On the Red River with Brandon Palaniuk

Seigo Saito spent the day with Brandon Palaniuk on Wednesday for the official practice period of the Bassmaster Classic.

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<p> Palaniuk is one of the first anglers on the scene to hook up his boat from the boat yard.</p>
Palaniuk is one of the first anglers on the scene to hook up his boat from the boat yard.
<p> A quick moment to organize tackle and get his rods on the deck and he’s ready.</p>
A quick moment to organize tackle and get his rods on the deck and he’s ready.
<p> Palaniuk stands and gives reverence to the American flag during the National Anthem.</p>
Palaniuk stands and gives reverence to the American flag during the National Anthem.
<p> No longer the rookie, Palaniuk takes his time filtering through the backwaters of the Red River.</p>
No longer the rookie, Palaniuk takes his time filtering through the backwaters of the Red River.
<p> Anglers in this event will have to make a lot of casts to find the right combination of winning fish.</p>
Anglers in this event will have to make a lot of casts to find the right combination of winning fish.
<p> For this event, Palaniuk will be Boat 18 in the take-off order.</p>
For this event, Palaniuk will be Boat 18 in the take-off order.
<p> Palaniuk grabs more tackle from his rod locker for his practice day.</p>
Palaniuk grabs more tackle from his rod locker for his practice day.
<p> Experimenting with different lures is a big component of practice day.</p>
Experimenting with different lures is a big component of practice day.
<p> Temperatures were cool on Wednesday, forcing some anglers to slow down.</p>
Temperatures were cool on Wednesday, forcing some anglers to slow down.
<p> Palaniuk surveys the backwater he’s fishing, looking for clues to where the best water for the event will be.</p>
Palaniuk surveys the backwater he’s fishing, looking for clues to where the best water for the event will be.
<p> He has a full arsenal of rods and reels trying to figure out the best approach.</p>
He has a full arsenal of rods and reels trying to figure out the best approach.
<p> Palaniuk grabs a jig in the middle of pitch to shoreline cover.</p>
Palaniuk grabs a jig in the middle of pitch to shoreline cover.
<p> Palaniuk idles through a backwater looking for cleaner water.</p>
Palaniuk idles through a backwater looking for cleaner water.
<p> He hooks up with his first fish of the day.</p>
He hooks up with his first fish of the day.
<p> A slow approach that keeps the lure in the strike zone a long time could be a factor in this event.</p>
A slow approach that keeps the lure in the strike zone a long time could be a factor in this event.
<p> Along with slow, you may also have to make repeated casts.</p>
Along with slow, you may also have to make repeated casts.
<p> Palaniuk pitches a lure near one of the many duck blinds on the Red River.</p>
Palaniuk pitches a lure near one of the many duck blinds on the Red River.
<p> And continues to pitch to the blind.</p>
And continues to pitch to the blind.
<p> Getting into some backwaters requires a shallow approach with a lot of slinging of muddy water.</p>
Getting into some backwaters requires a shallow approach with a lot of slinging of muddy water.
<p> Palaniuk’s two crankbaits that he was using to search for bass.</p>
Palaniuk’s two crankbaits that he was using to search for bass.
<p> He lips one of his keepers for the day and brings it into the boat.</p>
He lips one of his keepers for the day and brings it into the boat.