Palaniuk On Top After Jocumsen's Tough Day

By John Johnson
BassFan Senior Editor

It's been a topsy-turvy season for Brandon Palaniuk in his return to the Bassmaster Elite Series after a year away fishing the Bass Pro Tour. Through the season's first five events, he posted two Top-10 finishes – including a victory at Lake Champlain – along with three bombs (67th, 61st and 59th).

It appears that he'll even up his record this week at the Santee Cooper Lakes in South Carolina and possibly log his second victory. Whatever the winning weight is destined to be, he's closer to it that anyone else at the halfway point.

The 2017 Angler of the Year from Idaho caught an 18-13 stringer on day 2 to supplant cousin-in-law Carl Jocumsen in the top slot. With a 39-14 total, he leads Jocumsen by 1-13 heading into the weekend.

Jocumsen, who boxed a tournament-best 25-08 on opening day, farmed some quality bites and managed less than half that number on day 2 as his 12-07 sack left him in 2nd with 37-15. Derek Hudnall gained 11 spots to 3rd with a 19-15 haul for a 35-10 total.

Jeff Gustafson weighed a day-best 22-08 bag that included a 9 1/2-pounder (easily the heaviest fish of the derby to this point) to make a 30-place jump to 4th with 35-06. Veteran Steve Kennedy completes the Top 5 with 34-05 (16-04 on day 2).

Austin Felix heads up the lower half of the Top 10 with 32-11 (12-02). He's followed by Luke Palmer with 32-10 (18-11), Hunter Shryock with 32-04 (15-01), Frank Talley with 32-00 (12-08) and AOY points leader Clark Wendlandt with 32-00 (18-08).

Wendlandt, the three-time FLW Tour AOY who's seeking his first B.A.S.S. points title, moved up 19 places on the day. With a solid day 3, he'll be in firm command of the race heading into the final two tournaments.

The field will experience a weather change on day 3 as stormy conditions begin to roll in. Saturday's forecast calls for morning showers, but Sunday's is much more ominous (thunderstorms, heavy at times). The predicted conditions are an offshoot of Hurricane Delta, which will cut a path a couple hundred miles to the west.

Palaniuk's sack was topped by a 6 1/4 pounder that he pulled about 30 feet from where he'd caught a similar fish on day 1. He lost one that he thought might've been about that size, but it was off before becoming visible.

He's throwing a jerkbait and a swimbait in addition to punching grass in the upper end of Lake Marion.

"I feel like I'm in an area that has the potential (to keep producing)," he said. "There were other guys there who also caught good bags today. It's a matter of being on the right rotation and having your timing right to get that big bite – those go a long way."

He's a little leery of the dark, wet weather that's predicted, but not overly concerned.

"It makes me a little nervous just because we haven't seen that this week. I don't know this place at all and I don't know how it reacts to something like that – every lake reacts differently.

"The good thing is I'm not married to any one thing; I feel I have the potential to catch 6-pound-plus fish multiple ways."

Jocumsen was disappointed to have a lot more company in his primary area than he had the previous day, but his biggest issue was fish not staying hooked up.

"I had the bites to have another good day," he said. "There's no excuse; I'm in the right areas and my game plan was almost identical to yesterday, but I didn't put the fish in the boat. Tomorrow, those bites might stick."

A big part of his program is punching vegetation – mostly hyacinths mixed with some duckweed.

"They bit a little funny today and the hooks came out. That's the difference between most people's day, whether they fish clean or not."

Hudnall is fishing a couple of out-of-the-way drains in the back of a swampy area and has no company whatsoever. It features an abundance of cypress trees in relatively clean water and he's soaking a wacky-rigged Missile Baits 48 (a soft stickbait).

He caught a 7 3/4-pounder on day 2 immediately after losing one that estimated as at least that big – both were sitting next to the same tree.

"I'm only getting six or seven bites a day, but typically when I do get one, it's the right one," he said. "I have to fish like every tree's got one on it."

Gustafson had a 5-pounder and a 4 to back up his monster. He caught it around noon while punching a Z-Man Palmetto Bug on a 1 1/4-ounce weight.

"I'm hunkering down in one creek that has a few other good bags coming out of it," he said. "I'm getting on a stretch that's about a mile long with trees and mats and flipping everything in front of me.

"I only had four fish yesterday and I lost a good one, which is hurting me now, but really my main goal here was a Top-40. It's tough fishing and it all could've easily gone bad, too."

Notable

> Day 2 stats – 85 anglers, 55 limits (5 fewer than day 1), 9 fours, 7 threes, 6 twos, 8 ones.

Weather Forecast

> Sat., Oct. 10 – A.M. Showers - 80°/70°
- Wind: From the SE at 10 to 15 mph

> Sun., Oct. 11 – Thunderstorms - 81°/69°
- Wind: From the SSE at 5 to 10 mph

Day 2 Standings

1. Brandon Palaniuk -- Rathdrum, ID -- 10, 39-14 -- 100
Day 1: 5, 21-01 -- Day 2: 5, 18-13

2. Carl Jocumsen -- Queensland, AUS -- 10, 37-15 -- 99
Day 1: 5, 25-08 -- Day 2: 5, 12-07

3. Derek Hudnall -- Denham Springs, LA -- 10, 35-10 -- 98
Day 1: 5, 15-11 -- Day 2: 5, 19-15

4. Jeff Gustafson -- Keewatin, ON -- 9, 35-06 -- 97
Day 1: 4, 12-15 -- Day 2: 5, 22-07

5. Steve Kennedy -- Auburn, AL -- 10, 34-05 -- 96
Day 1: 5, 18-01 -- Day 2: 5, 16-04

6. Austin Felix -- Eden Prairie, MN -- 10, 32-11 -- 95
Day 1: 5, 20-09 -- Day 2: 5, 12-02

7. Luke Palmer -- Coalgate, OK -- 10, 32-10 -- 94
Day 1: 5, 13-15 -- Day 2: 5, 18-11

8. Hunter Shryock -- Newcomerstown, OH -- 10, 32-04 -- 93
Day 1: 5, 17-03 -- Day 2: 5, 15-01

9. Frank Talley -- Temple, TX -- 10, 32-00 -- 92
Day 1: 5, 19-08 -- Day 2: 5, 12-08

10. Clark Wendlandt -- Leander, TX -- 10, 32-00 -- 91
Day 1: 5, 13-08 -- Day 2: 5, 18-08

11. Cory Johnston -- Cavan, ON -- 10, 31-13 -- 90
Day 1: 5, 17-07 -- Day 2: 5, 14-06

12. Caleb Sumrall -- New Iberia, LA -- 10, 30-06 -- 89
Day 1: 5, 13-11 -- Day 2: 5, 16-11

13. Bernie Schultz -- Gainesville, FL -- 10, 30-02 -- 88
Day 1: 5, 12-08 -- Day 2: 5, 17-10

14. David Mullins -- Mt Carmel, TN -- 10, 29-15 -- 87
Day 1: 5, 18-06 -- Day 2: 5, 11-09

15. Bill Lowen -- Brookville, IN -- 10, 29-03 -- 86
Day 1: 5, 15-00 -- Day 2: 5, 14-03

16. Brandon Card -- Salisbury, NC -- 8, 28-15 -- 85
Day 1: 3, 14-07 -- Day 2: 5, 14-08

17. Jake Whitaker -- Fairview, NC -- 10, 28-12 -- 84
Day 1: 5, 14-01 -- Day 2: 5, 14-11

18. Kyle Welcher -- Opelika, AL -- 10, 28-07 -- 83
Day 1: 5, 13-11 -- Day 2: 5, 14-12

19. Patrick Walters -- Summerville, SC -- 10, 28-04 -- 82
Day 1: 5, 14-02 -- Day 2: 5, 14-02

20. Tyler Rivet -- Raceland, LA -- 10, 28-03 -- 81
Day 1: 5, 10-11 -- Day 2: 5, 17-08

21. Destin DeMarion -- Grove City, PA -- 10, 27-15 -- 80
Day 1: 5, 12-00 -- Day 2: 5, 15-15

22. Matt Herren -- Ashville, AL -- 10, 27-12 -- 79
Day 1: 5, 11-04 -- Day 2: 5, 16-08

23. Randy Sullivan -- Breckenridge, TX -- 10, 27-10 -- 78
Day 1: 5, 15-07 -- Day 2: 5, 12-03

24. John Cox -- Debary, FL -- 10, 27-09 -- 77
Day 1: 5, 09-09 -- Day 2: 5, 18-00

25. Buddy Gross -- Chickamauga, GA -- 9, 27-05 -- 76
Day 1: 5, 16-12 -- Day 2: 4, 10-09

26. Brett Preuett -- Monroe, LA -- 10, 27-04 -- 75
Day 1: 5, 17-10 -- Day 2: 5, 09-10

27. Hank Cherry Jr -- Lincolnton, NC -- 10, 26-13 -- 74
Day 1: 5, 15-03 -- Day 2: 5, 11-10

28. Randy Pierson -- Oakdale, CA -- 10, 26-02 -- 73
Day 1: 5, 14-07 -- Day 2: 5, 11-11

29. Paul Mueller -- Naugatuck, CT -- 10, 26-01 -- 72
Day 1: 5, 10-00 -- Day 2: 5, 16-01

30. Chad Morgenthaler -- Reeds Spring, MO -- 9, 25-15 -- 71
Day 1: 4, 16-02 -- Day 2: 5, 09-13

31. Koby Kreiger -- Alva, FL -- 10, 25-15 -- 70
Day 1: 5, 12-11 -- Day 2: 5, 13-04

32. Drew Benton -- Blakely, GA -- 10, 25-08 -- 69
Day 1: 5, 13-11 -- Day 2: 5, 11-13

33. Brandon Lester -- Fayetteville, TN -- 10, 25-07 -- 68
Day 1: 5, 10-09 -- Day 2: 5, 14-14

34. John Crews Jr -- Salem, VA -- 9, 25-06 -- 67
Day 1: 5, 10-06 -- Day 2: 4, 15-00

35. Drew Cook -- Cairo, GA -- 10, 25-06 -- 66
Day 1: 5, 11-05 -- Day 2: 5, 14-01

36. Brad Whatley -- Bivins, TX -- 10, 24-15 -- 65
Day 1: 5, 12-01 -- Day 2: 5, 12-14

37. Clifford Pirch -- Payson, AZ -- 10, 24-12 -- 64
Day 1: 5, 12-10 -- Day 2: 5, 12-02

38. Mike Huff -- Corbin, KY -- 8, 24-05 -- 63
Day 1: 4, 07-13 -- Day 2: 4, 16-08

39. Clent Davis -- Montevallo, AL -- 10, 24-04 -- 62
Day 1: 5, 13-02 -- Day 2: 5, 11-02

40. Chris Zaldain -- Fort Worth, TX -- 7, 24-02 -- 61
Day 1: 3, 12-10 -- Day 2: 4, 11-08

The following anglers did not make the cut and will not fish on day 3.

41. Gerald Swindle -- Guntersville, AL -- 10, 23-12 -- 60 -- $7,500
Day 1: 5, 12-05 -- Day 2: 5, 11-07

42. Micah Frazier -- Newnan, GA -- 10, 22-15 -- 59 -- $7,500
Day 1: 5, 12-15 -- Day 2: 5, 10-00

43. Rick Morris -- Lake Gaston, VA -- 10, 22-12 -- 58 -- $7,500
Day 1: 5, 12-10 -- Day 2: 5, 10-02

44. Brock Mosley -- Collinsville, MS -- 9, 22-11 -- 57 -- $7,500
Day 1: 5, 11-09 -- Day 2: 4, 11-02

45. Seth Feider -- New Market, MN -- 8, 22-10 -- 56 -- $7,500
Day 1: 3, 06-05 -- Day 2: 5, 16-05

46. Shane LeHew -- Catawba, NC -- 9, 22-07 -- 55 -- $5,000
Day 1: 5, 12-00 -- Day 2: 4, 10-07

47. Jason Williamson -- Wagener, SC -- 10, 22-04 -- 54 -- $5,000
Day 1: 5, 10-14 -- Day 2: 5, 11-06

48. Todd Auten -- Lake Wylie, SC -- 9, 21-13 -- 53 -- $5,000
Day 1: 5, 14-08 -- Day 2: 4, 07-05

49. Matt Arey -- Shelby, NC -- 10, 21-05 -- 52 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 11-06 -- Day 2: 5, 09-15

50. Chris Groh -- Spring Grove, IL -- 8, 21-02 -- 51 -- $2,500
Day 1: 3, 08-05 -- Day 2: 5, 12-13

51. Bob Downey -- Hudson, WI -- 10, 21-00 -- 50 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 11-10 -- Day 2: 5, 09-06

52. Jamie Hartman -- Newport, NY -- 10, 20-09 -- 49 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 09-05 -- Day 2: 5, 11-04

53. Caleb Kuphall -- Mukwonago, WI -- 7, 20-07 -- 48 -- $2,500
Day 1: 2, 05-08 -- Day 2: 5, 14-15

54. Kyle Monti -- Okeechobee, FL -- 10, 20-07 -- 47 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 09-07 -- Day 2: 5, 11-00

55. Brandon Cobb -- Greenwood, SC -- 6, 19-15 -- 46 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 15-12 -- Day 2: 1, 04-03

56. Rob Digh -- Denver, NC -- 5, 19-10 -- 45 -- $2,500
Day 1: 3, 13-07 -- Day 2: 2, 06-03

57. Chris Johnston -- Peterborough, ON -- 8, 19-07 -- 44 -- $2,500
Day 1: 3, 04-02 -- Day 2: 5, 15-05

58. Jesse Tacoronte -- Kissimmee, FL -- 8, 18-09 -- 43 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 13-03 -- Day 2: 3, 05-06

59. Stetson Blaylock -- Benton, AR -- 8, 18-05 -- 42 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 12-10 -- Day 2: 3, 05-11

60. Keith Combs -- Huntington, TX -- 5, 18-02 -- 41 -- $2,500
Day 1: 2, 06-03 -- Day 2: 3, 11-15

61. Tyler Carriere -- Youngsville, LA -- 7, 17-14 -- 40 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 13-11 -- Day 2: 2, 04-03

62. Greg DiPalma -- Millville, NJ -- 7, 17-08 -- 39 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 11-01 -- Day 2: 2, 06-07

63. Shane Lineberger -- Lincolnton, NC -- 7, 17-04 -- 38 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 12-13 -- Day 2: 2, 04-07

64. Taku Ito -- Chiba, JAPAN -- 6, 17-03 -- 37 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 15-09 -- Day 2: 1, 01-10

65. Scott Canterbury -- Odenville, AL -- 7, 17-03 -- 36 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 12-01 -- Day 2: 2, 05-02

66. Skylar Hamilton -- Dandridge, TN -- 6, 16-11 -- 35 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 14-10 -- Day 2: 1, 02-01

67. Jay Yelas -- Lincoln City, OR -- 7, 15-10 -- 34 -- $2,500
Day 1: 2, 03-06 -- Day 2: 5, 12-04

68. Dale Hightower -- Mannford, OK -- 7, 15-09 -- 33 -- $2,500
Day 1: 4, 10-00 -- Day 2: 3, 05-09

69. Brian Snowden -- Reeds Spring, MO -- 6, 14-06 -- 32 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 11-12 -- Day 2: 1, 02-10

70. Robbie Latuso -- Gonzales, LA -- 8, 14-04 -- 31 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 09-08 -- Day 2: 3, 04-12

71. Harvey Horne -- Bella Vista, AR -- 7, 14-00 -- 30 -- $2,500
Day 1: 2, 03-07 -- Day 2: 5, 10-09

72. Garrett Paquette -- Canton, MI -- 5, 13-14 -- 29 -- $2,500
Day 1: 3, 09-15 -- Day 2: 2, 03-15

73. Chad Pipkens -- Dewitt, MI -- 6, 12-01 -- 28 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 09-11 -- Day 2: 1, 02-06

74. Ed Loughran III -- Richmond, VA -- 5, 11-05 -- 27 -- $2,500
Day 1: 1, 01-10 -- Day 2: 4, 09-11

75. Bill Weidler -- Helena, AL -- 6, 11-01 -- 26 -- $2,500
Day 1: 3, 06-01 -- Day 2: 3, 05-00

76. Cody Hollen -- Beaverton, OR -- 5, 11-00 -- 25 -- $2,500
Day 1: 0, 00-00 -- Day 2: 5, 11-00

77. Cliff Prince -- Palatka, FL -- 6, 10-15 -- 24 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 09-01 -- Day 2: 1, 01-14

78. Quentin Cappo -- Prairieville, LA -- 6, 10-11 -- 23 -- $2,500
Day 1: 2, 02-12 -- Day 2: 4, 07-15

79. Ray Hanselman Jr -- Del Rio, TX -- 5, 09-08 -- 22 -- $2,500
Day 1: 0, 00-00 -- Day 2: 5, 09-08

80. Lee Livesay -- Longview, TX -- 5, 08-12 -- 21 -- $2,500
Day 1: 0, 00-00 -- Day 2: 5, 08-12

81. Wes Logan -- Springville, AL -- 5, 08-06 -- 20 -- $2,500
Day 1: 0, 00-00 -- Day 2: 5, 08-06

82. Rick Clunn -- Ava, MO -- 4, 07-06 -- 19 -- $2,500
Day 1: 2, 03-00 -- Day 2: 2, 04-06

83. David Fritts -- Lexington, NC -- 3, 05-06 -- 18 -- $2,500
Day 1: 0, 00-00 -- Day 2: 3, 05-06

84. Bryan Schmitt -- Deale, MD -- 2, 03-07 -- 17 -- $2,500
Day 1: 1, 01-09 -- Day 2: 1, 01-14

85. Gary Clouse -- Winchester, TN -- 1, 03-06 -- 16 -- $2,500
Day 1: 0, 00-00 -- Day 2: 1, 03-06