Have You Ever Iaconelli'd It?

[scrutch]

I had a little "Ike Moment" at the 2012 Roadtrip recently. We were deep cranking on a shcool of fish stacked up on a bridge. We were BOTH hooked up and fighting a couple good fish when mine came off. I was very amped up because I wanted a "double" for both of us. I jumped up in fun frustration when it happened and out of impulse I slapped the water with the crankbait. I never thought that it would break the crankbait, but it did (it was a Rapala DT20). I never cussed, I just yelled and Gary just laughed at me while landing his 3.5 pounder. He just said, "Yup, Rapalas do that." I think he might have been speaking from experience...I don't know for sure.

We went on to land a bunch more fish off that bridge and broke three more cranks in the process. Not out of frustration, they broke from casting them into the low hanging bridge. The school was under the bridge. We are the two charter members of the newly formed Guntersville Busted Lip Club!

[ChrisAW]

I have snapped one rod on purpose, just like Mike did during that Texas Bass Challenge. Last year, a custom rod a friend gave it to me since he was heading into the military, and had also gave up fishing a few years before.

It was a 6'6" M-F. I liked it a lot. It was very lightweight and was very comfortable. But it seems like no matter what I did, I could NOT land a fish with that rod. First trip out, I hooked up with about 15 fish, and only landed 8 out of those. I don't know what it was. The rod I was using before was the same power/action and I never had a problem getting fish in the boat with it. Maybe lost 5 out of a much larger number of jerkbait fish I caught last year on that combo.

I fished it for a little while and got mad at it, and threw it in the closet at home after I that horrible trip. After it was in time out for a month, I got it back out. I fished a couple other presentations with it, but never got a hit with it. At one point, I tied a jerkbait on it again after a couple trips. I lost 4 small fish right off the bat, and I completely blew my cork after losing a high 3, or maybe 4 pound LM. I cracked it over the side of the boat and threw it in the floor.

I really believe there was something supernaturally wrong with that rod. It didn't like me, or it was mad its owner gave it away or something. But I am glad to be rid of that one.

Other than that, I do like to cuss at bad times on the water.

[Blue Streak]

I just fish I don't get emotional about it. If I have a good day or catch a lunker I know have put it all together or I just got lucky. When I lose one then the fish won that round no big deal you can't possibly win them all. I just love being out there and nothing is going take that away from me.

[jkarol24]

One choice word under my breath is enough for me, then onto the next cast and the next fish

[grimlin]

Nope,I cannot afford to break my things...LOL

Da**,S***,Oh hell!, you gotta be sh******* me are usually the word I utter when i get frustrated. I never take it out on my equipment.

[Scorcher214]

Sometimes I get so angry I black out and wake up with nothing but a pair of ripped shorts. Usually there are a bunch of snapped trees and flipped cars around.

[Hooligan]

No, and there's no more terrible representation of a sport that I love, as much as Iaconelli. His yelling and screaming, pounding on the decks of a boat is disgusting, at best. His behaviour and temper tantrums are juvenile; the good and the bad. I mean, really... Every two pound fish is a giant, and he's screaming about it like it's just won him $50 million.

It's like Kelly Jordon said, someone needs to oil him so he'll quit squealing.

As far as my behaviour, no. My tackle is out of my pocket so I don't abuse it. I have good equipment and I expect it to stay that way. I also don't scream and cuss, it's ridiculous.

[Fishing Rhino]

On the other note if you check out bill dance's bupers on youtube, I have lost one of my nicest rods while not paying attention to it and a fish just snatches it off the boat...lmao

I cannot tell you how many times I have seen anglers leave their bait dangling in the water while they are busy with something else. Nothing good can come from that practice. If a good fish grabs the bait, one of two things is likely to happen. The rod and reels end up on the bottom, or the fish breaks the rod.

It's not likely to happen, but it is possible. Disregard Murphy's Law at your own peril.

[grampa1114]

Every time I see Mike Iaconelli explode during a tournament. I suggest to the tv set that he stop the nonsense and just continue to fish, but he and his behavior are one of the reasons the ratings for tournaments are so high. Some people just go to the races to see the wrecks. The question that comes to my mind is "How real is this loss of control?" and"Is he being compensated for his foolishness? How far away is the WWE?

Grampa

[clayton86]

I cannot tell you how many times I have seen anglers leave their bait dangling in the water while they are busy with something else. Nothing good can come from that practice. If a good fish grabs the bait, one of two things is likely to happen. The rod and reels end up on the bottom, or the fish breaks the rod.

It's not likely to happen, but it is possible. Disregard Murphy's Law at your own peril.

I have that habit in the canoe I get several pike a year that way lol scares the crap outa me but I have cat like reflexes lol

[TylerAustin22]

I would say my "Iaconelli Moment" would be when I lost what wouldve been my my PB a bass around 10 lbs or so. I was throwing a buzzbait across a weedy point and the fish broke the water with a strike and missed the lure. I saw the fish and my initial though was around a five pounder. I cast back again and brought it directly over the previous strike point. He struck again and this time he was hooked. the point was only 15 or so feet away from my boat (a pond prowler), inexperienced at the time i reeled as quick as possible and the fish was coming directly at me. At about two feet from the boat he made a U-Turn and came out of the water and thats when I saw the "big one" clearly. In mid air he snapped the line and i was just apalled. I threw my rod in the water out of fury. seconds later I said "oh *****" and jumped out of the boat and grabbed the rod, it was a bad day after that needless to say.

[TylerAustin22]

me and my cousin named that fish "BIg MIke" haha

[bassmaster3541]

I give a yell most of the sometime when I catch a big one, not a maniac by any means though.

When I lose a big one, I usually just start swearing like a sailor, one time on a monster that I lost right next to the boat I slammed my rod down just out of reflex because I was ticked but I slowed myself down before I let go of it because I knew better so it thankfully didn't break.

Catching a big one or losing a big one, I always sit down and light a butt after cuz I get all fired up and need to settle myself down

["BRB"]

I had to hold myself back before. I like to break my rod over my knee and give it a sling but it also make me mad when I do that fishing is supposed to be fun and relaxing. But you better believe when i catch a good one everyone on the lake will know!

[Clash City Rocker]

Never ever even came remotely close to throwing any of my gear. Maybe his parents bought him to much new stuff as a kid?

[scrutch]

Mike is just passionate. It's what drives him to achieve what he has achieved. We all could stand to walk a mile.

[Raider Nation Fisher]

When I first started tournament fishing, my partner and I lost out by 0.7 oz.s . I snapped a rod over my knee and flung it into the woods. After having to spenf the money for a New rod, that has never happened again. Plus its not the kind of behaviour that's gonna get me noticed in a good way. Now cussing after losing a fish. That happens all the time.

[ChrisAW]

Never ever even came remotely close to throwing any of my gear. Maybe his parents bought him to much new stuff as a kid?

Good assumption. Read his book, you'll find out you're absolutely wrong.

I find it funny so many people think he's putting on a show for the camera's and all that. He acted the same way long before he was ever a famous angler.

As for his "over-reactions." I want anyone here talking down about how he reacts to the good and bad times he has, and think about something you're passionate about. Your children maybe? Did any fathers here every jump for joy and cheer when their son or daughter won at some big event? Or maybe something you invested a lot of time and money into completely failed, you didn't take out a little frustration on something nearby? If you haven't, then you're not human. I sense there are many hypocrites in the crowd, though.

Those are the kind of emotions that Ike is showing because he has a lot of passion for fishing. Fishings not just something he just fell into doing because he's good at it. Its what he has always WANTED to do, and he worked his ass off to get it.

[tomustang]

Mike is just passionate. It's what drives him to achieve what he has achieved. We all could stand to walk a mile.

No thanks, being professional is also acting with a high level of standard, not being ill tempered and throwing tandtrums.

[outdoorsman110]

Good assumption. Read his book, you'll find out you're absolutely wrong.

I find it funny so many people think he's putting on a show for the camera's and all that. He acted the same way long before he was ever a famous angler.

As for his "over-reactions." I want anyone here talking down about how he reacts to the good and bad times he has, and think about something you're passionate about. Your children maybe? Did any fathers here every jump for joy and cheer when their son or daughter won at some big event? Or maybe something you invested a lot of time and money into completely failed, you didn't take out a little frustration on something nearby? If you haven't, then you're not human. I sense there are many hypocrites in the crowd, though.

Those are the kind of emotions that Ike is showing because he has a lot of passion for fishing. Fishings not just something he just fell into doing because he's good at it. Its what he has always WANTED to do, and he worked his ass off to get it.

It's a good book, I like him a lot. And respect him.

[scrutch]

Well, I would say that most of the people that read this thread and say "I would NEVER behave like that" may have never been in that situation. I have never been a pro fisherman so I can only relate to this from my experiences as a golf pro. When you put every fiber of your being into a profession like that, it takes on a different form. It is pure passion and love for what you're doing that drives you to greatness. NO ONE has ever achieved greatness without it. That passion takes on different forms in different personalities. When I was young and less in control of my emotions, I would throw a few tantrums during practice rounds while I was alone. And a couple times I embarrassed myself during a round of golf with people watching. That embarrassment is what helped me control myself in the future.

Everyone needs to know what that passion feels like. In me, it feels like a monster inside me pushing me to absolute perfection, and when you fall short of what you percieve is perfect, that monster wants to roar. Because you have put everything you have into what you love to do and you are millimeters away from validating all those hours, days, weeks and years of preparation, and you get beat. Yeah, it is nearly impossible to control that passion in that situation.

I'm not condoning the behavior, but I understand it. And I won't judge him looking down my nose at him.

[Glenn]

I've known Mike for about 12 years now and have gone fishing with him - 3 times so far. We also email, talk on the phone, and even Skype every now and then. And I can attest, there is no "act". What you see, is about as real as it gets. That's how he is. Passionate, enthusiastic, and not afraid to show his emotions.

As for an "Ike moment", I haven't had one quite like that, although I did let out a very, very loud yell when I lost a 6 1/2 pounder during a tournament once. And I also witnessed my fishing buddy break his rod after losing a 5 pound smallie during a tournament.

Ya, we all lose it every now and then. We ALL do. Don't judge lest ye be judged.

[NorcalBassin]

Never broke a rod or anything, but man did I let loose in my head with a cursing tirade when I lost what would have been my first DD right by the boat. Fortunately nobody else heard it.

[Helluva_Engineer]

I was back home fishing with my old equipment and had just switched rods. First cast a 10 lb bass nails my lure. Line starts peeling out and I look down to see a spur on one of the eyes of this rod. Sure enough, a few seconds later the line frays away. Throw my hands up in the air and let go of the rod...it lands on the tip and loads up the rod and the thing sprang straight into the water. I fish it out and put the reel on a better rod, but it was never the same. Learned my lesson.

[outdoorsman110]

Well, I would say that most of the people that read this thread and say "I would NEVER behave like that" may have never been in that situation. I have never been a pro fisherman so I can only relate to this from my experiences as a golf pro. When you put every fiber of your being into a profession like that, it takes on a different form. It is pure passion and love for what you're doing that drives you to greatness. NO ONE has ever achieved greatness without it. That passion takes on different forms in different personalities. When I was young and less in control of my emotions, I would throw a few tantrums during practice rounds while I was alone. And a couple times I embarrassed myself during a round of golf with people watching. That embarrassment is what helped me control myself in the future.

Everyone needs to know what that passion feels like. In me, it feels like a monster inside me pushing me to absolute perfection, and when you fall short of what you percieve is perfect, that monster wants to roar. Because you have put everything you have into what you love to do and you are millimeters away from validating all those hours, days, weeks and years of preparation, and you get beat. Yeah, it is nearly impossible to control that passion in that situation.

I'm not condoning the behavior, but I understand it. And I won't judge him looking down my nose at him.

Really well spoken.