A few minutes into my conversation with Tiffanie Palaniuk, we were interrupted by her daughters’ spirited disagreement. Kora, 4, and Kyra, 2 1/2, were arguing over who got to clean the dishes.
They wanted to help their mother with the daily chores.
That doesn’t just happen. It’s the result of intentional parenting that blends nurturing with responsibility.
Tiffanie and her husband, 6-time Bassmaster Elite champion Brandon Palaniuk clearly treasure their children and Tiffanie’s lessons are but one thread in the tapestry of her dedication to making Kora and Kyra the central figures in the family’s mobile lifestyle.
Married in 2021, after 9 1/2 years of dating, the Palaniuks leave Rathdrum, Idaho in February and spend most of the next six months living out of their 45-foot Grand Design Solitude camper. Suffice to say, managing life on the road with two little ones isn’t easy, but Tiffanie’s commitment has gifted these girls with a life few their age will live.
Growing up in Troy, Idaho, near the University of Idaho, where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education, Tiffanie recalls her introduction to Brandon and how her perception of his career field has come full circle.
“We met though a mutual friend, but Brandon likes to tell people we met on a dock, which we did, because the plan was for me to go fishing with them,” she said. ”I showed up as late as possible because I didn’t want to go fishing, I just wanted to hang out. So we got to go to dinner instead of fishing.
“I didn’t know bass fishing was so fun, at the time. Now I really love following the sport and I love that my kids get to be raised around it.”
Her Priorities
As Tiffanie notes, parenting on the road has challenged her organizational instincts, but she keeps her core objective on track with a few key principles.
Health and Wellness: Fond of baking, Tiffanie makes a wonderful sourdough loaf and yes, I personally confirmed that point. Beyond this, the Palaniuk’s rarely visit restaurants, because homemade meals allow her to control quality and nutrition.
“Brandon is a little more extreme than I am, but we try to be as healthy as we can, so that we can perform better and live longer, not only for ourselves but for our kids,” Tiffany said. “We try to keep it simple with whole foods, so we eat the least amount of processed foods.”
The wild game and fish that Brandon harvests in the off season fills their freezer, along with a little beef and a fair pig (raised by local youth organizations for competition). Family favorites include elk meatloaf, goat burgers made from the mountain goat Brandon harvested in Alaska, and Bang Bang salmon bites (with a mild, kid-friendly sauce) over rice with avocado.
“We do like a bag of chips every once in a while and I do have a sweet tooth,” Tiffanie admits. “We’re not perfect, but we try really hard.”
Her weakness — dark chocolate ice cream. In fact, Brandon’s tradition of celebrating a third-day qualification with “cut ice cream” has a funny backstory.
“Cut ice cream was created to get me to stop going to get ice cream so much during the week,” Tiffanie grinned. “That puts pressure on Brandon, because the first thing the girls ask him (on the second day of an Elite tournament) is ‘Do we get ice cream?’”
Most days, Kora and Kyra are happy with healthier treats like strawberry yogurt bites, apple sauce pouches, granola bars and fresh fruit.
“Kora, for her birthday dinner, asked for peas,” Tiffanie said. “I don’t know any kid that asks for peas for their birthday dinner. We try to set an example.”
Make It Meaningful: From the multi-day drives at the season’s beginning and end, to traveling between Elite venues, the miles pass more peacefully when your young passengers stay comfy and entertained.
“I have a toy bin for the car, a magnetic board for number sorting, and water pens for drawing — the water’s inside the pen, so if it leaks it’s not a huge mess,” Tiffanie said. “We try to do the mess-free things, like sticker books with reusable stickers that pull off the upholstery way better.”
The mix includes various sensory toys, finger puppets, and dinosaurs, but Tiffanie has found that dynamic diversity fosters tranquility.
“I rotate their toys just to keep it fresh,” she said. “I’ll leave a few in the center console for the last day of our drive home. The last day is the entire state of Montana and by that point, they’re getting a little less patient, so having fresh toys for that day makes it a lot simpler.
“And then I let them pick the music every once in a while. They have their favorite kid/toddler music, so I let them have their turn at the radio station.”
Safety and Loss Prevention: Tiffanie described Kora as careful, shy, and reserved, while Kyra has earned the title “wild child” with a more adventurous personality. Both super sweet, but Kyra’s more likely to climb stuff with no exit strategy.
Noting that she fished with Brandon more before motherhood, Tiffanie said she’s fine with her current role — and the funny moments it often produces.
“I’m a fair weather fisherman, but with the kids on the boat, I’m more of a caregiver,” she said. “I don’t ever get to cast; I’m making sure they don’t hook each other.
“They love to cast and Kora has caught a bass by herself, but Kyra is really good about throwing the (kids) fishing pole in the lake. One day, she threw two rods in one fishing trip, so we’re still working on her.”
On the Job Training: Kids do not come with instruction manuals, so it’s a learn-as-you-go premise. One thing Tiffanie has come to realize: Efficiency should never impede growth.
“There’s a lot of letting go when (Kora and Kyra want to help),” she said. “I know I can do it faster, but I’m learning to let them learn.”
Keep It In Perspective: Someday, Kora and Kyra may realize the unique experience they’re living. For now, they’re just kids thrust into the limelight of an often demanding world.
“At blast-off, they see all these people and at weigh in, they see all these people, which isn’t bad, but they don’t get a choice,” Tiffanie said. “I always think, at that age, I was more shy growing up, so if someone threw me in that situation I would want to hide.”
Patience, compassion and rock-solid support.
What It All Means
From the massive task of packing for an Elite season, to towing a camper across the country, to the daily routines of life in a confined space, Tiffanie does not sugar coat the very real work this part of their year requires. However, she’ll quickly tell you that the bond-building, memory-making, life-enhancing experiences more than justify the effort.
For one thing, getting to see the country together is pure family gold. Showing your daughters digital summaries of stunning landscapes and cultural/historical fascinations versus visiting such sites — not the same thing.
“I feel like (traveling for the Elite Series) has given me a lot of insight and perspective on our country,” Tiffanie said. “I had no idea that there were some of these little hidden gems. The country is full of beauty that a lot of time gets overlooked and we’ve gotten to see it together.”
It’s hiking new trails, visiting local parks and zoos, driving through stunning landscapes, watching the sun rise and set over the nation’s top fisheries. It’s finding shark’s teeth on some Atlantic beach close to an Elite venue.
Tiffanie said she and Brandon have discussed buying a second home in the Eastern U.S. to facilitate and economize their annual tournament travel. Taking their family to so many different areas has provided fuel for thought, but while mom and dad’s property decisions will certain matter for Kora and Kyra’s future, the absolute bottom line truth is this: They’re doing it together.
“I’ve always loved to travel, but now that we have kids, the biggest thing is that I know my kids would never see their dad (during the fishing season) if we didn’t travel full time,” Tiffanie said. “Even if they didn’t get to see him during long practice days, knowing that they get to see him Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday and the weeks in between makes all the difference.
“Seeing them light up when he drives up and they go running to him so excited to give him a hug and ask him how his day was makes it all worth it.”
