| The main practice goal for the vast majority of | | | | roll a spinnerbait in 2- to 4-feet of water. At the |
| tournament anglers is to develop a pattern for an | | | | same time you also need to know when to |
| upcoming tournament. If these angles are lucky, | | | | change from pitching that jig to shallow water and |
| they may be able to develop a second or even a | | | | pick up the jig worm and cast it into 15- to |
| third pattern in case their main pattern falters | | | | 20-feet of water off the gravel point you're on." |
| over the course of the tournament. These | | | | "Versatility, the ability to read cover and |
| patterns allow the angler to focus on a minimal | | | | structure, and knowing what bait is best for each |
| number of techniques, type of cover or depth - | | | | situation is what makes this form of fishing |
| and theoretically, they can duplicate the pattern all | | | | difficult." |
| over the lake or river system. | | | | Patterns and Junk-Fishing |
| Pattern development has been the holy-grail of | | | | Iaconelli starts each and every practice period by |
| bass fishing since the early days and has been | | | | junk-fishing. "It's my way of determining what the |
| written about by anglers such as Roland Martin, | | | | fish are doing. I can cover a lot of water fast and |
| Rick Clunn and Bill Dance, to name a few. In fact, | | | | fish a lot of different techniques." |
| the "pattern" is/was so highly regarded that | | | | "I think all anglers do the same thing but they do |
| unless you were able to determine one prior to a | | | | it with the intention of figuring out a pattern," he |
| tournament, you might as well go home. | | | | said. "I don't look at it that way. If I find a pattern |
| Fast-forward to the late nineties and you started | | | | great - but if I don't, my junk-fishing becomes my |
| to hear more about top touring pros "junk-fishing" | | | | pattern. In fact, if there isn't a strong pattern, I |
| their way to top finishes on the tours. Anglers | | | | feel better junk-fishing." |
| that didn't have anything going pattern-wise, yet | | | | "It also gives me confidence to quit a pattern |
| were able to scrape together enough fish to finish | | | | mid-stream." he said. "The Guntersville Elite Series |
| high or even win events. It was thought at the | | | | event this year is a prime example. I had fish |
| time that their hard work is what paid off. | | | | going in deep hydrilla on the second the third days. |
| Looking at it deeper, though, we see that may | | | | Those days I had my best weight but by noon |
| not be the case. Could it be that junk-fishing really | | | | on the last day, I only had two fish in the box |
| isn't what the name implies? For this article, we | | | | fishing deep. I had the confidence to abandon my |
| sat down with arguably the tours' best | | | | deep pattern and go find some sight fish. That |
| junk-fisherman, Mike Iaconelli, to discuss his view | | | | change made the difference for me and allowed |
| of junk-fishing and how it has gotten him to the | | | | me to win that tournament." |
| number-one spot on the Bassmaster Elite Series | | | | Equipment |
| this year. His views are sure to shed more light | | | | "You can always tell who's on what the morning |
| on the subject and hopefully give you the | | | | of the tournament," Iaconelli said. "The guy that |
| confidence to hang up your worn pattern and go | | | | has three or four rods on deck is on a pattern. |
| for the win when nothing else seems to be | | | | The guy with 12 to 20 rods on deck is |
| working. | | | | junk-fishing." |
| Is there a "best" time? | | | | "You need a lot of rods on the deck in order to |
| "Anytime of the year is good for junk-fishing," | | | | fish this way effectively," he said. "For example, I'll |
| said Iaconelli. "I've used it in every season of the | | | | drop the trolling motor at the mouth of a creek |
| year with success. But, by far, the best time of | | | | and by the time I get to the back, I have used |
| year is post-spawn because the fish are more | | | | 15 different baits. Each different piece of cover |
| transient during this time." | | | | may require a couple of different lures in order to |
| In other words, during the pre-spawn, the fish | | | | work it properly. I may hit a log going in with a |
| may be at different stages but they all have the | | | | spinnerbait but when I come out I may throw a |
| same thing on their mind," he said. "They want to | | | | topwater bait on it. You have to learn to fish the |
| get up in shallow water, make beds and spawn. | | | | best bait for the circumstance. Each lure is a |
| This allows for pretty easy patterning of fish." | | | | specific tool in your toolbox." |
| "Contrary to this, the post-spawn has the fish all | | | | "Junk-fishing isn't about power-fishing either," he |
| spread out," he said. "Some fish will be protecting | | | | said. "My spinning gear plays as big a role in my |
| fry around their beds, some females will be | | | | junk-fishing as my flipping stick does. Again, it all |
| venturing into deeper water to recuperate, and | | | | revolves again around the best tool for the job at |
| yet other fish will have already recovered and are | | | | hand. If I feel I need to use light line and a finesse |
| starting to set up on their summer haunts. This is | | | | worm on a certain log, I'll slow down and fish it. It |
| why junk-fishing is so effective at this time of | | | | all has to do with knowing your tools and listening |
| year. One type of technique generally won't catch | | | | to your gut." |
| all of these fish." | | | | Finally, Listen to the Fish |
| Versatility is Key | | | | "Another important aspect, not just in junk-fishing |
| "Everyone calls it junk-fishing like it doesn't take | | | | but all fishing in general, is to listen to what the |
| much skill," Iaconelli said. "Actually, it takes more | | | | fish are telling you," Iaconelli said. "If you're |
| skill to be good at it because in order to be | | | | catching fish, they are telling you that you're doing |
| successful, you have to know and understand | | | | the right thing obviously. But, don't get caught in |
| how to use every type of bait on the market. | | | | the rut of fishing yesterday's fish. If they are not |
| You can't rely on only one type of technique or | | | | biting, they're telling you you're doing the wrong |
| lure - you have to be a master at them all." | | | | thing. At this point, you need to have the |
| "For instance, you need to be able to effectively | | | | confidence in your ability to adapt and fish for the |
| fish each portion of the water column," he said. | | | | moment. Trust your instincts when you feel |
| "You need to know how to use the shallow | | | | them, put some extra rods on the deck and go |
| running crank bait that runs from 0- to 2-feet | | | | for it. |
| deep. You need to know how to throw a jig or | | | | |