From a Small Town in Idaho to the Bassmaster Classic

Seventeen years ago, 23 year old Bryan Kerchal won the Bassmaster Classic.  He was the first and only to win the Classic from the Federation before he tragically died a few months later.  Recently a Federation angler has been compared to Bryan. The similarities are there, both moved up through the Federation, both qualified for the Classic and they are within a month of being the same age at the time of the event.  Can Brandon Palaniuk win the Classic just like Bryan?  Just a few short months ago, Brandon Palaniuk was hanging out with friends, fishing, and working in Northern Idaho for a company that built logging roads.  Since he was eight years old he has dreamed of fishing the Classic and and now he is preparing to do it.  He will also be fishing this year on the Elite Series.  You might not have heard his name yet, but his fishing accomplishments

are making sure you take notice.  Brandon has long been a dominant force in the Pacific Northwest, making the Idaho Federation Nation and TBF State teams with amazing consistency over the last few years.  His success has also allowed him to represent the state of Idaho at the national level in the Federation three times.  At the age of 23, he has done more than most fishermen have done in a lifetime.  He recently won the Federation Nation National Championship which gave him a berth into both the Elite Series and the Bassmaster Classic.  With him growing up in tiny Rathdrum, ID; I fished against him several times when I was living in Washington State and just had the chance to talk with him to see how things have changed since making the Classic.

TB: You qualified through the Federation, probably one of the most difficult paths.  Walk me through the qualification you made all the way to the classic.

BP: It all started with fishing the Idaho qualifiers for the B.A.S.S. Federation Nation.
From there I made the Idaho State team and was invited to fish the Western Divisional on Lake Martinez in Yuma,AZ.  I didn’t really have anything special going on down there and caught eight or nine pounds each day but ended up winning for Idaho (he finished 14^th with 23lbs 9oz over 3 days) and qualified for the Nationals on the Red River in Shreveport, LA.  I was able to win that event and make it to the Classic and also make the Elite Series. 

TB:  The story behind that win was pretty cool.  Tell me how you did it.

BP:  I found a spot in practice that was really hard to get into, but I had read that tournaments have been won back there.  I waited until the last half of the day of the last practice day to try to get back there.  It was a really shallow path and I had to remove things like thick hyacinths mats just to make a path.  It got really shallow in places and was only a few inches deep in spots.  It took me 2 hours and 15 minutes to make that first path. I didn't want anyone else to see me go back there so on the first tournament day; I waited until all the boats had blasted past me to sneak in there.  I was just cranking a rock jetty until they were all gone.  Once I make it back there it took me a little while to figure out the sweet spots, but I had it all to myself. 

TB: Now that you’ve made the Elite Series, what are your goals?  Are you nervous? 

BP: I want to have a solid season and re-qualify.  Of course, I’d also love to win Rookie of the
Year, but this is a strong class of rookies. Guys like David Walker, Andy Montgomery, Ott Defoe, Keith Combs have all been fishing on the FLW Tour for years, plus you have all of the other rookies.  I’m a little nervous, but don’t have any expectations for myself.

TB: Since qualifying for the Elites, I see you have picked up a few new sponsors.  What new companies will you be working with and what other sponsors do you have now?

BP:  I just signed on with Berkley, Abu Garcia, Wave Away, Skeeter and Yamaha and Topwater Clothing.  I am also sponsored by BaitSmith, Parker Toyota, and AXTackle.com.

TB: Idaho is not really known as a bass fishing state, what do you have to say about the bass fishing in Idaho?

BP:   It’s really good bass fishing, in Idaho and the Pacific Northwest in general.  You know how good it is, you lived there.  I believe the Northwest is one of the most versatile regions in the entire country.  You can fish clear lakes or muddy water, deep lakes or shallow places; the Northwest has it all.  We have some of the best fishing in the country for maybe nine months of the year.

TB: What do you think of the similarities between you and Bryan Kerchal?  

BP: I have watched the video of that Classic at least twenty times and every time I watch it I get choked up.  Bryan brought a lot of light the federation and was an amazing representative for the entire federation.  I am honored to be representing the federation and hope to do well in his honor.  He was a true inspiration for everyone who fishes the and dreams of winning the classic.

Questions for Gordon

We at Inside Bass Fishing are always trying to find new ways to help our reader’s better anglers.  We have a new section for Inside Bass Fishing called “Questions for Gordon”.  Each week submit questions for Gordon by emailing Insidebassfishing@gmail.com.  They will be answered by Gordon.

Inside Bass Fishing Video

Simple color customization of your top water baits for smallmouth bass

I’m a huge fan of top water baits; All kinds of top water baits such as poppers, prop baits and walk-the-dog baits. If there’s a good top water bite on, you can be rest assured that I’ll be tossing one of these baits. In particular, prop baits and walk-the-dog baits are among my favorite lures. I typically don’t like to take a lot of time to customize top water baits because many are great right out of the box. That being said, I’m certainly not apposed to making simple modifications that will increase effectiveness.

Over the years, I’ve observed that some of my most effective top water color patterns have one thing in common. Regardless of the type of bait, the best producers have some shade of red on the underside of the lure. When shopping for top water baits, this has led to some frustrations. Sometimes the color patterns with red are sold out. Other times there’s a color pattern that I like but it has no red in it. Still other times I find a great top water bait with a unique action but the manufacturer does not offer a color pattern with red in it.

My solution? It’s pretty simple. When I get a new top water lure that I want to modify, I take a red sharpie and color a dot under the head of the bait. I always put the dot under the head. Smallmouth seem to lock in on the red dot and this results in more front treble hookups.

It is best to color the baits well in advance of fishing to allow for drying time. Sharpies work but the color eventually does come off. This is particularly true with plastic baits. Wood baits, on the other hand, hold the color much better. Another rather inexpensive option for coloring your baits is Do-It Quick Coat Pain Markers. This is definitely a more durable, permanent solution.

I don’t color all my top water baits. If I have 3 baits with the same pattern, I’ll usually only “red dot” one of the baits. Just in case, however, I have a red sharpie stowed in my gear for water-side modifications or in the event I need to touch up a bait. Remember to dry the bait thoroughly before touching it up.

Making simple color modifications to baits is certainly nothing new but I’m surprised a lot more anglers don’t do it. It only takes a few seconds and can help you put more smallmouth in the boat. In my mind, that’s a great trade off!

By: Gordon Holman

Skeet Reese Bait Caster Product Review

The Wright & McGill Victory Skeet Reese reel is the newest product in the line of Skeet Reese products.  The reel itself is the same kind that Skeet Reese himself uses when fishing tournaments.  They are affordably priced so the average angler can use the same reels that pros use.

The bait casters come in two gear ratios 6.2:1 and 7.0:1.  All the reels have 9+1 bearings and weigh 7.76 ounces.  They did this by giving the reel an aluminum frame which gives it durability.  Every Victory reel comes with a neoprene reel case. 

The reel itself is incredibly light, when I held it in my hand for the first time it almost felt like there was nothing there.  I matched the reel with a Skeet Reese 7ft crankbait rod.  I immediately noticed how much lighter the rod felt in my hand.  I used the rod all summer with a big name reel on it and it was slightly unbalanced and I felt it more and more as the day went on.  The Victory reel paired with the Skeet Reese rod was perfectly balanced and after using it for six straight hours I felt no arm fatigue. 

The reels are rated for 120 YDS/12 lb.  I spooled 12 pound fluorocarbon on the reel.  Each cast was smooth and I was surprised that I got more distance from each cast with the Victory reel than I had all summer.  The reel made smooth casts.  The oversized handle helped in reeling in the lure, it also came in handy when I landed a five pound bass that tried to hide under the rocks.  The handle gave me more torque for pulling the bass out of its hiding spot.

The only thing I disliked about the reel was the braking system.  It is housed inside the left side panel of the reel (Right handed models).  To adjust the brakes you had to open the panel.  Once you set the breaks on the reel for the lure you are fishing it’s not a big deal.  Also the more I used the reel the more I got used to the breaking system.

The Skeet Reese Victory reel retails for between 99.99 and 119.99.  The reels are priced right and perform well.  You cannot go wrong with these reels.  

BY: Chris McDonald

Seaguar Fluorocarbon Contest!

As promised, I am going to give away a spool of Seaguar fluorocarbon.  You get your choice of AbrazX or InvizX in either 8, 12, or 20lb test.  Just let me know which one you want.  I will also be giving away a Seaguar visor, see details below for that prize.  But first, you have to win!  Here are the contest details:

Answer all three questions about Seaguar, they can be found on the Seaguar website.

#1 What year did Seaguar invent fluorocarbon line? To specify, in what year did they introduce Seaguar fluorocarbon to the Osaka Fishing Tackle Exhibition?

#2 Two part question.  What does Tatsu mean in Japanese? How is Tatsu different (Made exclusively from - - 100% Seaguar resins)?

#3 What Seaguar technology ensures that all spools are spooled smoothly onto the spool?

Once you have your answers, send them to tylerbrinks1@gmail.com.  Also hit the "Facebook Share" button for the second prize which is a Seaguar visor!  Only those who share can win that prize, and it is possible to win both.  Just make sure to include in your email that you shared and I will do a second drawing.

The deadline for entry is Wednesday, January 5th at Midnight (Eastern Time).  Winners will be selected from a draw on random.org. The winner will be announced Thursday.

Good luck!

An Interview with Michael Bennett

The past few months have been tumultuous to say the least for Michael Bennett.  In October, he was in sight of qualifying for the Bassmaster Elite Series until a 65th place finish at Lake Seminole moved him down to 15th on the Southern Open points list, just out of range for qualification.  Then, just last week he decided against fishing the FLW Tour as there was no guarantee that he would be given a new team sponsor deal.  Bassfan did an interview with him last week and the bass fishing world has paid attention and the forums and social media sites have been voicing their opinion on what happened.  A former Forrest Wood Cup winner with over 1.5 million in winnings will now be sitting out the 2011 FLW Tour season.  Overall the support has been in favor of Michael, and he remains positive and optimistic about his future as a professional bass fisherman.  I had the chance to talk with Michael earlier today and get his thoughts on bass fishing, his recent news and the future of bass fishing.  

Michael has been a huge supporter of FLW Outdoors since an early age.  I remember when we first met after he qualified for the 2002 BFL All-American at the age of 17 (The youngest ever pro qualifier for this championship event).  I had the opportunity to also qualify for that event as a co-angler at the age of 18, and his older brother R.J. also qualified that year at the age of 19.  It was definitely a year for the young guys from the West making the trip to Shreveport, LA.  With that said, there should be no denying his loyalty to FLW Outdoors.

TB: What are your thoughts on the whole FLW issue?

MB: It's just a weird situation.  I have been fishing FLW events since they were called Operation Bass and have been loyal to the tour for the last six years.  I feel like I have done everything they have wanted me to.  When I won the Forrest Wood cup, I felt like I hit a milestone and felt like it would make it easier to get sponsors.  Obviously I won a good amount of money, but I am looking at it from a return on investment aspect.  It's much harder when you pay your own way and it puts much more pressure on your fishing.  It was just a business decision and I understand that with the economy things are bad for everyone.  I wouldn't rule out fishing FLW again, just not for the next year.

TB: You got into the Southern Open on Toho in a few weeks and also mentioned the PAA as an option, what all do you have planned for this year?

MB: Definitely the Southern Opens to try to qualify for the Elite Series.  That's one of my goals and then to see what types of sponsor possibilities come about from that if I make it in.  The PAA is a great organization but I probably won't fish it this year.  I'm going to focus on the Opens and my new business I started.  It will definitely be a year with less fishing, which will be kind of weird for me, but it may be good for me.  For whatever reason, 2010 was tougher for me and I believe it was mental more than anything.  2010 was good for me in other ways and I'm really excited to be working with BassTackleSupply.com.  They are based right near me in Panama City and have been doing alot with the clubs and weekend guys.

TB: What are you expecting from this Toho event in a few weeks? What is your game plan?

MB: As you know, in Florida weather is everything.  I will be watching the weather every single day until the tournament starts.  I've been there before and have done pretty well, so I feel like I'm ready.  It will either be pre-spawn, a spawning deal or a situation where you have to deal with a cold front.  That's Florida fishing. If it's a spawn tournament, I doubt it will be like the year Rojas broke the record.  It might never be like that again.

TB: You did well the last time in 2008, the last time the FLW Tour made a stop at Toho: What did you do that year to place 22nd?   

MB: The first day I had around 3 pounds but had almost 17 the next.  It was post spawn last time and I kind of camped in one little area.  We had a little cold front come through so it was pretty tough on the first day.  The fish were feeding on those big golden shiners the second day and I just went back and forth in one little area.  The thing about Florida is that everyone expects huge bass and 20lb stringers, but if the weather is bad it's a struggle, and many times getting that 10-12 pounds every day is what does well.

TB: I know you count sight fishing as one of your strengths, what else do you consider a strength?

MB: Anything topwater would definitely be one of my strengths.  I also like any time we are faced with clear water.  I feel really comfortable with finesse techniques, like a senko or a small worm.  Really Florida lakes fit my style because you can fish clear water, topwater and soft plastics most of the time.

TB: Looking back a few years to when you won the FLW Tour stop on Smith Lake in Alabama.  You fished depths of up to 60 feet with a wacky-rig, that was just crazy!  What other "off the wall" type stuff has really worked for you over the years?

MB: One thing in Florida which most people don't do it to fish the offshore stuff.  I have done pretty well fishing offshore grass.  Those types of places get less pressure and are less obvious to most of the fishermen.

TB: I always try to ask pros what advice they have for someone fishing from the back of the boat.  What advice do you have for co-anglers?

MB: Number one would be to not get discouraged and to keep your bait wet.  In many situations, especially in Florida, fish are moving in and out of areas.  Keep casting around because fish might move in on a spot five minutes after it's already been fished by a pro.  For the most part, it's not a good idea to copy what the pro is doing.  Usually they are going to get the first chance at the fish and catch them if they are going to bite. Also don't be afraid to experiment with new baits. 

TB: What do you think of the changes with B.A.S.S. and FLW?

MB: Both organizations are making some changes that are positive for the sport.  It's really too soon to tell what is going to happen, but I feel like we are kind of over the hump and moving forward.

It was great talking with with Michael and I'm confident he will continue his success on whatever trail he decides to fish in the future.  Michael's Facebook Fan Page is pretty active with news from his tournaments.  If you haven't already: Become a Follower.  Also check out his website MichaelBennettFishing.com.