Guntersville Elite tournament

[Alex Heitman]

I know a lot of guys don't like Iaconelli on here but I rode with him during the BASS on table rock and he is a really nice guy and talked to me the whole time. He answerd all my questions and gave me lots of tips. I know he can be crazy and do off the all stuff but ever since that day I respect him a lot more. He also took time to sign lots of autographs and pictures for the youngsters. Not everything you see on camera is how Mike really is.

[5bites]

Kind of off the subject but since we were talking about Ike. If you haven't watched the videos of Mike and Steve Kennedy on www.20ftdeep.com you should, it's a new video documentary of some of the pros. I'm looking forward to the next one. Though I don't even know who it is yet.

I started the Mike one and couldn't do it. The Steve Kennedy one was awesome though! If you can get past some of the silly camera work it's really really enjoyable. I especially liked hearing him talk about Clear Lake. I wish I could watch that tournament again.

[Champ188]

I know a lot of guys don't like Iaconelli on here but I rode with him during the BASS on table rock and he is a really nice guy and talked to me the whole time. He answerd all my questions and gave me lots of tips. I know he can be crazy and do off the all stuff but ever since that day I respect him a lot more. He also took time to sign lots of autographs and pictures for the youngsters. Not everything you see on camera is how Mike really is.

That's good to know, Alex. Not much speaks louder than a firsthand account of 8 hours in a boat with a guy.

[Guest]

Ike got 28lbs & change, he might have burned thru too many quality fish today.

Anybody in the top 10 can make a run at this deal.

Good to see Rick Clunn in the top 20

[Guest]

I know a lot of guys don't like Iaconelli on here but I rode with him during the BASS on table rock and he is a really nice guy and talked to me the whole time. He answerd all my questions and gave me lots of tips. I know he can be crazy and do off the all stuff but ever since that day I respect him a lot more. He also took time to sign lots of autographs and pictures for the youngsters. Not everything you see on camera is how Mike really is.

For sure, I met him in 2005 at HLS.

He was fresh off a classic win & trying to stay low key.

A friend of mine that fished with him says the BASS stuff is totally manufactured "as seen on TV" act

Ike's kinda reserved & laid back off camera.

I give him props, bc he came up the hard way. His mom used to drop him off at the local pond during the summers, his dad wasnt around.

He fished his way thru the local & regional ranks, working his way to the top.

Gotta respect hard work & dedication even though I dont agree with the on camera antics.

[Ham]

They are KILLING IT. I cant wait to fish there.

[mixermarkb]

Showbiz is like that. I work in the music industry where everyone has a public persona. It actually helps people stay grounded in their private life, because it's a role they can step into when the lights go up, and then step out of when the show is over. I'm sure Mike puts on his flat billed "Ike" hat, plays the character, earns his living, then can be "mike" and "dad" again at home with his family. It's a way to separate real life and work, like wearing a tie to work used to be for my Dad. I like the guy. He has a passion for what he does, and by everything I've ever read spends very close to if not the most time interacting with young fans.

[kazoobass]

On my drive down I listened to ike on his podcast. its the only big bass podcast out their and tons of big name pros are on it each week. I have never been an ike fan but he is really cool on his podcast. Coming from kvd land ike is not liked very much but other than his yelling that every fish is a giant the dude can fish.

[dtrs5kprs]

Know a lot of folks who have met Ike at events, and have not heard a negative word from the interactions. Usually the opposite, with a healthy dose of surprise. Takes the time to keep fans happy and watching. If he plays to the bass blaster crowd, OK, they buy boats and gear too.

[Sprint21fter]

Off camera, Ike is a normal guy hard working guy. Talked with him and his buddy Pete Glusek at the BASS CAT on Sam Rayburn a couple of years ago for a few hours it was great. The biggest thing that they both said was that fishing is dominated between the ears. These guys fish off of instincts after establishing a pattern and find another pattern within the pattern.