Palaniuk Works His Magic To Lead Tight Field In Bassmaster Elite Series

UNION SPRINGS, N.Y. — August is Brandon Palaniuk’s charmed time of year. New York is his state of magic.

Last August, the pro angler from Rathdrum, Idaho, won a Bassmaster Elite Series event on the St. Lawrence River in upstate New York. At age 25, he pocketed the $100,000 prize and achieved his goal qualifying for the 2014 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by Diet Mountain Dew and GroPro.

Thursday, just as focused on ensuring he’ll get into the 2015 Classic, Palaniuk led the 106-angler Elite field in the A.R.E. Truck Caps Bassmaster Elite at Cayuga Lake out of Union Springs, N.Y., where, once gain, the first prize is $100,000 and an automatic qualification for the Super Bowl of Bass Fishing.

Palaniuk brought in 20 pounds, 10 ounces, enough to stay 3 ounces ahead of the pack in the first of four rounds.

“It was a magical day,” Palaniuk said. “I caught fish pretty early. I think I had a limit within the first 45 minutes, and slowly culled up from there. Every move I made, I seemed to catch a good one.”

The 26-year-old does not have one challenger behind him in second place, but two. In a tournament peppered with ties throughout the leaderboard, Mark Davis of Mount Ida, Ark., and Mike Kernan of Wylie, Texas, were neck-and-neck at 20-7 for second place.

Greg Hackney of Gonzales, La., claimed fourth place by himself at 20-5. It was more than good enough to help him in the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year points race, and an important move in keeping the lead he took over from Davis about two weeks ago.

Fifth place was yet another tie at 20-4. The co-owners of the spot were Jacob Powroznik, the pro from Port Haywood, Va., who won the fourth event of the 2014 Elite season; and Casey Scanlon of Lenexa, Kan.

Less than 2 pounds separated 12th place from first. There were 18 two-way ties and two three-way ties.

The standings weren’t the only things that were tight in the tournament. Many of the pros were bunched up Thursday on the most productive areas of Cayuga Lake, sometimes fishing within casting distance from one another.

Palaniuk said he has something going on his own. And he wasn’t in the least forthcoming about how he was catching bass.

“I’m keeping that locked down for now, “said Palaniuk, who said he had never before fished Cayuga Lake. Palaniuk said he learned from his Monday-Wednesday practice sessions.

“I had a couple patterns going (in practice) and those all came together for me to make for a really good day,” he said.

Davis attributed his good day to staying focused and keeping it simple.

“I went to a group of fish I felt were the best quality fish I found in practice, and they were hard to catch, but I had a limit by 8:30,” he said. “I feel good about going forward, even though another one of the leaders and I are sharing fish.”

Davis called the bass of Cayuga “fickle.”

“You can be right dead-on them at the wrong time and you will not get a bite,” he said.

Kernan built his 20-7 on top of a 6 pound, 2 ounce largemouth he boated early.

“I was fishing in the crowd this morning, throwing something a little different. I went there for keepers, mainly, because I wanted to flip the rest of the day (for larger bass). The second fish was that 6-2. I ended up catching four keepers there.”

Kernan did turn to his flipping plan. He was able to replace three of those early keepers with heavier bass. In the afternoon, heading to the check-in point with a solid limit, he noted he was a few minutes early, so he put down his trolling motor for one more go at the bass. In three casts, he landed a 3-pounder, and he was able to cull up again.

Besides a win, the goal of all pros at Cayuga is to earn enough points to be one of 50 who qualify for the $900,000 Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Championship, Sept. 18-21 on Bays de Noc out of Escanaba, Mich. That’s where they’ll have a chance at securing a Bassmaster Classic berth if they didn’t earn one by winning an event.

Palaniuk came to Cayuga ranked 33rd in points. His goal was at least a Top 50, he said.

“I really wanted to make the Classic on points. But now maybe I can go for another trophy,” he said.

When the Michigan event wraps up the Elite season, the 2014 Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year will be crowned and handed $100,000 of the $900,000 total purse.

Davis’ stellar Day 1 put the brakes on his downhill slide in the AOY points standings. Davis had led the AOY race for five consecutive events until the Delaware River event ended on Aug. 10, when he fell to seventh place. After Thursday catching more than 20 pounds, he was in third place in points.

“I let Angler of the Year get by me in those last two events, so whatever I do here will be nice,” Davis said. “It’s hard to play catch-up.”

Although points are posted after each day’s competition, AOY standings are not official until the end of the tournament.

Powroznik brought the largest bass of the day to the scales. A 6-6, the largemouth put him in the lead for Cayuga’s Carhartt Big Bass bonus of up to $1,500. Palaniuk set the bar for the event’s Berkley Heavyweight big-bag award of $500.

Fishing fans can catch the tournament as it continues Friday through Sunday at Frontenac Park, 26 Chapel St., Union Springs, N.Y. The pros will leave the docks beginning at 6:15 a.m. Start time for the weigh-ins each day is 3:15 p.m.

Also at Frontenac Park is the Bassmaster Elite Series Expo, which features Elite sponsor products and services. Running concurrently with the Expo is the Fish Cayuga Festival with food and merchandise vendors.

Highlights of the Expo include the screening of the newest Costa GeoBASS film preceding Saturday’s weigh-in; free demo boat rides beginning right after the morning launch in Triton, Skeeter and Nitro boats powered by Mercury or Yamaha engines; the Berkley Experience trailer; and games and prizes offered by Carhartt, Toyota, Minn Kota, Shimano and many others.

All Bassmaster events are free.

Hosting the Elite Series at Cayuga are www.FingerLakesTravelNY.com, www.ILoveNY.com, www.TourCayuga.com, and the Union Springs Chamber of Commerce.

The Bassmasters TV show on ESPN2 will feature the Cayuga event on Sunday, Sept. 27, in the 2:30-3:30 p.m. time slot.

All times are Eastern.

2014 Bassmaster Elite Series Official Sponsors: Toyota, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Evan Williams Bourbon, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha

2014 Bassmaster Elite Series Supporting Sponsors: Booyah, Carhartt, Diet Mountain Dew, Livingston Lures, Lowrance, Plano, Power-Pole, Rigid Industries, Shimano

About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S. is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), television show (The Bassmasters on ESPN2), social media programs and events. For more than 45 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.

The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series presented by Allstate, B.A.S.S. Nation events, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series, Bassmaster High School Series, Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by Diet Mountain Dew and GoPro.

2014 A.R.E. Truck Caps Bassmaster Elite Series at Cayuga Lake 8/21-8/24
Cayuga Lake, Union Springs  NY.
Standings Day 1

Angler                   Hometown              No./lbs-oz  Pts  

1.  Brandon Palaniuk       Hayden, ID               5  20-10  100
Day 1: 5   20-10
2.  Mark Davis             Mount Ida, AR            5  20-07   99
Day 1: 5   20-07
2.  Mike Kernan            Wylie, TX                5  20-07   99
Day 1: 5   20-07
4.  Greg Hackney           Gonzales, LA             5  20-05   97
Day 1: 5   20-05
5.  Jacob Powroznik        Port Haywood, VA         5  20-04   96
Day 1: 5   20-04
5.  Casey Scanlon          Lanexa, KS               5  20-04   96
Day 1: 5   20-04
7.  Todd Faircloth         Jasper, TX               5  20-02   94
Day 1: 5   20-02
8.  Edwin Evers            Talala, OK               5  19-12   93
Day 1: 5   19-12
9.  Kevin Short            Mayflower, AR            5  19-06   92
Day 1: 5   19-06
10. Brent Chapman          Lake Quivira, KS         5  19-01   91
Day 1: 5   19-01
11. Nate Wellman           Newaygo, MI              5  18-15   90
Day 1: 5   18-15
12. Matt Herren            Ashville, AL             5  18-11   89
Day 1: 5   18-11
12. David Walker           Sevierville, TN          5  18-11   89
Day 1: 5   18-11
14. Josh Bertrand          Gilbert, AZ              5  18-09   87
Day 1: 5   18-09
15. James Elam             Tulsa, OK                5  18-04   86
Day 1: 5   18-04
16. Mike McClelland        Bella Vista, AR          5  17-12   85
Day 1: 5   17-12
16. Fred Roumbanis         Bixby, OK                5  17-12   85
Day 1: 5   17-12
18. Marty Robinson         Lyman, SC                5  17-03   83
Day 1: 5   17-03
18. Jonathon VanDam        Kalamazoo, MI            5  17-03   83
Day 1: 5   17-03
20. Paul Elias             Laurel, MS               5  17-01   81
Day 1: 5   17-01
21. Jared Lintner          Arroyo Grande, CA        5  17-00   80
Day 1: 5   17-00
22. Keith Combs            Huntington, TX           5  16-12   79
Day 1: 5   16-12
23. Clifford Pirch         Payson, AZ               5  16-05   78
Day 1: 5   16-05
24. Andy Montgomery        Blacksburg, SC           5  16-03   77
Day 1: 5   16-03
25. Randy Howell           Springville, AL          5  16-02   76
Day 1: 5   16-02
26. John Crews Jr          Salem, VA                5  16-01   75
Day 1: 5   16-01
26. Dean Rojas             Lake Havasu City, AZ     5  16-01   75
Day 1: 5   16-01
28. James Niggemeyer       Van, TX                  5  15-12   73
Day 1: 5   15-12
28. Chris Zaldain          San Jose, CA             5  15-12   73
Day 1: 5   15-12
30. Derek Remitz           Grant, AL                5  15-12   71
Day 1: 5   15-12
31. Bill Lowen             Brookville, IN           5  15-11   70
Day 1: 5   15-11
32. Kevin Hawk             Guntersville, AL         5  15-10   69
Day 1: 5   15-10
33. Brian Snowden          Reeds Spring, MO         5  15-08   68
Day 1: 5   15-08
34. Michael Iaconelli      Pitts Grove, NJ          5  15-01   67
Day 1: 5   15-01
35. Brandon Card           Caryville, TN            5  14-14   66
Day 1: 5   14-14
36. Justin Lucas           Guntersville, AL         5  14-12   65
Day 1: 5   14-12
37. Russ Lane              Prattville, AL           5  14-10   64
Day 1: 5   14-10
37. Morizo Shimizu         Osaka JAPAN              5  14-10   64
Day 1: 5   14-10
39. Ott DeFoe              Knoxville, TN            5  14-07   62
Day 1: 5   14-07
39. Davy Hite              Ninety Six, SC           5  14-07   62
Day 1: 5   14-07
41. Casey Ashley           Donalds, SC              5  14-06   60
Day 1: 5   14-06
41. Greg Vinson            Wetumpka, AL             5  14-06   60
Day 1: 5   14-06
43. Zell Rowland           Montgomery, TX           5  14-05   58
Day 1: 5   14-05
44. Chris Lane             Guntersville, AL         5  14-04   57
Day 1: 5   14-04
44. Kevin VanDam           Kalamazoo, MI            5  14-04   57
Day 1: 5   14-04
46. Chad Morgenthaler      Coulterville, IL         5  14-02   55
Day 1: 5   14-02
47. Bobby Lane             Lakeland, FL             5  14-01   54
Day 1: 5   14-01
48. Boyd Duckett           Guntersville, AL         5  14-00   53
Day 1: 5   14-00
48. Randall Tharp          Port Saint Joe, FL       5  14-00   53
Day 1: 5   14-00
50. Tracy Adams            Wilkesboro, NC           5  13-15   51
Day 1: 5   13-15
50. Bernie Schultz         Gainesville, FL          5  13-15   51
Day 1: 5   13-15
52. J Todd Tucker          Moultrie, GA             5  13-11   49
Day 1: 5   13-11
53. Brandon Lester         Fayetteville, TN         5  13-10   48
Day 1: 5   13-10
54. Matt Reed              Madisonville, TX         5  13-09   47
Day 1: 5   13-09
55. Scott Rook             Little Rock, AR          5  13-08   46
Day 1: 5   13-08
56. Ish Monroe             Hughson, CA              5  13-07   45
Day 1: 5   13-07
56. David Mullins          Mt Carmel, TN            5  13-07   45
Day 1: 5   13-07
58. Yusuke Miyazaki        Forney, TX               5  13-04   43
Day 1: 5   13-04
58. Skeet Reese            Auburn, CA               5  13-04   43
Day 1: 5   13-04
58. Jeremy Starks          Scott Depot, WV          5  13-04   43
Day 1: 5   13-04
61. Bradley Roy            Lancaster, KY            5  13-03   40
Day 1: 5   13-03
62. Steve Kennedy          Auburn, AL               5  12-15   39
Day 1: 5   12-15
62. Cliff Prince           Palatka, FL              5  12-15   39
Day 1: 5   12-15
64. Stephen Browning       Hot Springs, AR          5  12-14   37
Day 1: 5   12-14
64. Aaron Martens          Leeds, AL                5  12-14   37
Day 1: 5   12-14
64. Fletcher Shryock       New Philadelphia, OH     5  12-14   37
Day 1: 5   12-14
67. Chad Pipkens           Holt, MI                 5  12-12   34
Day 1: 5   12-12
68. Michael Simonton       Fremont, OH              5  12-11   33
Day 1: 5   12-11
69. Joseph Sancho          New Windsor, NY          5  12-08   32
Day 1: 5   12-08
70. Jared Miller           Norman, OK               5  12-06   31
Day 1: 5   12-06
71. Dennis Tietje          Roanoke, LA              5  12-03   30
Day 1: 5   12-03
72. Alton Jones            Lorena, TX               5  12-02   29
Day 1: 5   12-02
73. Jeff Kriet             Ardmore, OK              5  12-01   28
Day 1: 5   12-01
74. Brett Hite             Phoenix, AZ              5  11-13   27
Day 1: 5   11-13
75. Cliff Crochet          Pierre Part, LA          5  11-12   26
Day 1: 5   11-12
75. Terry Scroggins        San Mateo, FL            5  11-12   26
Day 1: 5   11-12
77. Rick Morris            Lake Gaston, VA          5  11-11   24
Day 1: 5   11-11
77. Takahiro Omori         Emory, TX                5  11-11   24
Day 1: 5   11-11
79. David Smith            Del City, OK             5  11-09   22
Day 1: 5   11-09
80. Glenn Browne           Ocala, FL                5  11-02   21
Day 1: 5   11-02
81. Kurt Dove              Del Rio, TX              5  11-01   20
Day 1: 5   11-01
82. Rick Clunn             Ava, MO                  5  10-13   19
Day 1: 5   10-13
83. Tim Horton             Muscle Shoals, AL        5  10-11   18
Day 1: 5   10-11
83. Jamie Horton           Centerville, AL          5  10-11   18
Day 1: 5   10-11
85. Byron Velvick          Boenre, TX               5  10-10   16
Day 1: 5   10-10
86. Pete Ponds             Madison, MS              5  10-06   15
Day 1: 5   10-06
87. Gary Klein             Weatherford, TX          5  10-05   14
Day 1: 5   10-05
88. Shaw Grigsby Jr.       Gainesville, FL          5  10-04   13
Day 1: 5   10-04
89. Kotaro Kiriyama        Moody, AL                5  10-03   12
Day 1: 5   10-03
90. Billy McCaghren        Mayflower, AR            5  09-15   11
Day 1: 5   09-15
91. Jason Williamson       Aiken, SC                5  09-12   10
Day 1: 5   09-12
92. Hank Cherry Jr         Maiden, NC               5  09-08    9
Day 1: 5   09-08
93. Gerald Swindle         Warrior, AL              5  09-00    8
Day 1: 5   09-00
94. Charlie Hartley        Grove City, OH           5  08-15    7
Day 1: 5   08-15
95. Kenyon Hill            Norman, OK               5  08-12    6
Day 1: 5   08-12
96. Trevor Romans          Plano, TX                5  08-08    5
Day 1: 5   08-08
97. Britt Myers            Lake Wylie, SC           5  08-07    4
Day 1: 5   08-07
98. Scott Ashmore          Broken Arrow, OK         5  08-05    3
Day 1: 5   08-05
99. Kelley Jaye            Dadeville, AL            4  08-02    2
Day 1: 4   08-02
100. Keith Poche            Pike Road, AL            5  08-01    1
Day 1: 5   08-01
101. Grant Goldbeck         Boerne, TX               2  07-05    0
Day 1: 2   07-05
102. Kelly Jordon           Palestine, TX            4  06-05    0
Day 1: 4   06-05
103. Jason Christie         Park Hill, OK            2  06-04    0
Day 1: 2   06-04
104. Boo Woods              Oneida, KY               4  05-12    0
Day 1: 4   05-12
105. Joel Baker             Talala, OK               3  05-11    0
Day 1: 3   05-11
106. John Murray            Phoenix, AZ              2  04-11    0
Day 1: 2   04-11
———————————————————————–
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
1        99       516      1442-12
———————————-
99       516      1442-12