Brandon Palaniuk Extends Lead at Bassmaster Elite Series Event On The Mississippi River
Category: article
Jun 21st, 2013 by OutdoorsFIRST
Modified Jun 21st, 2013 at 12:00 AM
With a near victory to start the year at the Bassmaster Classic, Brandon Palaniuk started into the 2013 Bassmaster Elite Series season charged. However, the Rathdrum, Idaho pro has tanked most of the year, until La Crosse, Wisconsin and the Mississippi came into the picture. Palaniuk lead yesterday and is heading into Saturday with a two-day total of 37 pounds 7 ounces. Leeds, Alabama pro Aaron Martens jumped into second with two days of bass weighing 31 pounds 7 ounces.
 |
 |
| Brandon Palaniuk (Photo BassFIRST) |
Rounding out the Top 5 are Tommy Biffle of Waggoner, Oklahoma with 30 pounds, John Crews from Salem, Virginia with 28 pounds 8 ounces, and last year’s La Crosse champ Todd Faircloth from Jasper, Texas weighing in 28 pounds 4 ounces.
Poor start for Palaniuk.
“I did not have a good practice,” said Palaniuk. “I came into this event knowing I was mathematically out of the Classic unless I won an event. I did not have a good practice. I caught no limits. Today started terribly. I lost the first 5 bites I had. I was really close to spinning out. Then I calmed down and realized if they are biting that good here, I knew more had to be biting.
“Yesterday I only had 4 smallmouth bites. Today was phenomenal. If I continue to follow them and change with them, I should be able to weigh 15 pounds a day over the next couple of days.”
Palaniuk weighed the big fish of the day, a 5 pound 9 ounce smallie.
Martens practiced.
“I love it up here,” said Martens. “The people are super friendly, the food is awesome, just too much cheese.
“I went pre-fishing for 4 hours today. I have a few more spots now. The whole practice I fished new areas, but I keep fishing the same old ones. It’s kind of funny.”
Biffle has a spot for Saturday.
“I got a spot I pulled up to and caught all of my smallies in 4 or 5 throws,” said Biffle. “I had an 18-pound limit in practice. Tomorrow and the next day I am gonna sit on that spot.”