PHILADELPHIA -- Michael Iaconelli has been the prince of tides this week on the Delaware River, and that didn't change Saturday.
Iaconelli adjusted to the tides better than anyone else in the field Saturday, when he reeled in five fish that weighed 12 pounds, 13 ounces and retained the lead heading into today's final round of the Bassmaster Elite Series in Philadelphia.
Iaconelli's stringer brought his overall total to 37-00 over three days and increased his lead over his nearest competitor, Bill Lowen of Brookville, Ind., to 6 pounds, 9 ounces.
"I feel like I know what it needs to have as far as being a low tide, a midtide or a high tide spot, and what the current is doing," Iaconelli said.
Lowen and Scott Rook of Little Rock aren't far off the pace going into the final round. Both are accomplished river fishermen who have attacked the Delaware River this week by using their knowledge of current and river habitat to stay in contention.
Lowen brought in five fish Saturday that weighed 8-10 to bring his overall weight to 30-07. Rook is at 29-10 for the tournament after bringing in an 8-14 stringer Saturday.
Jason Christie of Park Hill, Okla., jumped from 17th place to fourth with a 10-11 stringer that increased his total weight to 28-3. Shaw Grigsby (28-1) of Gainesville, Fla., moved into fifth, while Kevin Short of Mayflower brought in 6-09 and is sixth with 28-00.
Skeet Reese (27-08) of Auburn, Calif.; Chris Lane (27-00) of Guntersville, Ala.; Chad Pipkens (26-06) of Holt, Mich.; Byron Velvick (26-06) of Boenre, Texas; John Crews Jr. (25-04) of Salem, Va.; Boyd Duckett (25-01) of Guntersville, Ala., round out the Top 12 who advanced to today's final round.
Iaconelli said it took him about 30 minutes to adjust to the drop in the tides, but once he did things picked up quickly as he caught seven keeper largemouth.
"Thirty minutes here is a long time," he said. "I made a change based on my history here of knowing what to do at blowout tides."
Lowen also had to change his game with the tide. The adjustments were subtle, with Lowen sticking to the same area that has produced limits the past three days running and keying on wood cover.
"I've been catching most of my fish on the incoming tide," he said. "Today I didn't get it, so I had to relearn the area on the outgoing tide."
Rook also has produced three limits of largemouth all three days. He is working a large creek, running three to four miles of it.
Rook may trail Iaconelli by 7-6, but he said he isn't discouraged heading into the final round.
"He can have a bad day," Rook said."I know that quality fish are in the river; I just haven't got to them yet. Maybe tomorrow."
Sports on 08/10/2014