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I know that you are not a fisherman.

I know that you don’t follow sports. 

Yet you still write about them.

You write about things that matter.

The guts....

...not the glory.

BULL SHOALS, Ark. — Brandon Palaniuk may have $100,000 in the bank after his win today at the Bassmaster Elite Series TroKar Quest at Bull Shoals Lake, but that’s not going to change his lifestyle. He planned to spend Sunday night sleeping in his pickup truck, just as he has every night this week and during most other tournaments. >>> read more

On this episode of the Livewell, Tommy Sander and Mark Zona speak with Brandon Palaniuk fresh off his victory at the TroKar Quest on Bull Shoals

>>> see the video

By Don Barone
Apr 21, 2012

"The river flows…"

Dateline:  The Moment

It is not their records I care about.

The won/loss stuff.

Their records, that's what an athlete takes to the bank.

Ca-ching tells me nothing of the man or woman.  It only tells me about how many "Benjamins" they have in the bank … tells me about their worth, but not their soul.

It is the competitor, especially the competitor within, that I care about.

That fascinates me.

To really know the athlete you need to know what they are made of, not what they make. (photo - Don Barone) >>> read more

It’s long past midnight, and Brandon Palaniuk has the rock music blaring. He’s been driving all night, and he has three more hours to go. He pops open a Red Bull and takes a deep swig. It’s a liquid jolt. It’ll help him stay awake to make it to his destination, a state park campground at the next tournament site. This is one more leg in his first season on the Bassmaster Elite Series circuit, and 23-year-old Palaniuk is living his dream. >>> read more

Mark Zona conducts the Annual Running of the Beast to make a bold prediction for the 2012 Bassmaster Classic. You can't question scientific research like this. Continue on for prediction.

By Michael Iaconelli - Jan 4, 2012
When I think about the future of professional bass fishing, I think about more than just the business framework of the industry or the state of the fishing economy. Those things are important but that's not all there is. Just as important is the young talent that's climbing up the ladder. And no angler who's doing that deserves more of a look than Brandon Palaniuk. He's a real angler with a real future in front of him. >>> read more

Walleye Offer Excellent Winter Option for Many Bass Pros. When winter's chill slows bass action, many anglers turn their attention to walleye, a widespread and popular gamefish that provides excellent cold weather sport. Walleye also provide a unique opportunity for bass fishermen to sharpen many of their fishing techniques, since the two fish have many similarities. “The best part about walleye fishing where I live in Idaho is that when cold weather comes and the bass really stop biting, the walleye action just keeps getting better,” says Yamaha Pro Brandon Palaniuk, who devotes virtually all his fishing time between November and January to walleye. > Full Story

As each fishing day begins, anglers who have done their homework have a sense of hope. They’ve practiced and given a lot of thought to their game plan. Their rods are rigged and as the tournament director calls their boat number; they venture out in an attempt to duplicate the effectiveness of their practice. With any luck, the practice plan will work out, and with a little skill and mental toughness slight adjustments will be made and the result will be a heavy bag brought back to the scales. > full story