LA CROSSE, Wis. — For some reason, said Brandon Palaniuk, he felt the bass were going to bite for him Thursday, the kickoff of the Bassmaster Elite Series tournament on the Mississippi River.
Palaniuk, the first of 99 Bassmaster Elite Series pros to come to the scales, had just weighed what later proved to be the largest bag of the day: 18 pounds, 4 ounces.
“I caught a few big ones in practice, but never felt I was on anything solid,” said the pro from Rathdrum, Idaho. “I don’t know how to explain that, other than I had confidence that the bass I was after were going to bite today.”
On Wednesday, the eve of the four-day event, he had described his practice as “not very good.”
But the magic happened for Palaniuk, who at 25 already has a 2012 Elite win on his record as well as the 2010 B.A.S.S. Nation Championship title. He secured a 2-pound, 4-ounce lead over Kevin Hawk of Guntersville, Ala., in second place with 16-0.
Third place was taken by John Crews of Salem, Va., with 15-7. In fourth place was Clifford Pirch of Payson, Ariz., with 14-11. Rounding out the Top 5 was the 2012 Bassmaster Rookie of the Year, Brandon Card of Caryville, Tenn. Card had 14-9.
Palaniuk said he is doing “something a little bit different” than the other pros.
“I hope I can keep that deal to myself and that it pans out over the next three days,” he said.
Palaniuk had decided to go for a mixed bag Thursday, and all went according to plan. After culling up seven times, he ended up with four smallmouth and one largemouth. Each bass ran about 3 1/2 to 4 pounds, he estimated.
His one largemouth was his surprise of the day because it came from an area he had not tried in practice.
“You know you have to get at least 13 pounds (a day), so catching a 4-pounder goes a long way here. You need one of those big bites a day. To get two or three is what catapults you up toward the top,” Palaniuk said.
The young pro declared he was “looking for revenge” from last year’s Rumble. He started strong in that 2012 event, but fell out of the Day 2 Top 50 cut by only a few places.
Like Palaniuk, Hawk had a mixed bag, but his included four largemouth and one smallmouth. The 34-year-old pro said he had just six bites all day.
“That smallmouth was a bonus. I caught it five minutes before check-in, right near the ramp,” Hawk said.
His Day 1 game plan was to invest the time needed to lock into Pool 7 along the Mississippi River. That decision paid off in more ways than one. At 9:30 a.m. in Pool 7, he had caught only one fish. He decided to lock back through, and left the area, only to find bad news.
“There was a barge in there. I turned around and went back,” Hawk said.
And he caught the other three largemouth he weighed.
The Rumble’s first prize is $100,000 plus an instant qualification for the 2014 Bassmaster Classic. All Elite pros are earning points that count toward securing a Classic berth and a qualification for Toyota All-Star Week, the postseason event in September.
Points also count toward the Elite season’s biggest prize, the 2013 Bassmaster Angler of the Year title.
Going into the Rumble, Edwin Evers of Talala, Okla., was atop the points standings. Fighting for his first Angler of the Year crown, Evers has 25 points over 2007 AOY Skeet Reese of Auburn, Calif., and 37 points over seven-time AOY Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Mich. The Rumble — the sixth event of eight that determine the AOY — could shake up the points standings, or push Evers closer to glory.
Evers was tied for 26th place Thursday. Reese was in a three-way tie for ninth place. VanDam was in a three-way tie at 23rd.
The four-day event continues Friday with the full field of 99 pros still in the competition. They will launch at 6:20 a.m. at Veterans Freedom Park in La Crosse. The weigh-in, at the same location, will begin at 3:15 p.m.
The Bassmaster Elite Series Expo will open at noon Saturday and Sunday. The Expo features products of Elite Series sponsors, activities for kids, and much more. Fans can sign up for demo rides in Nitro, Skeeter and Triton bass rigs powered by Mercury and Yamaha engines.
All Bassmaster events are free.
2013 Mississippi River Rumble
6/20-6/23
Mississippi River, La Crosse WI.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts
1. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 5 18-04 99
Day 1: 5 18-04
2. Kevin Hawk Guntersville, AL 5 16-00 98
Day 1: 5 16-00
3. John Crews Salem, VA 5 15-07 97
Day 1: 5 15-07
4. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 5 14-11 96
Day 1: 5 14-11
5. Brandon Card Caryville, TN 5 14-09 95
Day 1: 5 14-09
6. Todd Faircloth Jasper, TX 5 14-05 94
Day 1: 5 14-05
6. Bobby Lane Lakeland, FL 5 14-05 94
Day 1: 5 14-05
6. Casey Scanlon Lenexa, KS 5 14-05 94
Day 1: 5 14-05
9. Aaron Martens Leeds, AL 5 14-04 91
Day 1: 5 14-04
9. Skeet Reese Auburn, CA 5 14-04 91
Day 1: 5 14-04
9. Fred Roumbanis Bixby, OK 5 14-04 91
Day 1: 5 14-04
12. Takahiro Omori Emory, TX 5 14-03 88
Day 1: 5 14-03
13. Paul Elias Laurel, MS 5 14-01 87
Day 1: 5 14-01
14. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, OK 5 14-00 86
Day 1: 5 14-00
14. Matt Herren Trussville, AL 5 14-00 86
Day 1: 5 14-00
16. Randy Howell Springville, AL 5 13-14 84
Day 1: 5 13-14
17. Cliff Crochet Pierre Part, LA 5 13-12 83
Day 1: 5 13-12
17. J Todd Tucker Moultrie, GA 5 13-12 83
Day 1: 5 13-12
19. Ott DeFoe Knoxville, TN 5 13-10 81
Day 1: 5 13-10
20. Michael Simonton Fremont, OH 5 13-09 80
Day 1: 5 13-09
21. Chris Lane Guntersville, AL 5 13-07 79
Day 1: 5 13-07
21. Marty Robinson Lyman, SC 5 13-07 79
Day 1: 5 13-07
23. Billy McCaghren Mayflower, AR 5 13-06 77
Day 1: 5 13-06
23. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 5 13-06 77
Day 1: 5 13-06
23. Greg Vinson Wetumpka, AL 5 13-06 77
Day 1: 5 13-06
26. Edwin Evers Talala, OK 5 13-05 74
Day 1: 5 13-05
26. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, TX 5 13-05 74
Day 1: 5 13-05
28. Bradley Roy Lancaster, KY 5 13-04 72
Day 1: 5 13-04
29. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 5 13-03 71
Day 1: 5 13-03
30. Josh Bertrand Gilbert, AZ 5 13-01 70
Day 1: 5 13-01
31. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 5 12-15 69
Day 1: 5 12-15
31. Alton Jones Lorena, TX 5 12-15 69
Day 1: 5 12-15
33. Dean Rojas Lake Havasu City, AZ 5 12-14 67
Day 1: 5 12-14
34. Shaw E Grigsby Jr. Gainesville, FL 5 12-13 66
Day 1: 5 12-13
35. Grant Goldbeck Boerne, TX 5 12-12 65
Day 1: 5 12-12
36. Jamie Horton Centerville, AL 5 12-10 64
Day 1: 5 12-10
37. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 5 12-09 63
Day 1: 5 12-09
37. James Niggemeyer Van, TX 5 12-09 63
Day 1: 5 12-09
39. James Elam Tulsa, OK 5 12-08 61
Day 1: 5 12-08
39. David Walker Sevierville, TN 5 12-08 61
Day 1: 5 12-08
41. Jason Christie Park Hill, OK 5 12-07 59
Day 1: 5 12-07
41. Matt Greenblatt Port St Lucie, FL 5 12-07 59
Day 1: 5 12-07
41. Cliff Pace Petal, MS 5 12-07 59
Day 1: 5 12-07
44. Casey D Ashley Donalds, SC 5 12-06 56
Day 1: 5 12-06
45. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, NJ 5 12-05 55
Day 1: 5 12-05
46. Davy Hite Ninety Six, SC 5 12-04 54
Day 1: 5 12-04
46. Kevin Short Mayflower, AR 5 12-04 54
Day 1: 5 12-04
46. Dennis Tietje Roanoke, LA 5 12-04 54
Day 1: 5 12-04
46. Nate Wellman Newaygo, MI 5 12-04 54
Day 1: 5 12-04
50. Ish Monroe Hughson, CA 5 12-02 50
Day 1: 5 12-02
50. Rick Morris Lake Gaston, VA 5 12-02 50
Day 1: 5 12-02
52. Timmy Horton Muscle Shoals, AL 5 12-01 48
Day 1: 5 12-01
52. Jason Quinn Rock Hill, SC 5 12-01 48
Day 1: 5 12-01
54. Mark Davis Mount Ida, AR 5 12-00 46
Day 1: 5 12-00
54. Jeremy Starks Scott Depot, WV 5 12-00 46
Day 1: 5 12-00
56. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 5 11-14 44
Day 1: 5 11-14
56. John Murray Phoenix, AZ 5 11-14 44
Day 1: 5 11-14
56. Chris Zaldain San Jose, CA 5 11-14 44
Day 1: 5 11-14
59. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, KS 5 11-10 41
Day 1: 5 11-10
60. Boyd Duckett Demopolis, AL 5 11-08 40
Day 1: 5 11-08
60. Britt Myers Lake Wylie, SC 5 11-08 40
Day 1: 5 11-08
60. Keith Poche Pike Road, AL 5 11-08 40
Day 1: 5 11-08
63. David Smith Del City, OK 5 11-07 37
Day 1: 5 11-07
64. Pete Ponds Madison, MS 5 11-05 36
Day 1: 5 11-05
64. Fletcher Shryock New Philadelphia, OH 5 11-05 36
Day 1: 5 11-05
66. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, AR 4 11-05 34
Day 1: 4 11-05
67. Gary Klein Weatherford, TX 5 11-04 33
Day 1: 5 11-04
68. Chip Porche Bixby, OK 5 11-03 32
Day 1: 5 11-03
69. Jami Fralick Martin, SD 5 10-15 31
Day 1: 5 10-15
70. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 5 10-14 30
Day 1: 5 10-14
71. Scott Rook Little Rock, AR 5 10-12 29
Day 1: 5 10-12
72. Zell Rowland Montgomery, TX 5 10-09 28
Day 1: 5 10-09
73. Jonathon VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 5 10-08 27
Day 1: 5 10-08
74. Morizo Shimizu Osaka JAPAN 5 10-07 26
Day 1: 5 10-07
75. Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 5 10-04 25
Day 1: 5 10-04
76. Derek Remitz Grant, AL 5 10-03 24
Day 1: 5 10-03
76. Gerald Swindle Warrior, AL 5 10-03 24
Day 1: 5 10-03
78. Kelly Jordon Palestine, TX 5 10-02 22
Day 1: 5 10-02
79. Hank Cherry Maiden, NC 5 10-01 21
Day 1: 5 10-01
80. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, AR 5 09-15 20
Day 1: 5 09-15
81. Charlie Hartley Grove City, OH 5 09-14 19
Day 1: 5 09-14
82. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, MO 5 09-10 18
Day 1: 5 09-10
83. Chad Pipkens Holt, MI 5 09-08 17
Day 1: 5 09-08
84. Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, AL 5 09-07 16
Day 1: 5 09-07
85. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, OK 5 09-06 15
Day 1: 5 09-06
86. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 4 09-06 14
Day 1: 4 09-06
87. Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande, CA 4 09-00 13
Day 1: 4 09-00
88. Scott Ashmore Broken Arrow, OK 4 08-08 12
Day 1: 4 08-08
89. Jason Williamson Aiken, SC 3 08-08 11
Day 1: 3 08-08
90. Kenyon Hill Norman, OK 4 08-00 10
Day 1: 4 08-00
90. Andy Montgomery Blacksburg, SC 4 08-00 10
Day 1: 4 08-00
92. Jared Miller Norman, OK 4 07-13 8
Day 1: 4 07-13
93. BJ Haseotes Centerville, MA 3 07-07 7
Day 1: 3 07-07
94. Kevin Ledoux Choctaw, OK 3 07-05 6
Day 1: 3 07-05
95. Russ Lane Prattville, AL 3 06-07 5
Day 1: 3 06-07
96. Kelley Jaye Dadeville, AL 3 05-12 4
Day 1: 3 05-12
97. Kurt Dove Del Rio, TX 3 05-08 3
Day 1: 3 05-08
98. Matt Reed Madisonville, TX 3 04-12 2
Day 1: 3 04-12
99. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, FL 2 04-10 1
Day 1: 2 04-10
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 84 471 1156-03
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84 471 1156-03