Drew Cook and Brandon Palaniuk started the day in first and second place, respectively. Both are off to hot starts on a cool 42-degree morning. Palaniuk caught a 4 1/2-pounder at 7:45, and said, “They’re going to have to get bigger. We need the 6s, not the 4s.” About 15 minutes later, he did just that – caught a 6-pounder.
Cook has experienced few catches before 10 o’clock this week. So he was ecstatic after landing a 5 1/2-pounder shortly after 8 o’clock.
“That’s how you start the frickin’ day,” he said. “We caught one before 10 o’clock.”
This was expected to be one whale of a final day at Santee Cooper Lakes. Palaniuk and Cook have posted proof that those expectations are on track to become fact.