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Brandon Palaniuk of Idaho Circles Back to Win Bass Federation Nation Championship

Category: press release

 Oct 30th, 2010 by OutdoorsFIRST 

Modified Oct 30th, 2010 at 12:00 AM

SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER CITY, La. – Camping for three weeks out of the back of his truck while he prefished the Red River paid off for 22-year-old Brandon Palaniuk of Rathdrum, Idaho, in the BASS Federation Nation Championship presented by Skeeter and Yamaha.

Brandon Palaniuk (Photo BASS)

“Bill Golightly (a fellow Western Division competitor) and I came down and prefished together,” said Palaniuk, who won the event with a three-day catch of 14 bass that weighed 29 pounds, 9 ounces.

George Crain of Cropwell, Ala., was second with 24-10, almost 5 pounds behind the winner. Golightly of Preston, Wyo., finished third with 24-9.

Palaniuk found out in practice that the Red River was fishing tough.

“I figured if I could get 10 pounds a day for three days, I would be right there,” he said.  The Panhandle Bass Anglers Club member nearly kept up that pace each day as he cranked a rock jetty with a Lucky Craft Skeet Reese Mini crankbait and flipped the grass in a backwater area with a Texas-rigged Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver.

Palaniuk led on the first day, but slipped to fourth place the second day. But his double-digit weight Friday of 12-0 sent him back up to clinch the championship trophy, a Skeeter-Yamaha boat rig valued at $60,000, an invitation to move up into the Bassmaster Elite Series in 2011 – and what every angler came to the Red River this week to win: a berth in the 2011 Bassmaster Classic.

Palaniuk made two dreams come true by winning the championship and qualifying for the Classic.

“Since the first time I was taken out in a bass boat when I was 8 years old, I have been thinking about making the Classic,” he said. “And since I started fishing the Federation when I was 16, I started dreaming about winning one of these (annual championships).”

The other five Federation Nation Classic qualifiers were Crain in the Southern Division; Dale Hightower of Sand Springs, Okla., in the Central Division; Day 2 leader Brian LaClair of Denton, Del., in the Mid-Atlantic Division; Sean Alvarez of Rutland, Vt., in the Eastern Division; and David Watson of Dugger, Ind., in the Northern Division.

They will compete Feb. 18-20 in a field of 50 on the Louisiana Delta.

“I am speechless. It is absolutely amazing. It is surreal. I am just an average guy and this shows what the Federation Nation can do,” said Vermont’s Alvarez.

The Junior Bassmaster World Championship, also on Friday but on nearby Cross Lake, resulted in two Eastern Division anglers squeaking out titles by mere ounces. Alexander Wetherell of Middletown, Conn., won in the 15-18 age group by 2 ounces with a total of four fish tallying 4-5.

Christopher Catucci of Warwick, R.I., won in the 11-14 age division with two bass weighing 5-12.

The young anglers won scholarship money.

2010 BASS FEDERATION NATION CHAMPIONSHIP – FINAL STANDINGS

10/27-10/29 Red River, Shreveport  La.

(BOATER) Standings Day 3

 Angler                   Hometown                        D No./lbs-oz  Total $$$

1.  Brandon Palaniuk       Rathdrum, Idaho (ID)             W 14  29-09  $60,000.00

2.  George Crain           Cropwell, Ala. (AL)              S 13  24-10   $5,000.00

3.  Bill Golightly         Preston, Wyo. (WY)               W 15  24-09   $2,500.00

4.  Dale Hightower         Sand Springs, Okla. (OK)         C 15  24-02   $1,000.00

5.  Brian Maloney          Osage Beach, Mo. (MO)            C 15  22-09   $1,000.00

6.  David Brinkerhoff      Kelso, Ore. (OR)                 W 13  22-02     $500.00

7.  Jay Evans              Corvallis, Mont. (MT)            W 13  21-15   $1,000.00

8.  Brian LaClair          Denton, Del. (DE)                M 12  21-08   $1,000.00

9.  Justy Varkevisser      Edenvale 1610, South Africa (RSA)S 15  20-14     $500.00

10. Jeff Stetler           Leesburg, N.J. (NJ)              M 11  19-14     $500.00

11. Jamie Laiche           Gonzales, La. (LA)               C 15  19-05     $500.00

12. Isauro Tijerina        Guadalupe, Mexico (MEX)          C 13  18-12     $250.00

13. Randy Ladner           Bay St Louis, Miss. (MS)         C 12  18-11     $250.00

14. Cavin Young            Prince George, Va. (VA)          M 11  18-08     $250.00

15. Zachary King           Clarksville, Ark. (AR)           C 11  18-03     $750.00

16. Sean Alvarez           Rutland, Vt. (VT)                E 10  17-04     $250.00

17. Donnie Cox             Tazewell, Tenn. (TN)             S 10  17-00     $250.00

18. David Watson           Dugger, Ind. (IN)                N 10  16-10     $250.00

19. Rob Digh               Denver, N.C. (NC)                S 12  16-06     $250.00

20. James Smiley           Lake Forest, Calif. (CA)         W  8  16-01     $250.00

21. Jerry Frahm            Brigham City, Utah (UT)          W  7  15-13     $250.00

22. Nathan Ranallo         La Crosse, Wisc. (WI)            N 11  15-03     $250.00

23. Alessio Telese         Signa-Firenz, Italy (ITA)        N 10  14-06     $250.00

24. Joey Nania             Liberty Lake, Wash. (WA)         W  8  14-06     $250.00

25. Travis Tunnell         Benton, Kan. (KS)                C  6  14-05     $250.00

26. Scott Parker           Londonderry, N.H. (NH)           E  8  14-01     $250.00

27. David Mock             Tallahassee, Fla. (FL)           S  5  13-06     $250.00

28. Daniel Gray            Butler, Pa. (PA)                 M  9  13-01     $250.00

29. Brandon Card           Caryville, Ky. (KY)              S  9  12-13     $250.00

30. Dan Parker             Guttenberg, Iowa (IA)            N  6  12-05     $250.00

31. Mark Klemp             Villa Park, Ill. (IL)            N  8  12-02     $250.00

32. Tom Jessop             Dalhart, Texas (TX)              C  7  11-14     $250.00

33. Jeff Green             Gaffney, S.C. (SC)               S  6  11-13     $250.00

34. Abe Kalechman          Stafford, Conn. (CT)             E  6  11-12     $250.00

35. Mike Macdonald         Bulawayo, Zimbabwe (ZWE)         M 10  11-03     $250.00

36. Bob Lechel             Los Alamos, N.M. (NM)            W  7  10-09     $250.00

37. Jeremy Franken         Watertown, S.D. (SD)             N  6  10-08     $250.00

38. George Cooper          Buxton, Maine (ME)               E  6  10-01     $250.00

39. Dave Rochette          Bracebridge, Canada (ONT)        E  7   9-09     $250.00

40. Ed Riley               Woodbine, Md. (MD)               M  6   9-06     $250.00

41. Robert Perkins         Crosslake, Minn. (MN)            N  6   9-02     $250.00

42. Andy Bravence          Globe, Ariz. (AZ)                W  5   8-14     $250.00

43. Allen McCaw            Ignacio, Colo. (CO)              W  6   7-14     $250.00

44. Chris Molineaux        Hope Valley, R.I. (RI)           E  5   6-06     $250.00

45. Kenny Wasmund          South Sioux City, Neb. (NE)      C  5   6-02     $250.00

46. Mike Moore             Philippi, W.Va. (WV)             M  4   5-15     $250.00

47. Tony Beck              Social Circle, Ga. (GA)          S  5   5-12     $250.00

48. Joe Matt               Syracuse, N.Y. (NY)              E  4   5-10     $250.00

49. Brian Mailot           Columbus, Ohio (OH)              N  3   5-03     $250.00

50. Randy Phillips         Oxford, Mass. (MA)               E  3   4-09     $250.00

51. Ryuji Saho             Moriguchi-Shi Osaka, Japan (JPN) W  2   4-08     $250.00

52. Paul Hemsley           North Las Vegas, Nev. (NV)       W  4   3-05     $250.00

53. Ronald Ryals           Live Oak, Fla. (FL)              S  2   3-05     $250.00

54. Jason Ross             Ashley Falls, Mass. (MA)         E  1   1-05     $250.00

55. Gerald Woodard         Southfield, Mich. (MI)           N  1   0-07     $250.00

———————————————————————–

 

Big Bass

Day

 1   Zachary King            Clarksville, Ark. (AR)     5-00    $500.00

 2   Brian LaClair           Denton, Del. (DE)          5-02    $500.00

 2   Brian LaClair           Denton, Del. (DE)          5-02    $500.00

 2   Jay Evans               Corvallis, Mont. (MT)      4-11    $500.00

 

———————————————————————–

Totals

Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight

 1       17       170       272-11

 2       10       139       224-15

 3       13       143       237-11

———————————-

         40       452       735-05

 

DIVISIONAL STANDINGS Day 3

———————————————————————–

 

WESTERN

    Angler               Hometown                   No./lbs-oz Total $$$

  1 Brandon Palaniuk     Rathdrum, Idaho (ID)       14  29-09  $60,000.00

  2 Bill Golightly       Preston, Wyo. (WY)         15  24-09   $2,500.00

  3 David Brinkerhoff    Kelso, Ore. (OR)           13  22-02     $500.00

  4 Jay Evans            Corvallis, Mont. (MT)      13  21-15   $1,000.00

  5 James Smiley         Lake Forest, Calif. (CA)    8  16-01     $250.00

  6 Jerry Frahm          Brigham City, Utah (UT)     7  15-13     $250.00

  7 Joey Nania           Liberty Lake, Wash. (WA)    8  14-06     $250.00

  8 Bob Lechel           Los Alamos, N.M. (NM)       7  10-09     $250.00

  9 Andy Bravence        Globe, Ariz. (AZ)           5   8-14     $250.00

 10 Allen McCaw          Ignacio, Colo. (CO)         6   7-14     $250.00

 11 Ryuji Saho           Moriguchi-Shi Osaka, Japa   2   4-08     $250.00

 12 Paul Hemsley         North Las Vegas, Nev. (NV   4   3-05     $250.00

 

CENTRAL

    Angler               Hometown                   No./lbs-oz Total $$$

  1 Dale Hightower       Sand Springs, Okla. (OK)   15  24-02   $1,000.00

  2 Brian Maloney        Osage Beach, Mo. (MO)      15  22-09   $1,000.00

  3 Jamie Laiche         Gonzales, La. (LA)         15  19-05     $500.00

  4 Isauro Tijerina      Guadalupe, Mexico (MEX)    13  18-12     $250.00

  5 Randy Ladner         Bay St Louis, Miss. (MS)   12  18-11     $250.00

  6 Zachary King         Clarksville, Ark. (AR)     11  18-03     $750.00

  7 Travis Tunnell       Benton, Kan. (KS)           6  14-05     $250.00

  8 Tom Jessop           Dalhart, Texas (TX)         7  11-14     $250.00

  9 Kenny Wasmund        South Sioux City, Neb. (N   5   6-02     $250.00

 

SOUTHERN

    Angler               Hometown                   No./lbs-oz Total $$$

  1 George Crain         Cropwell, Ala. (AL)        13  24-10   $5,000.00

  2 Justy Varkevisser    Edenvale 1610, South Afri  15  20-14     $500.00

  3 Donnie Cox           Tazewell, Tenn. (TN)       10  17-00     $250.00

  4 Rob Digh             Denver, N.C. (NC)          12  16-06     $250.00

  5 David Mock           Tallahassee, Fla. (FL)      5  13-06     $250.00

  6 Brandon Card         Caryville, Ky. (KY)         9  12-13     $250.00

  7 Jeff Green           Gaffney, S.C. (SC)          6  11-13     $250.00

  8 Tony Beck            Social Circle, Ga. (GA)     5   5-12     $250.00

  9 Ronald Ryals         Live Oak, Fla. (FL)         2   3-05     $250.00

 

MID-ATLANTIC

    Angler               Hometown                   No./lbs-oz Total $$$

  1 Brian LaClair        Denton, Del. (DE)          12  21-08   $1,500.00

  2 Jeff Stetler         Leesburg, N.J. (NJ)        11  19-14     $500.00

  3 Cavin Young          Prince George, Va. (VA)    11  18-08     $250.00

  4 Daniel Gray          Butler, Pa. (PA)            9  13-01     $250.00

  5 Mike Macdonald       Bulawayo, Zimbabwe (ZWE)   10  11-03     $250.00

  6 Ed Riley             Woodbine, Md. (MD)          6   9-06     $250.00

  7 Mike Moore           Philippi, W.Va. (WV)        4   5-15     $250.00

 

NORTHERN

    Angler               Hometown                   No./lbs-oz Total $$$

  1 David Watson         Dugger, Ind. (IN)          10  16-10     $250.00

  2 Nathan Ranallo       La Crosse, Wisc. (WI)      11  15-03     $250.00

  3 Alessio Telese       Signa-Firenz, Italy (ITA)  10  14-06     $250.00

  4 Dan Parker           Guttenberg, Iowa (IA)       6  12-05     $250.00

  5 Mark Klemp           Villa Park, Ill. (IL)       8  12-02     $250.00

  6 Jeremy Franken       Watertown, S.D. (SD)        6  10-08     $250.00

  7 Robert Perkins       Crosslake, Minn. (MN)       6   9-02     $250.00

  8 Brian Mailot         Columbus, Ohio (OH)         3   5-03     $250.00

  9 Gerald Woodard       Southfield, Mich. (MI)      1   0-07     $250.00

 

EASTERN

    Angler               Hometown                   No./lbs-oz Total $$$

  1 Sean Alvarez         Rutland, Vt. (VT)          10  17-04     $250.00

  2 Scott Parker         Londonderry, N.H. (NH)      8  14-01     $250.00

  3 Abe Kalechman        Stafford, Conn. (CT)        6  11-12     $250.00

  4 George Cooper        Buxton, Maine (ME)          6  10-01     $250.00

  5 Dave Rochette        Bracebridge, Canada (ONT)   7   9-09     $250.00

  6 Chris Molineaux      Hope Valley, R.I. (RI)      5   6-06     $250.00

  7 Joe Matt             Syracuse, N.Y. (NY)         4   5-10     $250.00

  8 Randy Phillips       Oxford, Mass. (MA)          3   4-09     $250.00

  9 Jason Ross           Ashley Falls, Mass. (MA)    1   1-05     $250.00

 

 

 About BASS

For more than 40 years, BASS has served as the authority on bass fishing.  The organization advances the sport through advocacy, outreach and its expansive tournament structure while  connecting directly with the passionate community of bass anglers through its Bassmaster media vehicles.

The Bassmaster brand and its multimedia platforms are guided by a mission to serve all fishing fans. Through its industry-leading publications Bassmaster Magazine, BASS Times and Fishing Tackle Retailer; comprehensive Web properties in Bassmaster.com, BASSInsider.com and ESPN2 television programming, Bassmaster provides rich, leading-edge content true to the lifestyle.

BASS oversees the Bassmaster Tournament Trail, which includes the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bassmaster Opens, BASS Federation Nation and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bassmaster Classic.

BASS offers an array of services to its more than 500,000 members and remains focused on issues related to conservation and water access. The organization is headquartered in Celebration, Fla.

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