Syracuse.com - New Jersey's Michael Iaconelli takes commanding lead at Bassmaster Ramada Challenge on Oneida Lake

[HuntingNY-News]

Iaconnelli said he had a "magical day" and turned in a bag of five fish weighing 20 pounds, 3 ounces. See complete results. Watch video

Courtesy of B.A.S.S.Michael Iaconelli

Michael Iconelli told the crowd it was just a “magical day” on Oneida Lake.

While angler after angler registered sub-par catches and talked about “how hard it was out there” fishing Thursday, Iconelli walked on to the stage at Oneida Shores Park and took a commanding lead of at the Bassmaster Ramada Championship with an eye-opening bag of bass weighing 20 pounds, three ounces.

He also held up for the crowd the biggest bass of the day caught by the 97 anglers competing — a 5 pound, 5 ounce largemouth bass.

At the 4 p.m. weigh-in Thursday, Brent Chapman, of Lake Quivera, Kansas, finished second, bringing in five bass that weighed 16 pounds, 12 ounces. Third was grabbed by J. Todd Tucker, of Moultrie, Ga., with 16 pounds, 6 ounces.

The winner of the four day tournament will win $100,000.

“It was one of those days when everything fell into place,” said Iaconelli, who lives in Pittsgrove, N.J.

His bag that got weighed consisted of four largemouths and one smallmouth.

“Having a good day like that makes me feel good, makes me feel relaxed and I think I can do it again,” he said.

Chapman, who leads the Elite Series in points for the $100,000 Toyota Angler of the Year award, came into Thursday worried about keeping his lead. Thursday's finish gives him a little cushion.

Tucker was all smiles with his third place finish after day one.

Friday is the second and final day of the preliminaries in the four-day competition, the field will be reduced to 49 anglers after today’s 4 p.m. weigh-in at Oneida Shores, which is free to attend.

The semi-finals Saturday will reduce the field to 12 for Sunday’s final. The weigh-ins both Saturday and Sunday will be held at the state fairgrounds, beginning at 4 p.m. each day.

For more on this story, see Friday's edition of The Post-Standard.

&raquo: Previous bassmaster tournament coverage.

The results from Thursday's competition follow:

2012 Ramada Championship 8/23-8/26

Oneida Lake, Syracuse NY.

(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 1

Angler Hometown No of fish./lbs-oz

1. Michael Iaconelli Pittsgrove, NJ 5 20-03

2. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, KS 5 16-12

3. J Todd Tucker Moultrie, GA 5 16-06

4. Clark Reehm Shreveport, LA 5 15-15

4. David Walker Sevierville, TN 5 15-15

6. Randy Howell Springville, AL 5 15-12

7. Jason Williamson Aiken, SC 5 15-08

8. Scott Rook Little Rock, AR

10. Edwin Evers Talala, OK

11. Ish Monroe Hughson, CA

12. Bobby Lane Lakeland, FL

13. Kevin Short Mayflower, AR 5 15-02

14. James Niggemeyer Van, TX 5 15-00

14. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, FL 5 15-00

16. Matt Herren Trussville, AL 5 14-14

17. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 5 14-13

8. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, OK 5 14-10

9. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 5 14-07

20. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, AR 5 14-06

20. Fletcher Shryock Newcomerstown, OH 5 14-06

22. Todd Faircloth Jasper, TX 5 14-05

23. Kelly Jordon Palestine, TX 5 14-04

24. Jonathon VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 5 14-03

25. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 5 14-00

26. Skeet Reese Auburn, CA 5 13-13

27. Terry Butcher Talala, OK 5 13-11

27. Boyd Duckett Demopolis, AL 5 13-11

27. Aaron Martens Leeds, AL 5 13-11

30. Denny Brauer Camdenton, MO 5 13-10

30. Chris Lane Guntersville, AL 5 13-10

30. Cliff Pace Petal, MS 5 13-10

30. Keith Poche Pike Road, AL 5 13-10

34. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, AR 5 13-09

35. Jeremy Starks Scott Depot, WV 5 13-08

36. Cliff Crochet Pierre Part, LA 5 13-07

37. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 5 13-06

38. Kevin Ledoux Choctaw, OK 5 13-05

39. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, TX 5 13-04

39. Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 5 13-04

39. Morizo Shimizu Osaka JAPAN 5 13-04

42. Brandon Card Caryville, TN 5 13-02

42. Jason Quinn Lake Wylie, SC 5 13-02

44. Zell Rowland Montgomery, TX 5 13-01

45. Rick Morris Lake Gaston, VA 5 12-15

45. Casey Scanlon Lenexa, KS 5 12-15

47. Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande, CA 5 12-14

48. Marty Robinson Lyman, SC 5 12-13

48. Chris Zaldain San Jose, CA 5 12-13

50. John Crews Salem, VA 5 12-11

51. Matt Greenblatt Port St Lucie, FL 5 12-09

52. Grant Goldbeck Boerne, TX 5 12-09

53. Casey D Ashley Donalds, SC 5 12-08

53. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 5 12-08

53. Takahiro Omori Emory, TX 5 12-08

53. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 5 12-08

53. Nate Wellman Newaygo, MI 5 12-08

58. Billy McCaghren Mayflower, AR 5 12-06

59. Ott DeFoe Knoxville, TN 5 12-05

60. Shaw E Grigsby Jr. Gainesville, FL 5 12-03

61. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, MO 5 11-14

62. Davy Hite Ninety Six, SC 5 11-13

63. Travis Manson De Pere, WI 5 11-12

64. Gerald Swindle Warrior, AL 5 11-11

65. Russ Lane Prattville, AL 5 11-10

66. Mark Davis Mount Ida, AR 5 11-06

66. Dean Rojas Lake Havasu City, AZ 5 11-06

68. Paul Elias Laurel, MS 5 11-05

68. Matt Reed Madisonville, TX 5 11-05

70. Timmy Horton Spruce Pine, AL 5 11-00

71. Britt Myers Lake Wylie, SC 5 10-13

72. Derek Remitz Grant, AL 4 10-13

73. Dustin Wilks Rocky Mount, NC 5 10-11

74. Greg Vinson Wetumpka, AL 5 10-06

75. Charlie Hartley Grove City, OH 4 08-14

76. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 4 08-10

77. Kenyon Hill Norman, OK 4 08-09

78. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 4 08-07

79. Byron Velvick Boenre, TX 3 07-13

80. Jared Miller Norman, OK 4 07-09

81. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 4 07-08

82. Brent Broderick Oregonia, OH 3 06-15

83. Fred Roumbanis Bixby, OK 2 06-13

84. Scott Ashmore Broken Arrow, OK 3 06-11

85. Andy Montgomery Blacksburg, SC 3 06-08

86. Chad Griffin Cresson, TX 2 05-11

87. Gary Klein Weatherford, TX 3 05-06

88. Jamie Horton Centerville, AL 2 04-13

89. Pete Ponds Madison, MS 2 04-08

90. Alton Jones Lorena, TX 2 03-02

91. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, OK 1 03-02

92. John Murray Phoenix, AZ 1 02-15

93. Russell Parrish Riesel, TX 1 02-04

93. David Smith Del City, OK 1 02-04

95. Bradley Roy Lancaster, KY 1 01-15

96. Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, AL 0 00-00

96. Michael Simonton Fremont, OH 0 00-00

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Totals

Day #Limits #Fish Weight

1 73 423 1117-12

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For more, see the Bassmaster Web site.

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog