“I won today, but not for me. I won for you guys,” said Mike Iaconelli, Philly-born champion of last weekend’s Bassmaster Elite competition.
According to Bassmaster:
“Sunday, Ike nailed what few anglers have been able to: win a Bassmaster Elite Series event on home water. He topped that by whipping the field by no less than 8 pounds.
His winning total was 47 pounds, 14 ounces — a respectable weight for any midsummer tournament, and, as Iaconelli pointed out, proof that the Delaware River is a fishery worth any bass angler’s time.”
Iaconelli has this to say about the win:
“There are a few things I want to say about this win but the most important thing is that it’s really special. It’s hard to tell you how much this means to me.
This area is where my uncle and my grandfather taught me to fish. We spent hours on the Schuylkill River and along Pennypack Creek fishing from the bank and later from a boat.
I’ve seen pictures of us fishing when I was three or four-years-old. I don’t even remember some of those trips. I was that young. To bring home a win on these waters is something I’ll always treasure, and it’s a tribute to the things they taught me — hard work and perseverance.”
The competition was the first Bassmaster Elite to take place on an urban river. It was certainly a success. Thousands came out to see the weigh-in and every angler who crossed the stage had something to say about the Philadelphia crowd in Philadelphia. All of their words were sincere compliments.
Thank you to Bassmaster and all the anglers for coming to enjoy the great Tidal Delaware!