Since 9:30 a.m., Brandon Palaniuk had caught only one 1 1/2-pound bass. He had only four keepers as the 2 p.m. hour approached. Then – boom! Palaniuk pulled a 6-, maybe 6 1/2-pounder from the matted vegetation he’s been flipping without success for hours.
“What’d I say? One big bite away!” Palaniuk screamed. His hands were shaking as he tried to thread another soft plastic bait on his hook.
That bass vaulted Palaniuk into the lead. He’s got 15-8 on the day to go with his 21-1 second-place weight yesterday.