Day 3 with Ike

Catch up with tournament leader Michael Iaconelli on Lake Guntersville.

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Tournament leader Mike Iaconelli made it to his first spot, twelve minutes after take-off.
Tournament leader Mike Iaconelli made it to his first spot, twelve minutes after take-off.
On Lake Guntersville you can always expect plenty of spectators.
On Lake Guntersville you can always expect plenty of spectators.
Iaconelli started showing the fish different baits early in the day.
Iaconelli started showing the fish different baits early in the day.
He cycled through baits…
He cycled through baits…
…and checked often to make sure he was right on his waypoints.
…and checked often to make sure he was right on his waypoints.
Apparently this waypoint was also a goose crossing.
Apparently this waypoint was also a goose crossing.
Ike had several competitors fishing in his area…
Ike had several competitors fishing in his area…
…including Jordan Lee.
…including Jordan Lee.
Cameraman Carey Barrett arrived and prepared to launch a drone to shoot aerial footage of Iaconelli’s fishing area.
Cameraman Carey Barrett arrived and prepared to launch a drone to shoot aerial footage of Iaconelli’s fishing area.
Ike spent the day in one creek, but moved about in it to several different locations.
Ike spent the day in one creek, but moved about in it to several different locations.
When you’re the tournament leader in an Elite Series event you’re going to attract a lot of media attention and cameras.
When you’re the tournament leader in an Elite Series event you’re going to attract a lot of media attention and cameras.
This guy probably knows where some fish are.
This guy probably knows where some fish are.
Iaconelli hooks up with his first fish of the day.
Iaconelli hooks up with his first fish of the day.
Cameraman Rick Mason goes into action to record the fish catch for Bassmaster television. The fish catch could also be viewed live on Bassmaster.com.
Cameraman Rick Mason goes into action to record the fish catch for Bassmaster television. The fish catch could also be viewed live on Bassmaster.com.
Ike drops fish number one into the boat.
Ike drops fish number one into the boat.
Gary Klein was another contender fishing the same creek.
Gary Klein was another contender fishing the same creek.
Ike’s next spot was near one of the marinas in the creek he was fishing.
Ike’s next spot was near one of the marinas in the creek he was fishing.
Skeet Reese was lurking about, too.
Skeet Reese was lurking about, too.
Sometimes Ike made short moves without raising the trolling motor…
Sometimes Ike made short moves without raising the trolling motor…
…though it created a bit more spray around he and Rick Mason.
…though it created a bit more spray around he and Rick Mason.
This move appears to have been a good one. Ike is hooked up.
This move appears to have been a good one. Ike is hooked up.
…He brings the fish around the bow…
…He brings the fish around the bow…
…and brings it aboard.
…and brings it aboard.
Another keeper in the livewell.
Another keeper in the livewell.
Here comes trouble for Iaconelli in the form of Justin Lucas. Lucas lives on Guntersville and was trying to make his charge.
Here comes trouble for Iaconelli in the form of Justin Lucas. Lucas lives on Guntersville and was trying to make his charge.
The wind began to blow early in the day.
The wind began to blow early in the day.
But it was a good day for sailing…
But it was a good day for sailing…
…and fishing, too.
…and fishing, too.
Ike goes into fighting mode with his next fish.
Ike goes into fighting mode with his next fish.
He heads to the driver’s seat to land the fish.
He heads to the driver’s seat to land the fish.
But this fish decides he wants to make it a scrap…
But this fish decides he wants to make it a scrap…
…and surges downward at the boat.
…and surges downward at the boat.
Iaconelli begins to reach for the fish and bring it upward.
Iaconelli begins to reach for the fish and bring it upward.
He grips the fish across the back…
He grips the fish across the back…
…and has his best fish of the day…
…and has his best fish of the day…
…safely into the boat.
…safely into the boat.
He quickly moves up front to save the waypoint.
He quickly moves up front to save the waypoint.
Then moves to the livewell and gives the camera one last look at his best of the day, so far.
Then moves to the livewell and gives the camera one last look at his best of the day, so far.
Ike checks closely to make sure he’s on his next waypoint.
Ike checks closely to make sure he’s on his next waypoint.
Apparently it was the right spot. He sweeps his rod and sets the hook on his next fish.
Apparently it was the right spot. He sweeps his rod and sets the hook on his next fish.
He reaches up the rod with his right hand for leverage…
He reaches up the rod with his right hand for leverage…
…and snatches another keeper into the boat.
…and snatches another keeper into the boat.
Working on a limit.
Working on a limit.
Apparently the wind attracted those that owned sailboats…
Apparently the wind attracted those that owned sailboats…
…but ruffled the feathers of others.
…but ruffled the feathers of others.
If he can get this fish in the boat, Iaconelli will have a limit.
If he can get this fish in the boat, Iaconelli will have a limit.
He moves to the back of the boat to finish the fight.
He moves to the back of the boat to finish the fight.
Swings the fish aboard…
Swings the fish aboard…
…and quickly places it in the livewell.
…and quickly places it in the livewell.
Meanwhile nearby, Ike wasn’t the only one having his picture taken with fish.
Meanwhile nearby, Ike wasn’t the only one having his picture taken with fish.
This day was becoming a grind for Iaconelli, but he was firing away.
This day was becoming a grind for Iaconelli, but he was firing away.
And Skeet Reese was still in the area trying to make his move to fish on Sunday.
And Skeet Reese was still in the area trying to make his move to fish on Sunday.
After a bit of a lull…finally another bite.
After a bit of a lull…finally another bite.
The fish decides he wants to move to the other side of the boat.
The fish decides he wants to move to the other side of the boat.
No problem.
No problem.
This one wouldn’t help the cause and was released.
This one wouldn’t help the cause and was released.