By John Johnson
BassFan Senior Editor
Cousins-in-law Carl Jocumsen and Brandon Palaniuk alternated days sitting at the top of the leaderboard throughout the Santee Cooper Bassmaster Elite Series in South Carolina. Palaniuk's second turn came on the only day that it really mattered.
The 2017 B.A.S.S. Angler of the Year from Idaho claimed his fifth Elite Series victory and second of 2020 with a 22-11 stringer on day 4 for a 72-02 total. His winning margin over Jocumsen, who's married to Palaniuk's cousin, Kayla, was 8 pounds.
Palaniuk, who also won at Lake Champlain in early August, is now in a 2nd-place tie with Skeet Reese for the most regular-season Elite Series victories since the tour's inception in 2006. Kevin VanDam is the runaway leader in that department with 10.
"I've been so close to winning two in a year before and it didn't happen, so this one is special," he said. "I've been (labeled) an offshore guy and to junk-fish my way to this one up shallow feels good."
Jocumsen, who weighed only four fish for the second straight day, finished 2nd with 64-02 (13-08 on day 4). Angler of the Year contender Cory Johnston was 3rd with 61-09 (14-09), followed by Rookie of the Year leader Austin Felix with 60-14 (11-01) and 66-year-old veteran Bernie Schultz with 60-05 (12-06).
Palaniuk's call about where to begin fishing on day 4 was spot-on.
The Top 10 was rounded out by Bill Lowen with 58-07 (15-10), Destin DeMarion with 57-06 (11-08), David Mullins with 56-01 (9-05), Jeff Gustafson with 53-12 (8-08) and Derek Hudnall with 50-06 (5-09).
Clark Wendlandt now has a 37-point lead over 2nd-place Johnston in the AOY points standings. Mullins is 3rd, another 6 points back as the tour now moves to Lake Chickamauga in Tennessee for the conclusion of a three-week stretch of events. The tournament will take place Friday through Monday.
Palaniuk made his winning move first thing in the morning when he opted to start his day at a place that gave him just a lone 1 1/2-pounder when he began day 1 there. He arrived to find the water much dirtier than it had been earlier in the event due to the powerful winds on day 3 and decided to throw a vibrating jig, which produced a 4-pounder and another fish over 3.
Seeing a big fish blow up on the surface, he idled toward it and used his Humminbird Mega 360 unit to discover a brush pile that appeared to have two big ones sitting on it. He left momentarily and then returned, trying several baits that all came back covered in slime.
He tied up a dropshot for the first time all week.
Runner-up Carl Jocumsen weighed only four fish for the second straight day.
"On my second cast, the line started swimming off and when I set the hook the fish got hung up in the brush," he said. "I thought it was a catfish."
It turned out to be a 7 3/4-pound largemouth – easily the biggest fish caught on day 4. He completed his limit with a couple of 3 1/2-pounders in the afternoon.
It turned out that a 2-pound penalty he'd incurred on day 1 for fishing with six fish in his livewell didn't cost him. It was the third such occurrence during his 10-year pro career.
"It happens because I get caught up in the moment, but it bothers me because that's something I can control. In that moment, I thought it might cost me the event."
Details of his winning pattern, as well as those of the other top finishers, will be published this week.
After a 15th at Lake Guntersville last week, Jocumsen posted his second straight strong finish to move into contention for his initial Classic qualification (he's 44th on the points list and the Top 40 get in). He caught a tournament best 25-08 on day 1, but his other three bags were all roughly half that weight.
"I just feel so proud of how I've grown as an angler," he said. "After 10 years over here now and the 20 before that in Australia, it's all coming together.
"To have Brandon and (Gustafson), two of my best friends, in the Top 10 meant the world to me. I'm proud to be a representative of Bassmaster and I'm grateful no matter what."
Final Standings
1. Brandon Palaniuk -- Rathdrum, ID -- 20, 72-02 -- 100 $102,000
Day 1: 5, 21-01 -- Day 2: 5, 18-13 -- Day 3: 5, 09-09 -- Day 4: 5, 22-11
2. Carl Jocumsen -- Queensland, AUS -- 18, 64-02 -- 99 -- $25,000
Day 1: 5, 25-08 -- Day 2: 5, 12-07 -- Day 3: 4, 12-11 -- Day 4: 4, 13-08
3. Cory Johnston -- Cavan, ON -- 20, 61-09 -- 98 -- $20,000
Day 1: 5, 17-07 -- Day 2: 5, 14-06 -- Day 3: 5, 15-03 -- Day 4: 5, 14-09
4. Austin Felix -- Eden Prairie, MN -- 20, 60-14 -- 97 -- $15,000
Day 1: 5, 20-09 -- Day 2: 5, 12-02 -- Day 3: 5, 17-02 -- Day 4: 5, 11-01
5. Bernie Schultz -- Gainesville, FL -- 20, 60-05 -- 96 -- $15,000
Day 1: 5, 12-08 -- Day 2: 5, 17-10 -- Day 3: 5, 17-13 -- Day 4: 5, 12-06
6. Bill Lowen -- Brookville, IN -- 20, 58-07 -- 95 -- $15,000
Day 1: 5, 15-00 -- Day 2: 5, 14-03 -- Day 3: 5, 13-10 -- Day 4: 5, 15-10
7. Destin DeMarion -- Grove City, PA -- 19, 57-06 -- 94 -- $15,000
Day 1: 5, 12-00 -- Day 2: 5, 15-15 -- Day 3: 5, 17-15 -- Day 4: 4, 11-08
8. David Mullins -- Mt Carmel, TN -- 20, 56-01 -- 93 -- $16,000
Day 1: 5, 18-06 -- Day 2: 5, 11-09 -- Day 3: 5, 16-13 -- Day 4: 5, 09-05
9. Jeff Gustafson -- Keewatin, ON -- 16, 53-12 -- 92 -- $17,000
Day 1: 4, 12-15 -- Day 2: 5, 22-07 -- Day 3: 3, 09-14 -- Day 4: 4, 08-08
10. Derek Hudnall -- Denham Springs, LA -- 15, 50-06 -- 91 -- $15,000
Day 1: 5, 15-11 -- Day 2: 5, 19-15 -- Day 3: 2, 09-03 -- Day 4: 3, 05-09
