Courtesy Dynamic Sponsorships / Photos: Bassmaster

Mike Iaconelli left Elizabeth City, North Carolina with a solid 38^th place finish in the St. Croix Bassmaster Elite at the Pasquotank River. The Team Toyota pro’s weight averaged out to around twelve-pounds-per-day, of which the Elite Series veteran earned every single ounce.

Making a massive trip of around ninety miles one way (180-mile boat ride per day), Iaconelli characterized the first two days of this event as the “top five worst conditions” he’s faced when making a long run. If your name isn’t Kyle Welcher, the Pasquotank River event was likely defined by long, rugged boat rides.

“The boat rides were horrific,” Iaconelli said. “I run the best equipment in the world, the fact that my Bass Cat and Yamaha got me to my fish and back each day is a testament to that, but man were those runs rough. It’s the unpredictability of the waves on the Albemarle Sound. You couldn’t get into a rhythm with the waves and they simply beat you up.”

As of Monday, following the tournament, Iaconelli confirmed he was still sore everywhere. His ribs, arms, abs, and back all were still feeling the punishment he subjected himself to on the Albemarle Sound, which he was quick to point out is basically an ocean.

With this being Iaconelli’s thirtieth season as a professional fisherman, he has earned the title of grizzled veteran. For him to rank the Pasquotank River boat runs so highly on his list of “most brutal” says a lot. Just the same, Ike emphatically said all the effort was undoubtedly worth it.

“I had a solid tournament and moved up 20 spots in the Angler of the Year standings,” Iaconelli explained. “It was worth it and in hindsight I’m happy with my decisions. I opted to make a long run and fish in a river, focusing on fish relating to current and use traditional river fishing tactics. I can breakdown those types of areas a lot quicker than the marshy, backwater environments, which was important with this being such a massive fishery.”

This was Iaconelli’s first Saturday cut of the 2025 season, allowing him to showcase a cool element of his #Dirty30 celebration which includes a throwback to the old-school vests Ike and his peers used to wear when he started his career.

“Every day three cut I make this season I am going to wear an old-school vest on stage instead of my tournament jersey,” Iaconelli said. “But the coolest part is I made enough of these vests to give one out to a fan after I cross the stage on Saturdays. I love the nostalgia of the vests, and I love connecting with fishing fans. This is a fun way to tip my cap towards both.”

 

The fans certainly did their part this weekend, showing up en masse for weigh-ins at Waterfront Park in Elizabeth City and Saturday was no exception. After weighing his fish, Iaconelli called on the huge crowd to give their best ‘Iaconelli scream’.

The crowd did their best to ‘Go-Ike’ and ultimately one young fan left the weigh-in with Iaconelli’s throwback tournament vest, while everyone in attendance was witness to something special.

“It was honestly such a cool moment to stand on the Bassmaster stage and hear those screams from a giant, rowdy crowd,” Iaconelli gleamed. “Seeing that energy and passion got me so fired up. I gave the kid a big hug and thanked him, because I probably got just as much out of our interaction as he did. The fan connection and that pure excitement means everything to me.”

The same passion that calls Iaconelli to sometimes scream like a banshee when he catches a fish has help connect the New Jersey native with thousands of fishing fans over the years. The recently inducted Bass Fishing Hall of Famer explained that fishing fans have been a constant positive theme throughout his career and he’s excited to bring them along for the ride on his #Dirty30 season.

“In thirty years I have seen the good, the bad, the ugly, and the best of this sport,” Iaconelli said, reflecting on his career. “When it all boils down, the fans have truly kept me going. This weekend seeing those big crowds and feeling the energy of people excited about fishing… it was a great reminder of that.”