he should do one at joe pool and if he catches a limit then we know the show is a fake

Sorry, I just can't stand him. I think he acts like a spoiled brat. I already couldn't stand him. But the straw that broke the camel's back for me, was when he realized that he had dead fish in his livewell during a Classic, he pulled out the rear light pole (with an American flag attached) and proceeded to curse and beat the heck out of the boat, pole, and flag. He had several fans in other boats that followed him and were watching him fish when it happened, and at least one of the boats had a young boy. Stunts like that, are just over the line for me. How many other pros do [censored] like that? NONE. People say "Well, thats just Ike, he is passionate." I say BULL. Can you imagine what it would be like if all the pros acted like that? I think most of the other pros can't stand him either, you can tell when they are asked about him, they bite their tounge and go on. Sorry for the rant, its just my honest opinion. I will spend my time watching other fishing shows, and my hard earned money supporting other pros.

Iaconelli may be eccentric, but he can flat out fish! I fished with him in Canada once when I used to work for Dick's Sporting Goods. He may be loud and obnoxious but that's his style and I can't knock him for that. His goal is to build awareness to more people in urban areas to get outside and fish- and maybe, just maybe some of them people will pull their kids off of the Xbox long enough to learn something about nature.

My other question is... Do any of you know how hard it must have been to become a Bass fishing professional from New Jersey? Nobody handed that status to him... so just take the guy for what he is and quit hating on him cause he ain't acting like you want him too.

Eccentric? lol Yes, he can fish with the best on the planet, a much better fisherman than I will ever be. You can't take that away from him. I guess that I was raised in different times. I was raised that no matter if you were abused as a child, or were an orphan, or came from whatever the circumstance you were expected to act in a certan mannor in society. If you didn't act right, your parent, grandparent, or who ever would put a knot on your head or a foot in...well you know. Back then just because you came from a bad childhood, didn't give you a free pass to act up. Heck I am just a stupid old man, what do I know. Sorry just my honest opinion.

Ike is a all around good person. The things he does for kids make all of his antics worthwhile. I have a buddy and his son is disabled and is also a huge Ike fan, Last year at the opens they saw ike putting his boat in the water for practice, Ike started talking to them and ended up spending 30 minutes with the boy talking to him about fishing. Well its 30 minutes of practice wasted for ike but a lifetime memory for the boy. Stand up guy and a class act fisherman in my book. If something is different that is not a very good reason to not like it.

I am glad that he took time to talk to your friend's son. But cursing and knocking the window out of your truck, in front of children waiting for an autograph, in a public format isn't gonna win me over.
http://www.idofishing.com/forum/showflat.php/Number/526141/fpart/1/ike-having-a-hissy-fit

now this would have been a sight to see LOL



"I heard Iaconelli melted down in the parking lot today, broke out two windows on his truck, then he slashed his own tires, and took a sledge hammer to the front fenders. Then, out came the chain saw and he proceeded to chain saw his boat into little shreds of fiberglass. Finally, he pulled out a can of liter fluid and torched the entire rig!"

but I like the dude maybe its because he is different than the rest

Not true, show was filmed the first week of October, I was there haha.

Yes his carrying on can be irritating, as I've never heard him as excited like the fish he caught to win the BASS Classic, that was pure emotion and not fake. But as we go back and forth on this forum, just remember that he's earning a living professionally fishing, and the majority of us are doing something else we probably don�t enjoy.

So, as you sit in front of your computer screen and read this, let me ask the question, would you carrying on some if it got you asked to endorse products, asked to host a TV show, and gave you the needed sponsors to fish professionally?

The guy has found a way to earn a living that he enjoys. And from the people that met him around Austin, all I�ve ever heard was he�s a good guy. He makes time for fans, and that�s what I�ve seen on TV at tournaments he�s in.

Oh, And there are no real good fish in Austin or Central Texas, so move along.

Get off your high-horse

he needs to grow up

I follow him. The man can fish and he does so much for families. I don't have enough time to tell you the stories about how he has gone out of his way to brighten other peoples day, but this one is worth sharing.
During the Classic did any of you hear the story of that father waithing in line to question him with reporters? During the delay on the first day. Right as they were told they were about to be released he took time to make a short skit with this man for his daughter who admires him.
Now name anyone in ANY major professional sport who would take time to do that right before taking the field in their respective championship??
I do not always agree with his actions, and often thinks he crosses the line, but he is a good person.
I would not judge any of you merely on the comments you make. I would like to say that I would give you the benifit of the doubt until you prove me wrong.
Just my 2 cents as many of you put.

Well, I used to hate the sucker because of the way he carrys on and I let it get me so pizzed that I'd write stuff about him and really get people riled up on here (not on purpose, just stating my opinion). I got called a wuss (putting it mildly) as well as other things just for stating my opinion on the guy..!

The mod's had to get involved because others were crossing the line with me on here about it. I got sent a PM by a mod and he described it as really being the older generation fisherman vs alot of the younger generations. I didn't realize so many people on here were so young and in love with Ike.

Well, since then, I have kind of changed my opinion about him somewhat. I listened to his final day weigh in speech at the Classic last weekend and it was absolutely top notch and spot on (in case you didn't see it on the web cam last weekend, be sure and catch it this weekend on ESPN2).

Having said that, it still does irritate me a little when I hear the story about the whole flag throwing garbage, but that's really between him and the officials and not me..

And that's my .02 now

it's not just that. he has been known to try to move in on peoples fish and to chase anglers off spots. i've seen it several times