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Brandon Palaniuk - Angler, Idaho
Full Name: Brandon Palaniuk
Age: 22
Hometown: Hayden, Idaho
State Federation: Idaho
Division: North Idaho
Occupation: Heavy equipment operator
When & why did you begin bass fishing? My family has always been a fishing family, but it wasn’t until the age of 8 when I decided I only wanted to fish for bass, and make a living doing it.
What has been your most memorable moment when it comes to fishing so far? It would be a toss up between the first time I walked out on the TBF Nationals stage 2 years ago, or at last year's B.A.S.S. Nationals in Kansas when the weather was absolutely ridiculous, but that was more of a memorable memory I would sometimes like to forget.
Biggest catch; when, where & how: 10lb 10oz Largemouth on Clear Lake, CA pre-fishing for the Stren Series. Caught on a Baitsmith Hitch in Foxy Shad color.
Do you have a good luck charm or certain thing you do when it comes to fishing? If so, what is it? I have a rod that has won me more money than any other rod, but it is so worn out and I am afraid of breaking it that I just keep it in my rod locker all the time now.
Name someone who is a hero to you or would like to meet someday? Any guy that makes a living fishing professionally. I would love to get all the pros in one room, sit them down, and start asking questions.
What would it mean to you to win the 2010 TBFNC in Knoxville, TN? A dream/goal come true……probably why they call it the “Living the Dream” package huh? It’s the chance of a lifetime. The chance to accomplish every goal I’ve set.
Aaron Ault - Angler, Indiana
Full Name: Aaron Ault
Age: 34
Hometown: Delphi, IN
State Federation: Indiana
Division: Northern
Occupation: Tool & Die Maker
Family Members: Wife Kimbi, Daughter Braci, Son Brody
When & why did you begin bass fishing? My Dad started taking me fishing when I was very young. I can remember him sitting out in the middle of the lake, and I wondered if he was just trying to keep me away from the trees! He taught me how to fish breaks. Then he started taking me to tournaments, and every year for my birthday, I just wanted him to take me to the weekly Wednesday night tournament.
What has been your most memorable moment when it comes to fishing so far? I have quite a few accomplishments that I am very proud of, but I would have to say it was when Dad and I fished a benefit tournament on Lake Monroe. I had just started fishing the bigger team tournaments, and I caught a 6lb 13oz largemouth on a Mid-1 Minus crankbait that won us big bass. We had some high fives that day!
Biggest catch; when, where & how: I went to Alabama to play baseball in college, and I had a private pond that I fished a lot. I caught an 8 pounder on a Smithwick Rogue and I have her mounted on my wall. My biggest stringer was during a team classic last spring on Guntersville. My partner Jason and I had 5 fish that weighed 24.56lbs. My Dad, cousin, and I fished a local stone quarry in early March one time and caught 3 largemouth and 3 smallmouth that weighed 40 pounds. We caught them all on deep diving crankbaits.
Do you have a good luck charm or certain thing you do when it comes to fishing? If so, what is it? Yes, I always carry my daughter and son’s kiddie fishing poles in my boat with me during tournaments.
Name someone who is a hero to you or would like to meet someday? My father is my idol because he has such a big heart and is a man of integrity, but I would love to meet Kevin VanDam, and see his mental approach towards all the variables in tournaments fishing.
What would it mean to you to win the 2010 TBFNC in Knoxville, TN? This tournament means everything to me. I am going to put my heart and soul into it. I have wanted for many years to compete at an elite level, and this is my chance to compete against some of the best amateur anglers in the world, and possibly pave the way for me to fish a National circuit in the years to come.
Tim Post - Angler, New York
Full Name: Timothy J. Post
Age: 51
Hometown: Cambridge NY
State Federation: New York TBF
Division: Northeast
Occupation: Supervising Habitat Biologist
Family Members: Colleen, Wife; Children Nathaniel (15), Brittani (13)
When & why did you begin bass fishing? My father loved to fish and started me when I was just a few years old. We would go to one of a few local lakes and fish from shore. When I was about 5, I caught a 5 pound largemouth bass.
What has been your most memorable moment when it comes to fishing so far? By far in a tournament it would be the 2009 TBF Eastern Divisional - winning NY and finishing 3rd overall in my second year of tournament fishing. Outside of tournaments, one of my most memorable moments was when my son caught a 6 pound 11 oz. largemouth a few years back, or last summer when he got to fish the TBF Youth Nationals.
Biggest catch; when, where & how: Largest bass would be a 6-13 oz largemouth I took out of a tree in August of 2008. Flipping a creature bait hand poured by my son on my Kistler rod into the middle of a thick laydown in 8 feet of water. Felt the hit, set the hook, and fish dove and wrapped me around a tree limb. Had to pull fish in and release repeatedly as the fish would hit up against the tree and wouldn’t come unwrapped. After a few minutes the fish swam free and I got her to boat. Berkley 17 pound 100% flouro held up.
Do you have a good luck charm or certain thing you do when it comes to fishing? If so, what is it? Not usually, but I do have to admit that during the 2009 TBF Eastern Divisional I kept to the same routine as much as possible each day, wouldn’t put rods out until got to first spot to fish, didn’t shave for the 3 days, and wore the same tournament shirt (good thing it was cold enough that I wasn’t sweating). I had an unusual sense of kharma working for me that week.
Name someone who is a hero to you or would like to meet someday? My hero is my father. Those that defend our country or put their lives on the line to keep us safe would qualify as heros. I don’t look at celebrities or fishing pros as heros. If I had to name a person I respect greatly and would like to meet and have a chance to fish with, I’d say KVD.
What would it mean to you to win the 2010 TBFNC in Knoxville, TN? That’s a tough question. 2009 was only my second year fishing tournaments and I never really expected to even have a chance to compete for the championship, so I’m honored just to have the chance to go and compete. I really just want to focus on enjoying the experience.
Damien McMahon - Angler, Virginia
Full Name: Damien Gerard McMahon
Age: 37
Hometown: Pilot, VA
State Federation: VA
Division: Mid-Atlantic
Occupation: Shift Supervisor of a Juvenile Detention Facility
Family Members: Melissa McMahon is my wife of 7 years. Braeden Gerard McMahon is my 14 year old son. My black lab’s name is Cooper.
When & why did you begin bass fishing? I was taught to fish with natural baits in saltwater as a child. Ponds could be reached by bicycle as soon as I was able to ride by myself. All I had to do was strap a couple of rods to a bike frame to go bass fishing.
What has been your most memorable moment when it comes to fishing so far? There were two.
-Watching my son catching and releasing his first few unassisted fish. I couldn’t be any prouder.
-My Dad has Parkinson’s, and he can no longer hold a rod. I got him out for his final fishing trip of his life, a few years ago. It was Father’s day, and we were trolling crawler harnesses for cats.
Biggest catch; when, where & how: Blue sharks, several in the 8’-9’ class- in the ocean south of Fire Island Inlet (Long Island, NY). We were chumming and free-lining live bluefish on an overnight trip.
Do you have a good luck charm or certain thing you do when it comes to fishing? If so, what is it? I have several superstitions concerning fishing. I must shake hands with my partner right before blasting off. I make a short cast and reel in quickly so that I don’t catch a fish on the first cast of the day. I wear a special (old and holy) shirt under my tournament shirt. Etc, Etc.
Name someone who is a hero to you & would like to meet someday? Hero is such a strong word- I don’t have any.
What would it mean to you to win the 2010 TBFNC in Knoxville, TN? Winning the National Championship is a goal that I hope to realize in this lifetime. I sure would be sweet to accomplish on the first go-‘round!
Next Week's Spotlights:
Matt King - KS, John Uhler - MD, Johnny Nee - RI, Lance Tillotson - CO |
