Palaniuk second heading into final day of Bassmaster Elite event

From B.A.S.S. news services

CLARENDON COUNTY, S.C. — Brandon Palaniuk of Rathdrum dropped from first place to second after the third day of the 2026 Yokohama Tire Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes on Saturday.

Palaniuk has a three day total of 79 pounds, 11 ounces.

Chris Johnston of Peterborough, Ontario, caught 29 pounds, 2 ounces on Day 3 to claim the lead at 82-13 heading into the final day today.

Palaniuk, the former Lakeland High and North Idaho College wrestler, caught 20-11 on Saturday after landing 29-1 and 29-15 the first two tournament days. Not a whole lot changed for the eight-time Bassmaster champion. He still got the bites he needed, they just didn’t make it to the boat.

“Execution was the only difference. Every day I’ve had two flurries; a mid-morning flurry and an afternoon flurry,” Palaniuk said. “I had those today, but I didn’t land the bites. I broke a 6-pounder off, lost one that was 6 at the boat and another one that was 7 or 8 pounds. You can’t do that, and now it’s going to be interesting.” 

The 2020 Santee Cooper Lakes champion has been targeting cypress trees in one broad area of Lake Marion. Not all trees are productive. Palaniuk is looking for specific contour lines on his Humminbird LakeMaster combined with a certain type of vegetation. 

One bait has caught most of his bass. While it worked flawlessly the first two days, the hook-to-land ratio was not good on Day 3.

“I’m just learning how to use it,” he said. “There are probably better ways to rig it and other things to figure out with it. It is the first time I’ve really put it in my hands and went to work with it.

“It is wild to watch how the bass respond to it, though.” 

Georgia’s pro Drew Cook climbed his way into the Top 3 with a total of 72-1. 

Bassmaster LIVE will begin coverage at 6 a.m. PDT and continue until 9 a.m. Bassmaster.com will take the reins at 9 a.m. and last until weigh-in time at noon.