Angler Spotlight: Brandon Palaniuk

Get to know professional bass angler and 2017 Angler of the Year Champion, Brandon Palaniuk in this episode of Humminbird and Minn Kota's Angler Spotlight.

Hometown: Rathdrum, ID

Career Highlights:

• Bassmaster Elite Series Debut: 2011
• Five (5) Elite Series Victories: Bull Shoals (2012), St. Lawrence River (2013), Sam Rayburn (2017), Lake Champlain (2020), and Santee Cooper Lakes (2020).
• 2017 Bassmaster Angler of the Year
• Nine Bassmaster Classic Appearances: including a 2nd place finish in 2013 (Grand Lake) and a 4th place in 2011 (Louisiana Delta)
• Bassmaster Nation Champion (2010)

Brandon made a name for himself early in his fishing career by working his way up the ranks locally and in the B.A.S.S. Federation. It didn't take him long to make his mark on the big stage by finishing in the Top 5 at his first Bassmaster Classic (2011) and winning his first Elite event in 2012.

Brandon has been a social media and content pioneer in the sport of bass fishing. He has continued to document his life on the road chasing a dream. Sharing his experiences through a camera lens in video and imagery has inspired others to document their passion for fishing. You can follow along on his YouTube channel, BMP Fishing to see all of the entertaining and educational content, as well as the ever-popular, "The Series" as he takes on the Bassmaster Elite Series.

Question #1 (From Bryan) - What is your thought process between switching lures or moving? How do you decide what to do?

Answer: This is probably one of the toughest questions to answer in the sport of fishing. It's also one of those common questions because it's a very important thing. A lot of it comes down to a gut feeling - it's very situational too. Take into all of the factors of why the fish are or were there and look at those factors. Is it a factor that would make those fish move, like a rising or falling water. Or was it something just as simple as sunny or cloudy weather that may just mean you need to change your approach in that same area.

Identify the situation and try to make adjustments, and if you have to, don't be afraid to move. It's always easier to leave and come back later.

Question #2 (From Bud C.)- Would you prefer to be known as the “Grand Triangulator” or the “Supreme Bite Inducer”?

Answer: That's a good one. I do like "Grand Triangulator" but I think I would have to be the "Supreme Bite Inducer", that sounds pretty solid!

Question #3 (From Anonymous Pro Angler) - Is the Storm Arashi Glide Bait your favorite giant bass bait? When and how do you throw it?

Answer: Yes, it is my favorite big bass bait in any body of water. Some situations bring it into play more than another, like clean or dirty water. But if I can get away with throwing it, I will. I'm always looking for an ambush point like a dock, a laydown, a long point, a bluff wall. Somewhere where the fish have an easy access point to ambush pray where they don't have to move far. 

The time of year doesn't matter to me as much. I've caught them with water in the '40s and in the '90s. My preferred water clarity is 3-4ft range of visibility. The clearer the water, the farther they can see it and come in to bite, but the easier they can see it.

Question #4 - What’s your biggest (5 fish) bag in a pro derby?

Answer: I think it's 26lbs. In 2018 on the St. Lawrence River I caught a MEGA bag of giant smallmouth. I had another 25ish on Falcon but it was so long ago I can barely remember.

Question #5 (From Chris R.) - Best advice for someone who is looking to start tournament fishing?

Answer: Start out within your means, within your budget, and don't be afraid to start local. Start small and work your way up and if you don't have a boat, fish as a co-angler because you're going to learn and when starting out. Learning is the number one thing you should be focused on.

If you have the ability to start fishing when you're young start fishing club tournaments and get your feet wet in that competition aspect and the timely order that going to make you make decisions on a timeclock. If you have the chance, fish High School, fish in a college program. If not and you're older,  go and fish the B.A.S.S. Nations, that's how I got my start (B.A.S.S. Federation). If you can get the time off work and can afford it, the Bassmaster Opens are another great option!

Question #6 (From Brad Whatley - Elite Series Pro) - What is the ONE memory that you have made so far in professional fishing that stands out the most to you?

Answer: That's a tough one, I've had so many amazing things happen in my career and it's hard to pick just one. The first one that comes to mind is Sam Rayburn in 2017 when I won (Elite Series - Texas Fest). I had been catching them good and when the wind switched on the final day, the fish had moved. We were in that transition period where the fish were moving from shallow to deep. At 2:36 pm, I landed a 5.15lb and what I didn't know at the time that I found out later was that Brent Ehrler had caught a 5lber two mins before that and took the lead.

It was on a new spot that I hadn't fished all week and I idled over it and saw the fish on my Humminbird Side Imaging. I could see the fish facing the brush pile, so I knew they were aggressive. So I turned around and started catching them on a 10in worm and at 2:36 pm I remember yelling it out. The reason that time was significant was that I was almost out of time, I had to check-in at 2:45 pm. That is probably the most memorable moment that comes to mind.

You can watch the 2:36 pm and winning fish moment here and the full recap of that event on Brandon's YouTube channel, and it does not disappoint.

Question #7 (From Austin H.) - I’m picking up a Humminbird 360 (non-MEGA) tomorrow. What are 3 tips to help me get the most out of it?

Answer: The biggest thing you should think about is think of it as your Side Imaging sonar but it's allowing you to shoot out to the front. I like to switch mine to Front Mode so that it's using most of the screen space available, or if I'd like to see the full 360 degrees, then I like to zoom in at least one time so that it fills that screen even more. It helps with the detail and helps you see those images even crisper.

Next thing, don't be afraid to play with your color palettes. I prefer to run palette #4, it's a brown palette. It just seems to get me the most detail.

The last tip, don't be afraid to play with your sensitivity and contrast. Different bottom hardness/contours will require different settings to really get the best clarity. I like to run mine somewhere in the 13-15 for sensitivity and 12-14 for contrast, but it varies.

Question #8 (From Jordan C.) - Best baits to use when bass are transitioning from pre-spawn to spawn?

Answer: This goes back to the earlier question about the Storm Arashi Glide Bait. One of my favorite baits when they're moving and the big females are pushing up, their aggressive and hungry. You can just catch so many and they're moving shallow so you can cover a lot of water with that bait. As long as the conditions allow, I'm throwing that bait cause it's one of the most fun ways to catch the biggest fish.

Question #9 (From Jacob S.) - What lure would you want to have that is not in production any more?

Answer: It's not even that old of a lure, but I'd like some more. The Storm Arashi rattling version of the Square 3 and the Square 5. They still make the silent version, but they don't make the rattling version anymore. There are some dirty water situations where that crankbait really shines early in the year. In those dirty water situations, I like to have that rattle.

Question #10 (From Adam S.) - Any tips for minimizing hangups when fishing bottom baits around riprap/rocks?

Answer: The number one thing is to use the lightest weight possible on the bait you're using. Whether its a football jig or shaky head, using the lightest weight that still allows you to keep contact with the bottom will minimize the bait getting stuck in the cracks. If you have issues keeping contact with the bottom on those lighter baits, don't be afraid to use a lighter line to help keep it on the bottom. The higher the pound test you have, the more it will hold that bait up higher in the water column.

If I'm throwing a football jig, I'll throw a 3/8oz and I'll go down to a Seagar InvizX 15lb test to help keep that bait down but have enough strength to land those fish.

Question #11 (From Gerald Swindle - Elite Series Pro) - Who jumped off the first rock at Havasu?

Answer: I remember this well. There's some footage of this out there. Me and Gerald Swindle after our Elite Series event on Havasu a few years ago decided to go do some cliff jumping. And if I remember right... I think he did jump first. I will give you that, G.

Question #12 (From Monty W.) - Do I get a Minn Kota trolling motor with builtin MDI, or save the extra cost and install a transducer?

Answer: If it was my choice, I would go with the Built-In MEGA DI transducer. It has the most clarity on the Down Imaging and 2D sonar side. It's more sleek and it's more protected.

You'll have fewer hangups in grass, less chance of hitting it and knocking it off or on an angle if you're around stumps. If I were to choose, I'd go Built-in MEGA DI trolling motor.

Question #13 (From Kyle V.) - Did you sing karaoke in Japan?

Answer: Well, Kyle, I could ask you the same question. I may have sung along to some karaoke. I may have heard you sing a little Garth Brooks, "Friends in Low Places". Yeah, in Japan, that happen.

Question #14 (From Tyler K.) - What do you like the most about your Ultrex Trolling Motor?

Answer: Gonna have to be Spot-Lock! The OG Spot-Lock trolling motor. Spot-Lock has changed so much in the way that we're able to be efficient offshore. You know, just retying on a spot and not drifting off of it. Being able to make that cast and keep your angles and stay lined up.

And when you pair it with Humminbird MEGA 360, it's so nice to be able to lock that trolling motor in and I can cast off the side, cast off the back with the wind. If I had to pick one, Spot-Lock would have to be the best thing

Question #15 (From Trent E.) - What is the dirtiest water you will throw a glide bait in?

Answer: For me, when I'm talking swimbaits, especially glide baits, water clarity depends on the fish's mood. If a fish is in a foot of water and they have 6" of visibility, they can see half the water column. If they're in 10 feet of water and they've only got 6" of clarity, they can't see very much.

The deeper the fish are positioned, the more clarity I need. If the fish are shallow, they can find that bait because it's a big bait and it pushes a lot of water (Storm Arashi Glide Bait), they can feel it, they can see it. Make sure you select opaque colors that those fish will be able to see, like the Oikawa Mesu and you can catch them in that dirtier water.

Question #16 (From Rich C.) - What settings are you using for the MEGA 360 Imaging that are different from the original 360?

Answer: I'm still running the same color palette (#4). The settings are just slightly different. I don't have the sensitivity and contrast as high on the new MEGA 360. The biggest thing that I've noticed is that the detail separation is better on the MEGA, you're able to see fish better, especially around cover and in the shadows or suspended.

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Luke Lovrek - Minn Kota