From the air: TroKar Quest Day Four

Check out the view from our helicopter on Bull Shoals at the 2012 Elite Series TroKar Quest.

Posted on
<p> The sun rises over the hills containing Bull Shoals Lake, as shot from the CameraCopters chopper.</p>
The sun rises over the hills containing Bull Shoals Lake, as shot from the CameraCopters chopper.
<p> The camera copter arrives above Bulls Shoals Lake Boat Dock, where the final 12 anglers in the TroKar Quest prepare to launch.</p>
The camera copter arrives above Bulls Shoals Lake Boat Dock, where the final 12 anglers in the TroKar Quest prepare to launch.
<p> The boats are jammed up to the dock.</p>
The boats are jammed up to the dock.
<p> JC Robinson was the pilot taking Bassmaster TV cameraman Steve Cassidy and photographer Mike Suchan out to chase anglers.</p>
JC Robinson was the pilot taking Bassmaster TV cameraman Steve Cassidy and photographer Mike Suchan out to chase anglers.
<p> The anglers wait at the dock for the final day blastoff.</p>
The anglers wait at the dock for the final day blastoff.
<p> Leader Brandon Palaniuk idles away from the dock as Day Four is under way.</p>
Leader Brandon Palaniuk idles away from the dock as Day Four is under way.
<p> Palaniuk has led from Day One and is attempting to go wire-to-wire.</p>
Palaniuk has led from Day One and is attempting to go wire-to-wire.
<p> The finaboat, Jason Quinn, passes the dock.</p>
The finaboat, Jason Quinn, passes the dock.
<p> The anglers had a short idle to the main lake before they could get up and running.</p>
The anglers had a short idle to the main lake before they could get up and running.
<p> Palaniuk is about to pass the last set of boatslips.</p>
Palaniuk is about to pass the last set of boatslips.
<p> The Trokar Quest is the first B.A.S.S. pro event on Bull Shoals since 1991.</p>
The Trokar Quest is the first B.A.S.S. pro event on Bull Shoals since 1991.
<p> Anglers turn toward the main lake and idle to the no wake buoy.</p>
Anglers turn toward the main lake and idle to the no wake buoy.
<p> Spectator and camera boat join Palaniuk as he opens up his Yamaha.</p>
Spectator and camera boat join Palaniuk as he opens up his Yamaha.
<p> The rest of the field waits their turn to blastoff.</p>
The rest of the field waits their turn to blastoff.
<p> Palaniuk leads the way as he heads to his area that produced two bags over 20 pounds and another just shy of that mark.</p>
Palaniuk leads the way as he heads to his area that produced two bags over 20 pounds and another just shy of that mark.
<p> Palaniuk has been cranking a cove near a large spawning area, he said.</p>
Palaniuk has been cranking a cove near a large spawning area, he said.
<p> Palaniuk is on a 30-mile run past Diamond City.</p>
Palaniuk is on a 30-mile run past Diamond City.
<p> Bobby Lane, who started the day in third, makes his run.</p>
Bobby Lane, who started the day in third, makes his run.
<p> Matt Herren, who was second after Friday and fell to fourth Saturday, heads to his spot.</p>
Matt Herren, who was second after Friday and fell to fourth Saturday, heads to his spot.
<p> Most of the anglers were heading west on Bull Shoals Lake.</p>
Most of the anglers were heading west on Bull Shoals Lake.
<p> The coves are deep and numerous on Bull Shoals, which has about 45,000 surface acres.</p>
The coves are deep and numerous on Bull Shoals, which has about 45,000 surface acres.
<p> Anglers keep snaking west in the main lake channel.</p>
Anglers keep snaking west in the main lake channel.
<p> A straggler pursues.</p>
A straggler pursues.
<p> The sun peeks out from the hills.</p>
The sun peeks out from the hills.
<p> Fog banks were scattered over particular sections of the lake.</p>
Fog banks were scattered over particular sections of the lake.
<p> Mark Menendez peeled off from the pack, went up a creek and began fishing in the fog along a bluff.</p>
Mark Menendez peeled off from the pack, went up a creek and began fishing in the fog along a bluff.
<p> The wind and sun were beginning to break up the fog.</p>
The wind and sun were beginning to break up the fog.
<p> Spectators and camera boats pack the area where Palaniuk has been fishing.</p>
Spectators and camera boats pack the area where Palaniuk has been fishing.
<p> Palaniuk said he fished a highway leading to large spawning area in the shallows on the right.</p>
Palaniuk said he fished a highway leading to large spawning area in the shallows on the right.
<p> Fog was thick over Palaniuk's spot early.</p>
Fog was thick over Palaniuk’s spot early.
<p> The cloud bank pushed against the bluff side of the cove.</p>
The cloud bank pushed against the bluff side of the cove.
<p> It thinned ever so slightly as the sun began to hit.</p>
It thinned ever so slightly as the sun began to hit.
<p> Camera boats and spectators surround Palaniuk, who held almost a 13-pound lead at day's beginning.</p>
Camera boats and spectators surround Palaniuk, who held almost a 13-pound lead at day’s beginning.
<p> As event leader, Palaniuk was the first to idle away from the dock.</p>
As event leader, Palaniuk was the first to idle away from the dock.
<p> Britt Myers, Bobby Lane, Matt Herren and Scott Rook follow close behind.</p>
Britt Myers, Bobby Lane, Matt Herren and Scott Rook follow close behind.
<p> Head down, Palaniuk runs hard.</p>
Head down, Palaniuk runs hard.
<p> Palaniuk took a hook in his finger Friday and left the water for an ER trip, but not before he caught 24-4.</p>
Palaniuk took a hook in his finger Friday and left the water for an ER trip, but not before he caught 24-4.
<p> Bobby Lane and Matt Herren run side by side.</p>
Bobby Lane and Matt Herren run side by side.
<p> Bobby Lane gives a thumbs up.</p>
Bobby Lane gives a thumbs up.
<p> Lane enjoys having the camera copter fly by.</p>
Lane enjoys having the camera copter fly by.
<p> The boats give one another space early in their run.</p>
The boats give one another space early in their run.
<p> Britt Myers speeds up lake.</p>
Britt Myers speeds up lake.
<p> The run on Bull Shoals, following the channel of the White River, is full of twists.</p>
The run on Bull Shoals, following the channel of the White River, is full of twists.
<p> As the frontrunner, Palaniuk has clear sailing.</p>
As the frontrunner, Palaniuk has clear sailing.
<p> Mark Menendez peels off from the pack and heads up a cove.</p>
Mark Menendez peels off from the pack and heads up a cove.
<p> Menendez began the day in sixth place.</p>
Menendez began the day in sixth place.
<p> Menendez stopped to fish a rocky bluff shrouded with fog.</p>
Menendez stopped to fish a rocky bluff shrouded with fog.
<p> Palaniuk was the main draw.</p>
Palaniuk was the main draw.
<p> Palaniuk begins fishing in the middle of the cove.</p>
Palaniuk begins fishing in the middle of the cove.
<p> The sun breaks through on Palaniuk.</p>
The sun breaks through on Palaniuk.
<p> Palaniuk targeted the deeper section of the cove.</p>
Palaniuk targeted the deeper section of the cove.
<p> Palaniuk said the hook in his finger hasn't bothered his fishing at all.</p>
Palaniuk said the hook in his finger hasn’t bothered his fishing at all.
<p> With the sun clearing the fog, Palaniuk begins to put the hammer down.</p>
With the sun clearing the fog, Palaniuk begins to put the hammer down.
<p> Disappointed with his 19-1-0 bag Saturday, Palaniuk said he wanted to get back to 20 today.</p>
Disappointed with his 19-1-0 bag Saturday, Palaniuk said he wanted to get back to 20 today.
<p> Palaniuk is a second-year Elite angler looking for his first major B.A.S.S. victory.</p>
Palaniuk is a second-year Elite angler looking for his first major B.A.S.S. victory.
<p> Palaniuk cranked his fish all week in his quest to win the TroKar Quest.</p>
Palaniuk cranked his fish all week in his quest to win the TroKar Quest.