kevin Short Mayflower, AR 4 13-15 0
Day 1: 4 13-15
48. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, AR 5 13-14 0
Day 1: 5 13-14
49. Hank Cherry Jr Maiden, NC 5 13-13 0
Day 1: 5 13-13
50. Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande, CA 3 13-13 0
Day 1: 3 13-13
51. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 5 13-11 0
Day 1: 5 13-11
52. Gary Klein Weatherford, TX 5 13-10 0
Day 1: 5 13-10
53. Alton Jones Lorena, TX 5 13-09 0
Day 1: 5 13-09
54. David Lefebre Erie, PA 5 12-15 0
Day 1: 5 12-15
55. Greg Vinson Wetumpka, AL 5 12-14 0
Day 1: 5 12-14
56. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 5 12-13 0
Day 1: 5 12-13
57. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 4 12-13 0
Day 1: 4 12-13
58. Kurt Dove Del Rio, TX 4 12-12 0
Day 1: 4 12-12
59. Chad Wiley Pineville, LA 4 12-11 0
Day 1: 4 12-11
60. Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 5 12-10 0
Day 1: 5 12-10
60. J Todd Tucker Moultrie, GA 5 12-10 0
Day 1: 5 12-10
62. Mark Davis Mount Ida, AR 5 12-08 0
Day 1: 5 12-08
63. Glenn Browne Ocala, FL 5 12-02 0
Day 1: 5 12-02
63. Dean Rojas Lake Havasu City, AZ 5 12-02 0
Day 1: 5 12-02
65. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, OK 5 12-00 0
Day 1: 5 12-00
66. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 5 11-11 0
Day 1: 5 11-11
66. Bobby Lane Lakeland, FL 5 11-11 0
Day 1: 5 11-11
68. Jamie Horton Centerville, AL 4 11-09 0
Day 1: 4 11-09
69. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, KS 5 11-08 0
Day 1: 5 11-08
70. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 5 11-06 0
Day 1: 5 11-06
70. Andy Montgomery Blacksburg, SC 5 11-06 0
Day 1: 5 11-06
72. Shaw Grigsby Jr. Gainesville, FL 3 11-05 0
Day 1: 3 11-05
73. Brian Clark Haltom City, TX 5 11-03 0
Day 1: 5 11-03
73. Kevin Hawk Guntersville, AL 5 11-03 0
Day 1: 5 11-03
75. Jim Dillard West Monroe, LA 5 11-00 0
Day 1: 5 11-00
75. Morizo Shimizu Osaka JAPAN 5 11-00 0
Day 1: 5 11-00
77. JT Kenney Palm Bay, FL 4 10-14 0
Day 1: 4 10-14
78. Justin Lucas Guntersville, AL 5 10-12 0
Day 1: 5 10-12
79. Boo Woods Oneida, KY 4 10-11 0
Day 1: 4 10-11
80. Michael Simonton Fremont, OH 5 10-08 0
Day 1: 5 10-08
81. Joel Baker Talala, OK 5 10-05 0
Day 1: 5 10-05
82. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 5 10-04 0
Day 1: 5 10-04
83. Charlie Evans Gilbertsville, KY 5 10-00 0
Day 1: 5 10-00
84. David Walker Sevierville, TN 5 09-15 0
Day 1: 5 09-15
85. Jeremy Starks Scott Depot, WV 4 09-15 0
Day 1: 4 09-15
86. Billy McCaghren Mayflower, AR 5 09-11 0
Day 1: 5 09-11
87. Jared Miller Norman, OK 2 09-11 0
Day 1: 2 09-11
88. Todd Faircloth Jasper, TX 4 09-10 0
Day 1: 4 09-10
89. Aaron Martens Leeds, AL 5 09-07 0
Day 1: 5 09-07
90. Derek Remitz Grant, AL 3 09-07 0
Day 1: 3 09-07
91. Casey Scanlon Lanexa, KS 4 09-06 0
Day 1: 4 09-06
92. Matt Reed Madisonville, TX 3 09-06 0
Day 1: 3 09-06
93. Randy Howell Springville, AL 4 09-00 0
Day 1: 4 09-00
94. Mike Elsea Mooresville, IN 3 08-15 0
Day 1: 3 08-15
95. James Biggerstaff Odessa, TX 3 08-14 0
Day 1: 3 08-14
96. Paul Elias Laurel, MS 3 08-11 0
Day 1: 3 08-11
97. Tommy Durham Whitney, TX 4 08-10 0
Day 1: 4 08-10
98. Trevor Romans Plano, TX 3 08-08 0
Day 1: 3 08-08
99. Scott Ashmore Broken Arrow, OK 3 08-07 0
Day 1: 3 08-07
99. Byron Velvick Boenre, TX 3 08-07 0
Day 1: 3 08-07
101. Ish Monroe Hughson, CA 3 07-13 0
Day 1: 3 07-13
102. Chris Lane Guntersville, AL 3 07-12 0
Day 1: 3 07-12
103. Derek Fulps Broken Arrow, OK 3 07-10 0
Day 1: 3 07-10
104. Rick Morris Lake Gaston, VA 4 07-04 0
Day 1: 4 07-04
105. Kelly Jordon Palestine, TX 3 07-04 0
Day 1: 3 07-04
106. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 2 07-00 0
Day 1: 2 07-00
107. Paul Pagnato Reston, VA 3 06-14 0
Day 1: 3 06-14
108. Matt Lee Auburn , AL 2 06-11 0
Day 1: 2 06-11
109. Josh Bertrand Gilbert, AZ 3 06-08 0
Day 1: 3 06-08
110. Marty Robinson Lyman, SC 4 06-07 0
Day 1: 4 06-07
111. Skylar Hamilton Dandridge, TN 3 06-07 0
Day 1: 3 06-07
112. Brian Potter Claremore, OK 2 06-07 0
Day 1: 2 06-07
113. Dennis Tietje Roanoke, LA 3 06-06 0
Day 1: 3 06-06
114. Cliff Crochet Pierre Part, LA 3 06-05 0
Day 1: 3 06-05
115. Zell Rowland Montgomery, TX 3 05-04 0
Day 1: 3 05-04
116. Al Farace Cockeysville, MD 2 05-03 0
Day 1: 2 05-03
116. Kenyon Hill Norman, OK 2 05-03 0
Day 1: 2 05-03
116. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, TX 2 05-03 0
Day 1: 2 05-03
119. Kendall Newson Decatur, GA 2 04-14 0
Day 1: 2 04-14
120. James Elam Tulsa, OK 2 04-11 0
Day 1: 2 04-11
120. Powell Kemp Scotland Neck, NC 2 04-11 0
Day 1: 2 04-11
122. David Kilgore Jasper, AL 2 04-07 0
Day 1: 2 04-07
123. Steve Sennikoff Forney, TX 2 04-02 0
Day 1: 2 04-02
124. Bradley Roy Lancaster, KY 2 04-02 0
Day 1: 2 04-02
125. Kelley Jaye Dadeville, AL 2 03-15 0
Day 1: 2 03-15
126. Bill Weidler Helena, AL 2 03-13 0
Day 1: 2 03-13
127. Chad Pipkens Holt, MI 2 03-12 0
Day 1: 2 03-12
128. John Murray Phoenix, AZ 1 03-10 0
Day 1: 1 03-10
129. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, AR 2 03-08 0
Day 1: 2 03-08
130. Jeff Cloud Lubbock, TX 1 02-15 0
Day 1: 1 02-15
130. Pete Ponds Madison, MS 1 02-15 0
Day 1: 1 02-15
132. Jonathon VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 1 02-13 0
Day 1: 1 02-13
133. Charlie Hartley Grove City, OH 1 02-10 0
Day 1: 1 02-10
133. Keith Poche Pike Road, AL 1 02-10 0
Day 1: 1 02-10
135. Gary Clouse La Vergne, TN 1 02-02 0
Day 1: 1 02-02
136. Patrick Pierce Jacksonville, FL 1 02-01 0
Day 1: 1 02-01
137. Grant Goldbeck Boerne, TX 1 00-00 0
Day 1: 1 00-00
138. Jamey Caldwell Carthage, NC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
138. Lucas Ragusa Gonzales, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
138. Fletcher Shryock New Philadelphia, OH 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
———————————————————————–
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 75 542 1617-01
———————————-
75 542 1617-01
