Inside Elite Boats

Inside Elite Boats: Mike Iaconelli

Elite Series pro Mike Iaconelli gives the fans a glimpse inside his boat.

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<p>Here's the 2014 BassCat Puma FTD that Elite Series pro Mike Iaconelli is running this season. He likes the boat's storage layout and what BassCats are known for: performance. With a tournament-day load, Ike hits 76 mph with his Yamaha 250 SHO wide open. That's with a Marshal, two full tanks of fuel and a brimming livewell.</p>
Here’s the 2014 BassCat Puma FTD that Elite Series pro Mike Iaconelli is running this season. He likes the boat’s storage layout and what BassCats are known for: performance. With a tournament-day load, Ike hits 76 mph with his Yamaha 250 SHO wide open. That’s with a Marshal, two full tanks of fuel and a brimming livewell.
Here's the cockpit. His 'Cat sports touchscreen Lowrance HDS depthfinders here and up front.
Here’s the cockpit. His ‘Cat sports touchscreen Lowrance HDS depthfinders here and up front. “I keep one on the map and one on sonar here and up front,” he says. “For the sonar screen, I keep one side of the screen on traditional and the other half on DownScan.”
Ike keeps his crankbaits and plugs up front because they're lighter. This 'Cat has two forward storage boxes.
Ike keeps his crankbaits and plugs up front because they’re lighter. This ‘Cat has two forward storage boxes.
On the left side, he keeps topwaters, lipless crankbaits, jerkbaits and squarebills.
On the left side, he keeps topwaters, lipless crankbaits, jerkbaits and squarebills.
<p>On the right side, he keeps diving baits like the Rapala DT-6s and 10s seen here.</p>
On the right side, he keeps diving baits like the Rapala DT-6s and 10s seen here.
<p>You know you wish you had this box, because Rapala DT-series baits are hot commodities since Randy Howell used a demon-colored DT-6 to win the Bassmaster Classic.</p>
You know you wish you had this box, because Rapala DT-series baits are hot commodities since Randy Howell used a demon-colored DT-6 to win the Bassmaster Classic.
<p>Here's a box full of Storm Arashi squarebills. Brandon Palaniuk used one of these to slay smallies on the upper Mississippi River in the 2012 Bassmaster Elite Series event there.</p>
Here’s a box full of Storm Arashi squarebills. Brandon Palaniuk used one of these to slay smallies on the upper Mississippi River in the 2012 Bassmaster Elite Series event there.
That's his box of topwaters on the deck.
That’s his box of topwaters on the deck.
In the main middle box, Ike has all of his soft plastics. They're slightly heavier than plugs, but lighter than jigs and terminal tackle. To get the most top end speed out of his 'Cat (or any boat, actually) he wants heavier gear in the back. This is a heavy load for this box. During practice, Ike's 'Cat sees 68 mph wide open. As he eliminates baits that he won't use, his 'Cat busts 75 mph on Day 1.
In the main middle box, Ike has all of his soft plastics. They’re slightly heavier than plugs, but lighter than jigs and terminal tackle. To get the most top end speed out of his ‘Cat (or any boat, actually) he wants heavier gear in the back. This is a heavy load for this box. During practice, Ike’s ‘Cat sees 68 mph wide open. As he eliminates baits that he won’t use, his ‘Cat busts 75 mph on Day 1.
<p>Though it looks like he hasn't unpacked, there's a genius method to his system. In the blue bag is creature baits. The red bag has worms and the black bag has trailers. It's simple and brilliant and saves him time on the water.</p>
Though it looks like he hasn’t unpacked, there’s a genius method to his system. In the blue bag is creature baits. The red bag has worms and the black bag has trailers. It’s simple and brilliant and saves him time on the water.
“It’s all about efficiency on the water,” the New Jersey pro explains. “If I save 5 minutes a day, which doesn’t sound like much, that’s 30 minutes over a whole tournament and hours over an entire season. That’s a lot.” Again, this blue bag houses his creature plastics.
<p>Here are a few, the PowerBait Fight'n Bug and his own Devil Spear.</p>
Here are a few, the PowerBait Fight’n Bug and his own Devil Spear.
No surprises here: Inside his rod locker are, well, rods.
No surprises here: Inside his rod locker are, well, rods.
His go-to reels are Abu Garcia Revo variants and his rods are Abu Garcia Vengeance, Vendetta, Veracity and Veritas.
His go-to reels are Abu Garcia Revo variants and his rods are Abu Garcia Vengeance, Vendetta, Veracity and Veritas.
On the right side locker, he carries a multitude of stuff. Underneath everything is a brand new Minn Kota Fortrex trolling motor. On top are spinnerbaits and other wire baits and some jigs.
On the right side locker, he carries a multitude of stuff. Underneath everything is a brand new Minn Kota Fortrex trolling motor. On top are spinnerbaits and other wire baits and some jigs.
Here are some Molix Venator spinnerbaits.
Here are some Molix Venator spinnerbaits.
Another look at the Venator. These stay near the front of this compartment because they are lighter than the next items...
Another look at the Venator. These stay near the front of this compartment because they are lighter than the next items…
...jigs. Again, for maximum performance out of his 'Cat, Ike keeps heavier stuff toward the back of the boat, even if it's within the same compartment.
…jigs. Again, for maximum performance out of his ‘Cat, Ike keeps heavier stuff toward the back of the boat, even if it’s within the same compartment.
Here, we see that he carries a very limited color selection of jigs.
Here, we see that he carries a very limited color selection of jigs. “For football jigs, I’m trying to imitate a crawfish, so I keep only those colors,” he explains. From front to back are 3/8 ounce to 1-ouncers.
Here's his bow graph setup, a pair of touchscreen Lowrance units that match the console units.
Here’s his bow graph setup, a pair of touchscreen Lowrance units that match the console units. “I keep one on the map and one on sonar here and up front,” he says. “For the sonar screen, I keep one side of the screen on traditional and the other half on DownScan.”
The console again. He says that having two large units also acts as a fail-safe in case one cuts out on him.
The console again. He says that having two large units also acts as a fail-safe in case one cuts out on him.
Let's look into his mid-boat boxes, including his
Let’s look into his mid-boat boxes, including his “stuff” pile.
<p>"As I practice, this pile takes on a new shape each day as I go through baits and try lots of different things," he says. He'll clean this nifty pile up after each event.</p>
“As I practice, this pile takes on a new shape each day as I go through baits and try lots of different things,” he says. He’ll clean this nifty pile up after each event.
On the driver's side is food and stuff.
On the driver’s side is food and stuff.
Shakes, waters and more are his staple.
Shakes, waters and more are his staple.
Iaconelli subscribes to Ken Hoover's Athletes Outdoors program. Hoover travels to every Elite event and has tailor-made nutrition ready to go each morning based on a particular angler's needs. Other pros who use Hoover are John Crews, Alton Jones and many more.
Iaconelli subscribes to Ken Hoover’s Athletes Outdoors program. Hoover travels to every Elite event and has tailor-made nutrition ready to go each morning based on a particular angler’s needs. Other pros who use Hoover are John Crews, Alton Jones and many more.
On the passenger side are more accessories like culling beams, dyes and scents.
On the passenger side are more accessories like culling beams, dyes and scents.
<p>There isn't a nook or cranny that doesn't have baits or accessories in it.</p>
There isn’t a nook or cranny that doesn’t have baits or accessories in it.
<p>This bag has Rejuvenade, a fizzing tool and other necessities. Rejuvenade is a chemical that is added to the livewell to help reduce fish mortality.</p>
This bag has Rejuvenade, a fizzing tool and other necessities. Rejuvenade is a chemical that is added to the livewell to help reduce fish mortality.
In between the seats is a dry box that Ike keeps his cell phone and wallet in, among other things.
In between the seats is a dry box that Ike keeps his cell phone and wallet in, among other things.
Just behind this storage are marker buoys.
Just behind this storage are marker buoys.
Under the passenger seat is a spare prop.
Under the passenger seat is a spare prop.
Here's where the load gets heavy, behind his seat.
Here’s where the load gets heavy, behind his seat.
<p>Hooks, weights, jigheads, swimbait heads and everything that's tungsten or lead that's not a skirted jig resides back here.</p>
Hooks, weights, jigheads, swimbait heads and everything that’s tungsten or lead that’s not a skirted jig resides back here.
Here are his VMC Swingin' Rugby heads.
Here are his VMC Swingin’ Rugby heads.
On the other side are tools.
On the other side are tools.
A block of wood to change props, a tow rope, an auxiliary bilge and others stay here year-round.
A block of wood to change props, a tow rope, an auxiliary bilge and others stay here year-round.
Here's the 'Cat's battery box. Ike uses Lithium Pros lithium batteries.
Here’s the ‘Cat’s battery box. Ike uses Lithium Pros lithium batteries. “The fact that I can run this whole boat on only two batteries saves me close to 300 pounds in the rear,” he says.
<p>First things first, and front of mind. The sign reads:</p> <p> </p> <p>FISH THE MOMENT</p> <p>-Don't rule anything out</p> <p>-Fish from the bank out to deep water</p> <p>-Fish fast and hit everything</p> <p>-No pre-conceived notions</p> <p>-Listen to the fish (no accidental bites)</p> <p>-NEVER GIVE UP!</p>
First things first, and front of mind. The sign reads:
 
FISH THE MOMENT
-Don’t rule anything out
-Fish from the bank out to deep water
-Fish fast and hit everything
-No pre-conceived notions
-Listen to the fish (no accidental bites)
-NEVER GIVE UP!

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