Ike got 6th in the Stren event up north and left there and went home then flew out to the BassCat dealer meeting. I had the opportunity to go the meeting and talk briefly to Ike.For all the people who havent met him in an environment where there arent cameras are missing out because they dont get to see the true Ike. He is the exact opposite of how BASS and the cameras portray him, almost to the point of being shy.What really impresses me is how he handles the kids and Ron and Jan. He is very respectful to the Pierces and he is awesome with the kids.Here is a cool story: At the banquet Monday nite, Bowden Marine in south TX had his whole family there and he has 2 boys. Rick Pierce gets on the mike and says that he needs Ike to the front and those boys needed an autograph. Ike grabs the mike from Rick and says ok but boys I want your autographs first. He has them both sign his hat and then asks one if he fishes and the boy said he was a jr angler and had won a tournament. I said what did you win with and the kid answered with bass…Ike liked to died. He autographed their hat and then went back to his seat.Here is the kicker…yesterday I saw him at the factory and guess what hat he was still wearing. Yep, the one those boys signed the day before.He is great for the kids and he genuinely loves this great sport. I wasnt one of his supporters when BCB picked him up but he has convinced me and I am now…he is the real deal and his fishing abilities dont hurt a thing Good on Rick/Ron/Ivan and Marty Stone for adding Ike to the family. He is just a good ole boy like the rest of us. All of the Elite pros that were there (Tyler, Short, Myers, Crews, Morgan, of course Homer, I am sure I am missing one or two) were very approachable and nice to visit with. Judd Lasiter
Judd, I was able to get off from work, and spend the time working at the OI in 2006, and I got to both talk with Mike, and watch him around kids. He is truly magic with them, and it is absolutely genuine. Several times, I saw him excuse himself from adults to go and talk with youngsters who were too shy to approach him. He truly reminds me of Bill Dance around kids—Ike makes them feel like they are the most important thing in the world, and that he only wants to talk to them. It is inspiring to watch. I truly wish more folks could see the side of Mike that I saw those three days—he is a pied piper for the sport. Mike Whitten
Judd, Thanks for eating a little crow there, you did not have to. We know that side of Mike, and have for some time. Will he screw up again, well of course he will! Will he brings enthusiasm to our sport, we hope so! Just trust the decisions we make and you know we dont make any without intense thought. He is a work in progress for our company, as we help to mold him into a better person he has already become. The one on one Mike Iaconelli is a very special individual. A very intelligent person with a marketing side that is far more able than he presently expands to. In a few years, if the wheels stay on the wagon, he will aspire to a level of opportunity that previously was thought of as unattainable for our sport. Which is what he has done on a smaller scale now. BCB
2 yrs ago at the oi i got to talking to mark tucker for a long time and he actually gave me a big calendar book that had advice from all the pros on each page on what to use at that time of year very nice how all these guys on the BCB staff will do that stuff. I also talked to John Crews and Terry Butcher for a very long time also all these guys are class acts. Good Job gettin them on ur staff BCB.
Ketchup has always helped in the digestion of crow when ive had to ingest a few,,,,,,,,,,sometimes the frothy cold liquid helps wash it down, too !Always follow a good crow feast with a big ol slice of “humble pie” .
IKE is a perfect person to sponser as he gets more air time on TV than most other fishermen and what better way to get your product seen! There are alot of other pros trying to immitate his enthusiam on TV, now most of them carry on when they catch a fish!!! Hes a good guy, had a chance to talk to him at the Toyota Tornament on Lake Fork, 2 Jersey guys, many years apart that fished many of the same lakes in N.J.
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