By John Johnson
BassFan Senior Editor
Carl Jocumsen and Brandon Palaniuk are related by marriage – Jocumsen's wife Kayla is Palaniuk's cousin. They're now also linked at the top of the standings sheet after day 1 of the Santee Cooper Lakes Bassmaster Elite Series in South Carolina.
Jocumsen, the native of Australia who won last year's regular-season finale at Lake Tenkiller, caught a 7-pounder and a pair of 6s on his way to a 25-08 stringer that led the 85-angler field after opening day. Palaniuk, who won earlier this year at Lake Champlain, is 2nd with 21-01 – a bag that was actually 2 pounds heavier than that but was reduced due to a self-reported penalty for fishing with six fish in his livewell. Palaniuk's haul included a 7-09 bruiser that took big-fish honors for the day.
"I had a good first day (of practice), so I knew there was potential," Jocumsen said. "I added one more little deal from that day and I had a pretty much a perfect tournament day. I caught some fish early and that allowed me to relax and slow down, and after I had a good bag I was able to find more areas and delete some I was thinking about fishing."
Austin Felix was the other competitor to top the 20-pound mark – his 20-09 effort landed him in 3rd. Frank Talley, the winner last week at Lake Gutersville, is 4th with 19-08 and David Mullins completes the Top 5 with 18-06.
The lower half of the Top 10 is comprised of Steve Kennedy with 18-01, Brett Preuett with 17-10, Cory Johnston with 17-07, Hunter Shryock with 17-03 and Buddy Gross with 16-12.
Weights through the field aren't nearly as compacted as they were at Guntersville as Jocumsen is nearly 9 pounds ahead of Gross. The four anglers tied for the final Top-40 cut position (Stetson Blaylock, Clifford Pirch, Rick Morris and Chris Zaldain each caught 12-10 – slightly less than half of Jocumsen's mark.
Angler of the Year points leader Clark Wendlandt is 29th with 13-08. His closest pursuer, Japanese rookie Takumi Ito, is 14th with 15-09.
The WeatherChannel.com forecast for day 2 predicts less sun (but no rain) than the field encountered on day 1. Winds will come from the east at 5 to 10 mph.
Jocumsen had polished off his massive bag by 11 o'clock. He totaled eight keepers for the day and got his hands on every fish that bit.
"I just fished two areas," he said. "I've got one spot that's a schooling area and I caught three there in the morning. If that'll hold up and I can catch two or three there every day, that'll be huge.
"After that I'm flipping super-heavy cover and trying to fish areas that aren't being fished. That's how I got my two biggest bites."
He went back into practice mode late in the day and found two additional places that hold promise.
"The biggest problem here is running out of areas. Hopefully I can put some fish in the boat reasonably early tomorrow and I can continue to explore. If it takes all day to catch a limit, I won't get to look for anything new."
Unlike his cousin-in-law, Palaniuk didn't have a good practice.
"I just happened to get fortunate and got some big bites today," he said. "I had the 7 1/2 and one that was pushing 6, and then another one about 4. They were kind of spread out – I'd catch two pretty quick, then I'd go a couple hours without a bite. I caught them doing multiple (techniques).
"Bites like those are what you need to separate yourself here – there's always the chance for anybody to catch a big bag because big ones live here. Without them, I could've had 10 or 11 pounds."
Felix handled about 15 keepers and weighed in a 6 1/2-pounder, a 4 and a trio of 3s. One came from deep water and the other four were shallow.
"Being the fall, I knew bites were going to be at a premium and in practice I shook just about everything off and didn't hook much," he said. "I just assumed that if I could get 10 to 15 bites, I'd have one or two good ones.
He caught his biggest fish at 1 o'clock – it replaced a 2 1/4-pounder in his livewell. He spent the remainder of the day examining new areas.
"I think I can catch a limit tomorrow, but I don't know how big it'll be."
Notable
> Day 1 stats – 85 anglers, 60 limits, 4 fours, 7 threes, 6 twos, 2 ones, 6 zeroes.
Weather Forecast
> Fri., Oct. 9 – Mostly Cloudy - 81°/67°
- Wind: From the E at 6 mph
> Sat., Oct. 10 – A.M. Showers - 78°/68°
- Wind: From the SE at 8 mph
> Sun., Oct. 11 – Scattered T-Storms - 79°/69°
- Wind: From the SE at 9 mph
Day 1 Standings
1. Carl Jocumsen -- Queensland, AUS -- 5, 25-08 -- 100
Day 1: 5, 25-08
2. Brandon Palaniuk -- Rathdrum, ID -- 5, 21-01 -- 99
Day 1: 5, 21-01
3. Austin Felix -- Eden Prairie, MN -- 5, 20-09 -- 98
Day 1: 5, 20-09
4. Frank Talley -- Temple, TX -- 5, 19-08 -- 97
Day 1: 5, 19-08
5. David Mullins -- Mt Carmel, TN -- 5, 18-06 -- 96
Day 1: 5, 18-06
6. Steve Kennedy -- Auburn, AL -- 5, 18-01 -- 95
Day 1: 5, 18-01
7. Brett Preuett -- Monroe, LA -- 5, 17-10 -- 94
Day 1: 5, 17-10
8. Cory Johnston -- Cavan, ON -- 5, 17-07 -- 93
Day 1: 5, 17-07
9. Hunter Shryock -- Newcomerstown, OH -- 5, 17-03 -- 92
Day 1: 5, 17-03
10. Buddy Gross -- Chickamauga, GA -- 5, 16-12 -- 91
Day 1: 5, 16-12
11. Chad Morgenthaler -- Reeds Spring, MO -- 4, 16-02 -- 90
Day 1: 4, 16-02
12. Brandon Cobb -- Greenwood, SC -- 5, 15-12 -- 89
Day 1: 5, 15-12
13. Derek Hudnall -- Denham Springs, LA -- 5, 15-11 -- 88
Day 1: 5, 15-11
14. Taku Ito -- Chiba, JAPAN -- 5, 15-09 -- 87
Day 1: 5, 15-09
15. Randy Sullivan -- Breckenridge, TX -- 5, 15-07 -- 86
Day 1: 5, 15-07
16. Hank Cherry Jr -- Lincolnton, NC -- 5, 15-03 -- 85
Day 1: 5, 15-03
17. Bill Lowen -- Brookville, IN -- 5, 15-00 -- 84
Day 1: 5, 15-00
18. Skylar Hamilton -- Dandridge, TN -- 5, 14-10 -- 83
Day 1: 5, 14-10
19. Todd Auten -- Lake Wylie, SC -- 5, 14-08 -- 82
Day 1: 5, 14-08
20. Randy Pierson -- Oakdale, CA -- 5, 14-07 -- 81
Day 1: 5, 14-07
21. Brandon Card -- Salisbury, NC -- 3, 14-07 -- 80
Day 1: 3, 14-07
22. Patrick Walters -- Summerville, SC -- 5, 14-02 -- 79
Day 1: 5, 14-02
23. Jake Whitaker -- Fairview, NC -- 5, 14-01 -- 78
Day 1: 5, 14-01
24. Luke Palmer -- Coalgate, OK -- 5, 13-15 -- 77
Day 1: 5, 13-15
25. Drew Benton -- Blakely, GA -- 5, 13-11 -- 76
Day 1: 5, 13-11
25. Tyler Carriere -- Youngsville, LA -- 5, 13-11 -- 76
Day 1: 5, 13-11
25. Caleb Sumrall -- New Iberia, LA -- 5, 13-11 -- 76
Day 1: 5, 13-11
28. Kyle Welcher -- Opelika, AL -- 5, 13-11 -- 73
Day 1: 5, 13-11
29. Clark Wendlandt -- Leander, TX -- 5, 13-08 -- 72
Day 1: 5, 13-08
30. Rob Digh -- Denver, NC -- 3, 13-07 -- 71
Day 1: 3, 13-07
31. Jesse Tacoronte -- Kissimmee, FL -- 5, 13-03 -- 70
Day 1: 5, 13-03
32. Clent Davis -- Montevallo, AL -- 5, 13-02 -- 69
Day 1: 5, 13-02
33. Micah Frazier -- Newnan, GA -- 5, 12-15 -- 68
Day 1: 5, 12-15
34. Jeff Gustafson -- Keewatin, ON -- 4, 12-15 -- 67
Day 1: 4, 12-15
35. Shane Lineberger -- Lincolnton, NC -- 5, 12-13 -- 66
Day 1: 5, 12-13
36. Koby Kreiger -- Alva, FL -- 5, 12-11 -- 65
Day 1: 5, 12-11
37. Stetson Blaylock -- Benton, AR -- 5, 12-10 -- 64
Day 1: 5, 12-10
37. Rick Morris -- Lake Gaston, VA -- 5, 12-10 -- 64
Day 1: 5, 12-10
37. Clifford Pirch -- Payson, AZ -- 5, 12-10 -- 64
Day 1: 5, 12-10
40. Chris Zaldain -- Fort Worth, TX -- 3, 12-10 -- 61
Day 1: 3, 12-10
41. Bernie Schultz -- Gainesville, FL -- 5, 12-08 -- 60
Day 1: 5, 12-08
42. Gerald Swindle -- Guntersville, AL -- 5, 12-05 -- 59
Day 1: 5, 12-05
43. Scott Canterbury -- Odenville, AL -- 5, 12-01 -- 58
Day 1: 5, 12-01
43. Brad Whatley -- Bivins, TX -- 5, 12-01 -- 58
Day 1: 5, 12-01
45. Destin DeMarion -- Grove City, PA -- 5, 12-00 -- 56
Day 1: 5, 12-00
45. Shane LeHew -- Catawba, NC -- 5, 12-00 -- 56
Day 1: 5, 12-00
47. Brian Snowden -- Reeds Spring, MO -- 5, 11-12 -- 54
Day 1: 5, 11-12
48. Bob Downey -- Hudson, WI -- 5, 11-10 -- 53
Day 1: 5, 11-10
49. Brock Mosley -- Collinsville, MS -- 5, 11-09 -- 52
Day 1: 5, 11-09
50. Matt Arey -- Shelby, NC -- 5, 11-06 -- 51
Day 1: 5, 11-06
51. Drew Cook -- Cairo, GA -- 5, 11-05 -- 50
Day 1: 5, 11-05
52. Matt Herren -- Ashville, AL -- 5, 11-04 -- 49
Day 1: 5, 11-04
53. Greg DiPalma -- Millville, NJ -- 5, 11-01 -- 48
Day 1: 5, 11-01
54. Jason Williamson -- Wagener, SC -- 5, 10-14 -- 47
Day 1: 5, 10-14
55. Tyler Rivet -- Raceland, LA -- 5, 10-11 -- 46
Day 1: 5, 10-11
56. Brandon Lester -- Fayetteville, TN -- 5, 10-09 -- 45
Day 1: 5, 10-09
57. John Crews Jr -- Salem, VA -- 5, 10-06 -- 44
Day 1: 5, 10-06
58. Paul Mueller -- Naugatuck, CT -- 5, 10-00 -- 43
Day 1: 5, 10-00
59. Dale Hightower -- Mannford, OK -- 4, 10-00 -- 42
Day 1: 4, 10-00
60. Garrett Paquette -- Canton, MI -- 3, 09-15 -- 41
Day 1: 3, 09-15
61. Chad Pipkens -- Dewitt, MI -- 5, 09-11 -- 40
Day 1: 5, 09-11
62. John Cox -- Debary, FL -- 5, 09-09 -- 39
Day 1: 5, 09-09
63. Robbie Latuso -- Gonzales, LA -- 5, 09-08 -- 38
Day 1: 5, 09-08
64. Kyle Monti -- Okeechobee, FL -- 5, 09-07 -- 37
Day 1: 5, 09-07
65. Jamie Hartman -- Newport, NY -- 5, 09-05 -- 36
Day 1: 5, 09-05
66. Cliff Prince -- Palatka, FL -- 5, 09-01 -- 35
Day 1: 5, 09-01
67. Chris Groh -- Spring Grove, IL -- 3, 08-05 -- 34
Day 1: 3, 08-05
68. Mike Huff -- Corbin, KY -- 4, 07-13 -- 33
Day 1: 4, 07-13
69. Seth Feider -- New Market, MN -- 3, 06-05 -- 32
Day 1: 3, 06-05
70. Keith Combs -- Huntington, TX -- 2, 06-03 -- 31
Day 1: 2, 06-03
71. Bill Weidler -- Helena, AL -- 3, 06-01 -- 30
Day 1: 3, 06-01
72. Caleb Kuphall -- Mukwonago, WI -- 2, 05-08 -- 29
Day 1: 2, 05-08
73. Chris Johnston -- Peterborough, ON -- 3, 04-02 -- 28
Day 1: 3, 04-02
74. Harvey Horne -- Bella Vista, AR -- 2, 03-07 -- 27
Day 1: 2, 03-07
75. Jay Yelas -- Lincoln City, OR -- 2, 03-06 -- 26
Day 1: 2, 03-06
76. Rick Clunn -- Ava, MO -- 2, 03-00 -- 25
Day 1: 2, 03-00
77. Quentin Cappo -- Prairieville, LA -- 2, 02-12 -- 24
Day 1: 2, 02-12
78. Ed Loughran III -- Richmond, VA -- 1, 01-10 -- 23
Day 1: 1, 01-10
79. Bryan Schmitt -- Deale, MD -- 1, 01-09 -- 22
Day 1: 1, 01-09
80. Gary Clouse -- Winchester, TN -- 0, 00-00 -- 0
Day 1: 0, 00-00
80. David Fritts -- Lexington, NC -- 0, 00-00 -- 0
Day 1: 0, 00-00
80. Ray Hanselman Jr -- Del Rio, TX -- 0, 00-00 -- 0
Day 1: 0, 00-00
80. Cody Hollen -- Beaverton, OR -- 0, 00-00 -- 0
Day 1: 0, 00-00
80. Lee Livesay -- Longview, TX -- 0, 00-00 -- 0
Day 1: 0, 00-00
80. Wes Logan -- Springville, AL -- 0, 00-00 -- 0
Day 1: 0, 00-00
