Worried his season was over before it even started, Mike Iaconelli received great news last Wednesday – he has a shot at fishing his 30th season with B.A.S.S.
Ike was prepped and pumped for this week’s Elite season opener, however, he suffered an 11th-hour injury last Monday on the lake behind his New Jersey home. Done with his final content shoot of the off-season, Ike was ratcheting straps on his boat.
“When I got to that third click, I hear a pop and I felt this unbelievable pain,” he said. “It shot me back, like I was hit with fireworks. I’m laying on the ground for like 10 minutes the pain was so severe.”
After examination of his right arm, a doctor told Iaconelli he most likely tore the bicep muscle. After an X-ray, a specialist gave the same diagnosis, but said an MRI would show the injury’s full extent. If the tear was more than 50 percent, Ike would need immediate surgery with 8 to 12 weeks of recovery then physical therapy.
“I’m devastated,” the 2003 Classic champ and 2006 AOY said. “I’ve never been kept out of a tournament before because of an injury. I had very little hope. I was out. It’s hard, to the point where I was in tears about it.
“I’ve been doing it so long it never crosses your mind you’re not going to be able to fish. Your tackle is ready, and you have all this excitement and energy, the anticipation, all that, I thought was over, and that’s the worst feeling.”
Then Iaconelli received a call about his MRI, another doctor saying he had good news and bad news. Ike wanted the good first.
“There’s no tear. It’s severe tendonitis and severe bursitis of the joint that connects your bicep muscle to your forearm muscle,” Iaconelli said. “It’s in the pit of my elbow. It’s inflamed and has fluid around the joint. It’s not going to require surgery.
“Here’s the bad news, ‘I don’t want you to go fishing.’”
Ike balked at that thought, pleading his situation. The doctor warned Ike he’s more vulnerable to suffer an actual tear, but left the final the decision up to him.
“I’ve been not doing anything the past two days, rest, rest, rest and ice,” said Ike, wearing a motion-limiting brace. “I need to get it to a point where I can go fishing on Sunday.”
Iaconelli had made big plans for his 30th season. A cameraman will document his season for a series called “The Dirty Thirty,” in which Ike wants to “spill the dirt on the past, present and future of bass fishing.” Also at each Elite, Ike wanted to give away replica vests from his first events to folks in the crowd, and he has other promotional apparel.
Practice for the St. Johns River out of Palatka, Fla., began Sunday. Anglers have an off day Wednesday before the 2025 season blasts off Thursday.
“I’m going,” Iaconelli said. “I’ll know by Wednesday if it’s fishable or not. If not, I have to come to grips with it and tell (tournament director Lisa Talmadge to determine if he can take a medical hardship year).
“I’m so anti-quit. I do not want to fail. I broke a rib and went on to fish. In my mind, I’m going to figure out a way to fish. If I have to drag a Senko with my left hand, I’ll do that. The thought of not fishing is terrible.”
Iaconelli, who has won on most every Bassmaster series since his start in 1995, stands third on the active Elite list with 284 entries, behind only Bernie Schultz (373) and Gerald Swindle (326).
“I’m super proud of that,” he said. “Those guy are legends, I’m happy to be in that group.”
Reminded he’s a legend, Ike said, “I’m a broken legend.” Perhaps somewhat physically, but certainly not his heart.
