Palaniuk Pops 19-07 To Grab Early Lead At Lay

By B.A.S.S. Communications Staff

SHELBY COUNTY, Ala. – Benefitting from a quick start, Brandon Palaniuk claimed the Day-1 lead Thursday in the Bassmaster Elite Series event at Lay Lake with a 19-pound, 7-ounce limit of largemouth.

Palaniuk has no idea if he can come close to repeating that performance. But for now, the Rathdrum, Idaho, resident holds an 11-ounce lead over South Carolina’s Bryan New and a 2-pound lead over North Carolina’s Matt Arey.

“I knew today was super important with what I had and what I found,” he said. “Literally, I was hoping to catch enough today to carry me through a good event. I have no idea what is going to happen tomorrow. I have a brushpile I think I can catch 6 pounds of spotted bass out of. That might be my starting spot.

“I have spent four days on this place and still don’t feel like I have a clue.”

The two-time Bassmaster Angler of the Year also claimed the award for big bass of the day with a 5-14 lunker largemouth he caught sight-fishing. Palaniuk said that bass weighed at least a pound more when he noticed it in practice on Wednesday.

“She dumped her eggs from yesterday to today. Yesterday she was super wide,” he said.

When he went back this morning, Palaniuk noticed it 40 feet away from the bed.

“It bit on the second cast. I pulled up and could barely see the bed, and I thought I saw a fish swim off. I couldn’t tell if it came back so I pitched up there and didn’t see anything move,” Palaniuk explained. “I reeled it back in and I looked 90 degrees to my right, and 40 feet from the bed, I just see these two bass swimming. It was that pair, the little male and that giant female, and they were heading back to the bed.”

Palaniuk pitched his dropshot, rigged with an X Zone Lures Deception Worm, back in and held his bait steady until he saw the female reach the bed. With one shake, the bass ate and swam off.

That was part of a limit that the six-time B.A.S.S. winner achieved by 10 a.m. Along with the Deception Worm in green pumpkin/blue, he caught bass on a frog and an Adrenaline Craw from X Zone.

Following a weather system that moved through parts of the state on Wednesday morning, cloud cover lingered over Lay Lake all morning and into the afternoon hours. That made for tough fishing conditions for much of the field, with several anglers commenting on Bassmaster LIVE that it was, by far, their toughest morning this week.

The water also dropped throughout practice. But on Thursday, it rose a couple of inches and Palaniuk remarked on LIVE that may have caused some bass to move into the area. Even still, he has seen very few bass on bed like the one he caught on Day 1.

He believes the bass are on the tail end of their spawning cycle.

“I don’t know if there are more coming. I highly doubt it,” Palaniuk said. “I don’t even have a 3-pounder I can run to tomorrow and be like, ‘I saved that one.’ Maybe a 2-pounder.”

Lay Lake was where New officially clinched his Elite Series berth back in 2020 with a 22nd-place showing at a Bassmaster Eastern Open. This week, he finds himself in contention again in second place with 18-12.

His biggest bass Thursday weighed 5 pounds.

“I don’t know how tomorrow is going to go, but it was a really good day today,” New said. “A good start. I kind of jive with Lay Lake. I kind of went fishing. I didn’t expect a ton. Practice was garbage. I had a few hints and it went well.”

Running a couple of different areas in the morning, New achieved a limit with a kicker bass in the first two hours using a couple of different baits. In the afternoon, he made two key upgrades, a 3-06 and a 4-01 that were logged on BassTrakk just before 2 p.m.

“I think I found something that’s obviously pretty special,” New said about his afternoon pattern.

Arey rotated through several baits to catch his limit of 17-06. He caught three of the biggest bass he had seen all week, including two largemouth, one weighing 4-11 and one almost 4 pounds. He also caught a 3-pound spotted bass.

“I caught one off a bed, I caught one flipping, I caught one swimming a jig and I caught two casting a worm. I am really dialed in as you can tell,” Arey said, laughing. “I was fortunate today to get two really big largemouth bites. I’ve got a little deal where I can get a lot of bites, but I only think it is good for 6- to 8-pound limits. I’ve gotta mix in some big-bait power fishing to get a big largemouth.”

With the time of year, Arey said he isn’t surprised the bass are as spread out as they are. He has seen a little bit of everything this week and he says there are bites right now that will mislead anglers. That’s why he’s been switching techniques and areas often.

“The water fluctuation this week is what helps or hurts it,” Arey said. “This system is sensitive to rising and falling water. The water looks like it has come up some now. It had been falling throughout practice, which made the shallow largemouth bite fickle. Hopefully, they don’t drop the bottom out of it and it continues to improve.”

The full field will launch from Beeswax Creek Park beginning at 6:30 a.m. CT on Friday morning and return for weigh-in at 3 p.m. The field will be cut to the Top 50 anglers following the Day 2 weigh-in before the Top 10 compete on Sunday for the $100,000 first-place prize.

Day 1 Standings

1. Brandon Palaniuk -- Rathdrum, ID -- 5, 19-07 -- 104
Day 1: 5, 19-07

2. Bryan New -- Saluda, SC -- 5, 18-12 -- 103
Day 1: 5, 18-12

3. Matt Arey -- Shelby, NC -- 5, 17-06 -- 102
Day 1: 5, 17-06

4. Jason Christie -- Dry Creek, OK -- 5, 16-05 -- 101
Day 1: 5, 16-05

5. Bernie Schultz -- Gainesville, FL -- 5, 16-04 -- 100
Day 1: 5, 16-04

6. Gary Clouse -- Winchester, TN -- 5, 16-02 -- 99
Day 1: 5, 16-02

7. Will Davis Jr -- Sylacauga, AL -- 5, 15-14 -- 98
Day 1: 5, 15-14

8. Justin Atkins -- Florence, AL -- 5, 14-14 -- 97
Day 1: 5, 14-14

9. Patrick Walters -- Summerville, SC -- 5, 14-04 -- 96
Day 1: 5, 14-04

10. Koby Kreiger -- Alva, FL -- 5, 14-00 -- 95
Day 1: 5, 14-00

11. Matt Herren -- Ashville, AL -- 5, 13-15 -- 94
Day 1: 5, 13-15

12. Jamie Hartman -- Newport, NY -- 5, 13-12 -- 93
Day 1: 5, 13-12

13. Stetson Blaylock -- Benton, AR -- 5, 13-11 -- 92
Day 1: 5, 13-11

14. Seth Feider -- New Market, MN -- 5, 13-08 -- 91
Day 1: 5, 13-08

15. John Cox -- DeBary, FL -- 5, 13-05 -- 90
Day 1: 5, 13-05

15. Hunter Shryock -- Ooltewah, TN -- 5, 13-05 -- 90
Day 1: 5, 13-05

17. Jay Przekurat -- Stevens Point, WI -- 5, 13-05 -- 88
Day 1: 5, 13-05

18. Joey Cifuentes III -- Clinton, AR -- 5, 13-04 -- 87
Day 1: 5, 13-04

18. Bob Downey -- Detroit Lakes, MN -- 5, 13-04 -- 87
Day 1: 5, 13-04

20. Steve Kennedy -- Auburn, AL -- 5, 13-04 -- 85
Day 1: 5, 13-04

21. Taku Ito -- Chiba JAPAN -- 5, 13-03 -- 84
Day 1: 5, 13-03

22. Jacob Powroznik -- North Prince George, VA -- 5, 13-02 -- 83
Day 1: 5, 13-02

23. Brandon Cobb -- Greenwood, SC -- 5, 13-01 -- 82
Day 1: 5, 13-01

23. Chad Pipkens -- DeWitt, MI -- 5, 13-01 -- 82
Day 1: 5, 13-01

25. Logan Latuso -- Gonzales, LA -- 5, 12-14 -- 80
Day 1: 5, 12-14

26. Jeff Gustafson -- Kenora, ON -- 5, 12-13 -- 79
Day 1: 5, 12-13

27. Brandon Card -- Salisbury, NC -- 5, 12-08 -- 78
Day 1: 5, 12-08

27. Carl Jocumsen -- Queensland, AUS -- 5, 12-08 -- 78
Day 1: 5, 12-08

29. Justin Hamner -- Northport, AL -- 5, 12-07 -- 76
Day 1: 5, 12-07

29. Bryant Smith -- Roseville, CA -- 5, 12-07 -- 76
Day 1: 5, 12-07

31. David Gaston -- Sylacauga, AL -- 5, 12-06 -- 74
Day 1: 5, 12-06

31. Skylar Hamilton -- Jefferson, TN -- 5, 12-06 -- 74
Day 1: 5, 12-06

31. Shane LeHew -- Catawba, NC -- 5, 12-06 -- 74
Day 1: 5, 12-06

34. Josh Douglas -- Isle, MN -- 5, 12-02 -- 71
Day 1: 5, 12-02

35. Caleb Kuphall -- Mukwonago, WI -- 5, 12-00 -- 70
Day 1: 5, 12-00

35. Paul Mueller -- Naugatuck, CT -- 5, 12-00 -- 70
Day 1: 5, 12-00

37. Michael Iaconelli -- Pittsgrove, NJ -- 5, 11-15 -- 68
Day 1: 5, 11-15

37. Bryan Schmitt -- Deale, MD -- 5, 11-15 -- 68
Day 1: 5, 11-15

39. Darold Gleason -- Many, LA -- 5, 11-14 -- 66
Day 1: 5, 11-14

39. David Mullins -- Mt Carmel, TN -- 5, 11-14 -- 66
Day 1: 5, 11-14

41. Cory Johnston -- Cavan, ON -- 5, 11-13 -- 64
Day 1: 5, 11-13

41. David Williams -- Newton, NC -- 5, 11-13 -- 64
Day 1: 5, 11-13

43. Scott Canterbury -- Odenville, AL -- 5, 11-12 -- 62
Day 1: 5, 11-12

43. Brad Whatley -- Bivins, TX -- 5, 11-12 -- 62
Day 1: 5, 11-12

45. John Soukup -- Sapulpa, OK -- 5, 11-10 -- 60
Day 1: 5, 11-10

45. Kyle Welcher -- Opelika, AL -- 5, 11-10 -- 60
Day 1: 5, 11-10

47. Cole Sands -- Calhoun, TN -- 5, 11-10 -- 58
Day 1: 5, 11-10

48. Marc Frazier -- Newnan, GA -- 5, 11-09 -- 57
Day 1: 5, 11-09

49. Tyler Rivet -- Raceland, LA -- 5, 11-08 -- 56
Day 1: 5, 11-08

50. Clifford Pirch -- Payson, AZ -- 5, 11-06 -- 55
Day 1: 5, 11-06

51. Alex Redwine -- Blue Ash, OH -- 5, 11-05 -- 54
Day 1: 5, 11-05

52. Derek Hudnall -- Zachary, LA -- 5, 11-02 -- 53
Day 1: 5, 11-02

53. Frank Talley -- Temple, TX -- 5, 11-01 -- 52
Day 1: 5, 11-01

54. Greg Hackney -- Gonzales, LA -- 5, 11-00 -- 51
Day 1: 5, 11-00

55. Joseph Webster -- Hamilton, AL -- 5, 10-14 -- 50
Day 1: 5, 10-14

56. Caleb Sumrall -- New Iberia, LA -- 5, 10-11 -- 49
Day 1: 5, 10-11

57. Clark Wendlandt -- Leander, TX -- 5, 10-10 -- 48
Day 1: 5, 10-10

58. Kyoya Fujita -- Minamitsuru, JAPAN -- 5, 10-09 -- 47
Day 1: 5, 10-09

58. Chris Johnston -- Otonabee, ON -- 5, 10-09 -- 47
Day 1: 5, 10-09

58. Scott Martin -- Clewiston, FL -- 5, 10-09 -- 47
Day 1: 5, 10-09

61. Ed Loughran III -- Richmond, VA -- 5, 10-08 -- 44
Day 1: 5, 10-08

62. Kenta Kimura -- Osaka, JAPAN -- 5, 10-06 -- 43
Day 1: 5, 10-06

62. KJ Queen -- Conover, NC -- 5, 10-06 -- 43
Day 1: 5, 10-06

64. Pat Schlapper -- Eleva, WI -- 5, 10-05 -- 41
Day 1: 5, 10-05

65. Hank Cherry Jr -- Lincolnton, NC -- 5, 10-04 -- 40
Day 1: 5, 10-04

66. Keith Combs -- Huntington, TX -- 5, 10-03 -- 39
Day 1: 5, 10-03

67. Gerald Swindle -- Guntersville, AL -- 5, 09-13 -- 38
Day 1: 5, 09-13

68. Kyle Norsetter -- Cottage Grove, WI -- 5, 09-11 -- 37
Day 1: 5, 09-11

69. Masayuki Matsushita -- Tokoname-Aichi, JAPAN -- 5, 09-08 -- 36
Day 1: 5, 09-08

69. Mark Menendez -- Paducah, KY -- 5, 09-08 -- 36
Day 1: 5, 09-08

71. Cooper Gallant -- Bowmanville, ON -- 5, 09-08 -- 34
Day 1: 5, 09-08

72. John Crews Jr -- Salem, VA -- 5, 09-07 -- 33
Day 1: 5, 09-07

73. Matty Wong -- Honolulu, HI -- 5, 09-06 -- 32
Day 1: 5, 09-06

74. Jacob Foutz -- Charleston, TN -- 5, 09-02 -- 31
Day 1: 5, 09-02

74. Ray Hanselman Jr -- Del Rio, TX -- 5, 09-02 -- 31
Day 1: 5, 09-02

74. Lee Livesay -- Longview, TX -- 5, 09-02 -- 31
Day 1: 5, 09-02

77. Cody Huff -- Ava, MO -- 5, 09-01 -- 28
Day 1: 5, 09-01

78. Luke Palmer -- Coalgate, OK -- 5, 09-00 -- 27
Day 1: 5, 09-00

79. Buddy Gross -- Chattanooga, TN -- 3, 08-15 -- 26
Day 1: 3, 08-15

80. Jonathan Kelley -- Old Forge, PA -- 5, 08-14 -- 25
Day 1: 5, 08-14

80. Cliff Prince -- Palatka, FL -- 5, 08-14 -- 25
Day 1: 5, 08-14

82. Brock Mosley -- Collinsville, MS -- 5, 08-12 -- 23
Day 1: 5, 08-12

83. Drew Cook -- Cairo, GA -- 5, 08-11 -- 22
Day 1: 5, 08-11

84. Alex Wetherell -- Middletown, CT -- 5, 08-05 -- 21
Day 1: 5, 08-05

85. Austin Felix -- Eden Prairie, MN -- 5, 08-05 -- 20
Day 1: 5, 08-05

86. Chris Zaldain -- Fort Worth, TX -- 5, 08-02 -- 19
Day 1: 5, 08-02

87. Jake Whitaker -- Hendersonville, NC -- 5, 07-13 -- 18
Day 1: 5, 07-13

88. Mike Huff -- London, KY -- 5, 07-12 -- 17
Day 1: 5, 07-12

89. Gregory DiPalma -- Millville, NJ -- 5, 07-10 -- 16
Day 1: 5, 07-10

90. Todd Auten -- Lake Wylie, SC -- 5, 07-09 -- 15
Day 1: 5, 07-09

91. Clent Davis -- Montevallo, AL -- 4, 07-03 -- 14
Day 1: 4, 07-03

92. Jason Williamson -- Aiken, SC -- 4, 07-01 -- 13
Day 1: 4, 07-01

93. Drew Benton -- Panama City, FL -- 5, 06-12 -- 12
Day 1: 5, 06-12

94. Matt Robertson -- Kuttawa, KY -- 5, 06-11 -- 11
Day 1: 5, 06-11

95. Joshua Stracner -- Vandiver, AL -- 3, 06-11 -- 10
Day 1: 3, 06-11

96. Rick Clunn -- Ava, MO -- 3, 06-09 -- 9
Day 1: 3, 06-09

97. Bill Lowen -- Brookville, IN -- 5, 05-12 -- 8
Day 1: 5, 05-12

98. Keith Poche -- Pike Road, AL -- 4, 05-12 -- 7
Day 1: 4, 05-12

99. Wes Logan -- Springville, AL -- 4, 05-10 -- 6
Day 1: 4, 05-10

100. Brandon Lester -- Fayetteville, TN -- 3, 05-07 -- 5
Day 1: 3, 05-07

101. Larry Nixon -- Bee Branch, AR -- 3, 04-03 -- 4
Day 1: 3, 04-03

102. Micah Frazier -- Newnan, GA -- 2, 04-02 -- 3
Day 1: 2, 04-02

103. Bradley Hallman -- Edmond, OK -- 2, 03-01 -- 2
Day 1: 2, 03-01

104. David Fritts -- Lexington, NC -- 2, 02-03 -- 1
Day 1: 2, 02-03