Brandon Palaniuk of Rathdrum, Idaho, holds onto the lead on Day 2 of the Diet Mountain Dew Mississippi River Rumble presented by Power-Pole. He brought in 19-3 on Friday at the Bassmaster Elite Series event in La Crosse, Wis., for a two-day total of 37-7.

Aaron Martens of Leeds, Ala., sits in second on Day 2 with 31-7.

June 21, 2013 - LA CROSSE, Wis. — Mighty bad weather Friday morning on the Mississippi River out of La Crosse didn’t put the hurt on Brandon Palaniuk.

In fact, the morning storm helped the pro from Rathdrum, Idaho.

Only three hours into Friday’s competition, Palaniuk had 19-plus pounds of bass to bring to the scales at the Diet Mountain Dew Mississippi River Rumble presented by Power-Pole, the sixth event of the Bassmaster Elite Series 2013 season. Combined with his first-day bag of 18-4, Friday’s bag — five smallmouth that went 19-3 — was more than enough for the 25-year-old pro to hold on tight to the top spot for the second consecutive day.

With a two-day total of 37 pounds, 7 ounces, Palaniuk stayed 6-0 ahead of Aaron Martens of Leeds, Ala., in second place with 31-7.

Third place was taken by Tommy Biffle of Wagoner, Okla., who shot up from 14th place after weighing 16-0, giving him a two-day total of 30-0. Behind him was John Crews of Salem, Va., who with 28-8 fell one tick to fourth place. Fifth place was claimed by the 2012 Rumble champ, Todd Faircloth of Jasper, Ala., with 28-4.

Friday morning’s violent storm with lightning and high winds set back the Rumble’s launch time from 6:20 a.m. to 8 a.m., when B.A.S.S. tournament officials determined that the anglers could safely get on the water. The lost hour and 40 minutes shortened the competition day for everyone.

Once on the water, Palaniuk ran into instant trouble. Within the first 30 minutes, he hooked into, and lost, five smallmouth. He estimated all five were 3- to 4-pounders.

“That made me extremely nervous. I didn’t know if I was going to get another bite,” he said. “I was very close to spinning out.”

Instead, he buckled down to try to figure out why he couldn’t make a solid connection with the smallies.

“I did everything I could think of. I changed rods, I changed hooks, I changed lure colors. Finally, I realized there was nothing I could do about it. So I went back to the same setup I caught them on yesterday.”

Starting fresh at a new spot, the stormy weather actually helped him amass his 19-3 weight.

“It definitely made the bite better today, no doubt in my mind. The cloud cover, the rain, and even the wind blowing against the current, allowed those fish to be more active, a little more willing to bite,” he said.

On his second cast at the new spot, he boated a 4-pounder. Then he caught a 5-9. It was another smallmouth and his biggest of the day as well as the event’s largest bass brought to the scales by any pro in the entire 99-angler field over two days. He left the area with four that weighed about 15 pounds.

His next move yielded his fifth keeper, and a cull.

Palaniuk said he has a “milk run” of spots, and timing is the key.

“If you can pull up and cast when those fish are ready to feed, you can catch the big ones,” he said.

The leader said that a 6-pound lead isn’t enough of a safety net, especially with two more days remaining in the competition.

“If I had a 30-pound lead, yes. But you can’t have a big enough lead against these guys (the Elite field),” he said.

Palaniuk’s second-day success piled on the laurels. One, he was the recipient of the Livingston Leader Award, a bonus of $500 for being the Day 2 leader. Two, his 5-9 smallmouth became the leader for the event’s Carhartt Big Bass competition for a $1,000 bonus plus another $500 if the angler was wearing Carhartt apparel. Three, his 19-3 bag was the top contender for the Rumble’s Berkley Heavyweight Award of $500 for the best five-fish limit; Palaniuk actually beat his own Day 1 bag of 18-4.

While Palaniuk was targeting smallmouth exclusively, Martens went for largemouth. He brought five to the scales Friday. The 17-3 sack broke him out of a ninth-place three-way tie and pushed him into the runner-up spot.

For Martens, the storm relocated his bass. He spent about 10 minutes to find them about 100 feet away.

“I was a little concerned when I pulled up and didn’t get any bites in the first three or four casts. I fancasted around and found them,” he said.

Within about three hours, Martens had the limit he weighed in.

“Then I went fishing for a big one. I caught about a 13-pound limit, but nothing that helped me,” said Martens.

The Rumble’s first prize is $100,000 plus an instant qualification for the 2014 Bassmaster Classic. All Elite pros are earning points that count toward securing a Classic berth and a qualification for Toyota All-Star Week, the postseason event in September.

Points also count toward the Elite season’s biggest prize, the 2013 Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year title. Edwin Evers of Talala, Okla., led the AOY race going into the Rumble. The non-final tally after two days had Evers still in the lead, but losing ground.

The field was cut to the Top 50 for Saturday’s round. Those 50 will compete to be among the Top 12 for Sunday’s championship finale. The pros will launch at 6:20 a.m. at Veterans Freedom Park in La Crosse. The weigh-in, at the same location, will begin at 3:15 p.m.

2013 Diet Mountain Dew Mississippi River Rumble presented by Power-Pole
6/20-6/23
Mississippi River, La Crosse, Wis.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 2

Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts

1. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 10 37-07 99
Day 1: 5 18-04 Day 2: 5 19-03
2. Aaron Martens Leeds, AL 10 31-07 98
Day 1: 5 14-04 Day 2: 5 17-03
3. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, OK 10 30-00 97
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 5 16-00
4. John Crews Salem, VA 10 28-08 96
Day 1: 5 15-07 Day 2: 5 13-01
5. Todd Faircloth Jasper, TX 10 28-04 95
Day 1: 5 14-05 Day 2: 5 13-15
6. Brandon Card Caryville, TN 10 28-02 94
Day 1: 5 14-09 Day 2: 5 13-09
7. Fred Roumbanis Bixby, OK 10 27-10 93
Day 1: 5 14-04 Day 2: 5 13-06
8. Greg Vinson Wetumpka, AL 10 27-07 92
Day 1: 5 13-06 Day 2: 5 14-01
9. Ott DeFoe Knoxville, TN 10 27-07 91
Day 1: 5 13-10 Day 2: 5 13-13
10. Randy Howell Springville, AL 10 27-06 90
Day 1: 5 13-14 Day 2: 5 13-08
11. Takahiro Omori Emory, TX 10 26-12 89
Day 1: 5 14-03 Day 2: 5 12-09
12. Cliff Crochet Pierre Part, LA 10 26-12 88
Day 1: 5 13-12 Day 2: 5 13-00
13. Scott Rook Little Rock, AR 10 26-07 87
Day 1: 5 10-12 Day 2: 5 15-11
14. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 10 26-07 86
Day 1: 5 14-11 Day 2: 5 11-12
15. Skeet Reese Auburn, CA 10 26-05 85
Day 1: 5 14-04 Day 2: 5 12-01
16. Casey Scanlon Lenexa, KS 10 26-03 84
Day 1: 5 14-05 Day 2: 5 11-14
17. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, TX 10 26-02 83
Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 5 12-13
18. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 10 26-01 82
Day 1: 5 12-15 Day 2: 5 13-02
19. Bobby Lane Lakeland, FL 10 25-14 81
Day 1: 5 14-05 Day 2: 5 11-09
20. Alton Jones Lorena, TX 10 25-13 80
Day 1: 5 12-15 Day 2: 5 12-14
21. Dean Rojas Lake Havasu City, AZ 10 25-12 79
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 12-14
22. Kevin Hawk Guntersville, AL 10 25-11 78
Day 1: 5 16-00 Day 2: 5 09-11
23. Edwin Evers Talala, OK 10 25-11 77
Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 5 12-06
24. Josh Bertrand Gilbert, AZ 10 25-09 76
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 5 12-08
25. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 10 25-08 75
Day 1: 5 13-06 Day 2: 5 12-02
26. David Walker Sevierville, TN 10 25-08 74
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 5 13-00
27. Cliff Pace Petal, MS 10 25-07 73
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 5 13-00
28. Matt Herren Trussville, AL 10 25-04 72
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 5 11-04
29. Michael Simonton Fremont, OH 10 24-14 71
Day 1: 5 13-09 Day 2: 5 11-05
30. Billy McCaghren Mayflower, AR 10 24-10 70
Day 1: 5 13-06 Day 2: 5 11-04
31. Shaw E Grigsby Jr. Gainesville, FL 10 24-10 69
Day 1: 5 12-13 Day 2: 5 11-13
32. Paul Elias Laurel, MS 10 24-09 68
Day 1: 5 14-01 Day 2: 5 10-08
33. Rick Morris Lake Gaston, VA 10 24-08 67
Day 1: 5 12-02 Day 2: 5 12-06
34. Kevin Short Mayflower, AR 10 24-07 66
Day 1: 5 12-04 Day 2: 5 12-03
35. Grant Goldbeck Boerne, TX 10 24-06 65
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 11-10
36. Davy Hite Ninety Six, SC 10 24-05 64
Day 1: 5 12-04 Day 2: 5 12-01
37. Kelly Jordon Palestine, TX 10 24-03 63
Day 1: 5 10-02 Day 2: 5 14-01
38. John Murray Phoenix, AZ 10 24-03 62
Day 1: 5 11-14 Day 2: 5 12-05
39. Chris Lane Guntersville, AL 10 24-00 61
Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 5 10-09
40. Ish Monroe Hughson, CA 10 24-00 60
Day 1: 5 12-02 Day 2: 5 11-14
41. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, NJ 10 23-15 59
Day 1: 5 12-05 Day 2: 5 11-10
42. Fletcher Shryock New Philadelphia, OH 10 23-13 58
Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 5 12-08
43. Casey D Ashley Donalds, SC 10 23-13 57
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 5 11-07
44. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 10 23-12 56
Day 1: 5 12-09 Day 2: 5 11-03
45. Chris Zaldain San Jose, CA 10 23-12 55
Day 1: 5 11-14 Day 2: 5 11-14
46. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, KS 10 23-11 54
Day 1: 5 11-10 Day 2: 5 12-01
47. Pete Ponds Madison, MS 10 23-09 53
Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 5 12-04
48. Dennis Tietje Roanoke, LA 10 23-08 52
Day 1: 5 12-04 Day 2: 5 11-04
49. J Todd Tucker Moultrie, GA 10 23-06 51
Day 1: 5 13-12 Day 2: 5 09-10
50. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, AR 9 23-05 50
Day 1: 4 11-05 Day 2: 5 12-00
51. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 10 23-05 49
Day 1: 5 11-14 Day 2: 5 11-07
52. Gerald Swindle Warrior, AL 10 23-01 48
Day 1: 5 10-03 Day 2: 5 12-14
53. Jason Quinn Rock Hill, SC 10 22-13 47
Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 5 10-12
54. Gary Klein Weatherford, TX 10 22-11 46
Day 1: 5 11-04 Day 2: 5 11-07
55. David Smith Del City, OK 10 22-10 45
Day 1: 5 11-07 Day 2: 5 11-03
56. Jason Christie Park Hill, OK 9 22-09 44
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 4 10-02
57. Boyd Duckett Demopolis, AL 10 22-09 43
Day 1: 5 11-08 Day 2: 5 11-01
58. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 10 22-08 42
Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 5 11-10
59. Derek Remitz Grant, AL 10 22-05 41
Day 1: 5 10-03 Day 2: 5 12-02
60. Timmy Horton Muscle Shoals, AL 10 22-05 40
Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 5 10-04
61. Jamie Horton Centerville, AL 9 22-04 39
Day 1: 5 12-10 Day 2: 4 09-10
62. Bradley Roy Lancaster, KY 9 22-02 38
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 4 08-14
63. Charlie Hartley Grove City, OH 9 21-10 37
Day 1: 5 09-14 Day 2: 4 11-12
64. Jami Fralick Martin, SD 10 21-09 36
Day 1: 5 10-15 Day 2: 5 10-10
65. Morizo Shimizu Osaka JAPAN 10 21-07 35
Day 1: 5 10-07 Day 2: 5 11-00
66. Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande, CA 9 21-06 34
Day 1: 4 09-00 Day 2: 5 12-06
67. Marty Robinson Lyman, SC 9 21-05 33
Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 4 07-14
68. Jonathon VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 10 20-14 32
Day 1: 5 10-08 Day 2: 5 10-06
69. Andy Montgomery Blacksburg, SC 9 20-12 31
Day 1: 4 08-00 Day 2: 5 12-12
70. Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, AL 10 20-11 30
Day 1: 5 09-07 Day 2: 5 11-04
71. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 9 20-07 29
Day 1: 4 09-06 Day 2: 5 11-01
72. James Niggemeyer Van, TX 9 20-05 28
Day 1: 5 12-09 Day 2: 4 07-12
73. Hank Cherry Maiden, NC 9 19-14 27
Day 1: 5 10-01 Day 2: 4 09-13
74. Britt Myers Lake Wylie, SC 9 19-12 26
Day 1: 5 11-08 Day 2: 4 08-04
75. Jason Williamson Aiken, SC 8 19-09 25
Day 1: 3 08-08 Day 2: 5 11-01
76. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 7 18-10 24
Day 1: 5 13-03 Day 2: 2 05-07
77. Chad Pipkens Holt, MI 10 18-09 23
Day 1: 5 09-08 Day 2: 5 09-01
78. Nate Wellman Newaygo, MI 8 17-12 22
Day 1: 5 12-04 Day 2: 3 05-08
79. Kenyon Hill Norman, OK 9 17-09 21
Day 1: 4 08-00 Day 2: 5 09-09
80. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, AR 9 17-05 20
Day 1: 5 09-15 Day 2: 4 07-06
81. Keith Poche Pike Road, AL 7 17-03 19
Day 1: 5 11-08 Day 2: 2 05-11
82. Russ Lane Prattville, AL 8 17-02 18
Day 1: 3 06-07 Day 2: 5 10-11
83. Scott Ashmore Broken Arrow, OK 8 17-02 17
Day 1: 4 08-08 Day 2: 4 08-10
84. Matt Reed Madisonville, TX 8 16-15 16
Day 1: 3 04-12 Day 2: 5 12-03
85. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, OK 9 16-09 15
Day 1: 5 09-06 Day 2: 4 07-03
86. Kevin Ledoux Choctaw, OK 8 16-05 14
Day 1: 3 07-05 Day 2: 5 09-00
87. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, FL 7 16-01 13
Day 1: 2 04-10 Day 2: 5 11-07
88. Chip Porche Bixby, OK 7 15-12 12
Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 2 04-09
89. Matt Greenblatt Port St Lucie, FL 6 15-01 11
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 1 02-10
90. James Elam Tulsa, OK 6 15-00 10
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 1 02-08
91. Zell Rowland Montgomery, TX 7 14-07 9
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 2 03-14
92. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, MO 7 13-09 8
Day 1: 5 09-10 Day 2: 2 03-15
93. Mark Davis Mount Ida, AR 6 13-07 7
Day 1: 5 12-00 Day 2: 1 01-07
94. Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 6 12-13 6
Day 1: 5 10-04 Day 2: 1 02-09
95. BJ Haseotes Centerville, MA 5 12-05 5
Day 1: 3 07-07 Day 2: 2 04-14
96. Jeremy Starks Scott Depot, WV 5 12-00 4
Day 1: 5 12-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
97. Jared Miller Norman, OK 6 11-01 3
Day 1: 4 07-13 Day 2: 2 03-04
98. Kelley Jaye Dadeville, AL 6 10-05 2
Day 1: 3 05-12 Day 2: 3 04-09
99. Kurt Dove Del Rio, TX 5 08-14 1
Day 1: 3 05-08 Day 2: 2 03-06
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 84 471 1156-03
2 73 435 1036-03
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157 906 2192-06