FISHING — Lake Coeur d'Alene is ranked the best Northwest bass fishing lake and No. 11 in the nation in the new Bassmasters magazine rankings of the top 100 bass fisheries in the United States.

• The Columbia River was ranked No. 21 in the country.
• Dworshak Reservoir ranked No. 26.
• Lake Sammamish ranked No. 51.
• Fort Peck, Mont. ranked No. 75.

No. 1 in Bassmasters 2013 rankings is Lake St. Clair, Michigan

TOURNAMENT FISHING — The Spokane Bass Club, founded in December to schedule quality fishing tournaments on local waters, has a full schedule of 2013 events, including a tournament to benefit Spokane Children's Hospital.

The Long Lake Classic, slated to be an annual event, is set for May 4-5. Entry $150 per boat with an 80 percent payback, 10 percent of proceeds to the charity.

Most of the events are random draw so anglers without boats can get involved, said Tyler Brinks, club president.
  

Read on to see the full list of the Spokane Bass Club 2013 fishing contests.

TOURNAMENT FISHING — Brandon Palaniuk, 25, of Rathdrum entered the third and final day of the 2013 Bassmaster Classic today needing to make up a 7-pound deficit.  And he nearly did it!

Palaniuk, who has a BASS elite champion ranking, finished as the runner-up in the 43rd annual World Championship of bass fishing at Grand Lake O' the Cherokees near Tulsa, Okla.  

He caught a three-day total of 15 bass weighing 51 pounds 8 ounces, short of the 14 bass totaling 54 pounds 12 ounces ounces caught by 32-year-old winner Cliff Pace.

Pace, from Petal, Miss., earned $500,000.  Palaniuk won $45,000.

By the last day of fishing, the field of 53 anglers that qualified from international competition for the big event was narrowed to 25 anglers battling for the chance to be crowned the 2013 Bassmaster Classic champ.

• See the daily Bass blog coverage of Palaniuk's 2013 Bassmaster run.
• See photos of Palaniuk beating the cold weather and tough fishing with his youthful athleticism on the final day of the Bassmaster.

Depite a disappointing performance in the 2012 Bassmaster Classic, Palaniuk has been a hot item on the pro fishing circuits for three years, claiming a $100,000 top prize in April but still living out of the back of his pickup to save money. 

Palaniuk caught everyone's attention with his standout Bassmaster debut in 2011, finishing fourth and winning $30,000.

Bassmaster on TV

See Palaniuk in action during the 10 hours of Classic coverage set to air on ESPN2. The Bassmasters will present its Day One show at 9-10 a.m. ET, March 2 . Coverage of the final two days of Classic competition will air March 3 from 7-9 a.m. ET and 10 a.m.-noon ET. Fans can see Classic shows again on March 10 on ESPN2 from 5-9 a.m. ET. An hour-long Classic highlights program will air at 8 a.m. on April 7.

FISHING — Holy heresy! The Washington Fish and Wildlife Department is considering the image of a bass for a logo in its statewide “Fish Washington” campaign.

Actually, that decision already has been made. Instead of taking a stand, the state fisheries managers chose to  have logos featuring both trout and bass.

But the public gets to chime in through February on the graphic technicalities of the logos.

Click here to vote and help choose a pair of new logos that will identify Fish Washington on the web and in other applications.

TOURNAMENT FISHING — Nik Autrey of Spokane’s Inland Empire Bass Club won the 15-18 year old division of the 2012 Junior Bassmaster World Championship in the 15-18 year old division on Oct. 27 in Alabama.  

Autrey, 19, won the one-day event with 10 pounds 3 ounces of bass out of Wilson Lake near Decatur, Ala., topping a group of six junior anglers who advanced to the JWC through qualifying rounds on the local, state and divisional levels.

Autrey will be looking spiffy next time he goes fishing in his prize: a 16-foot Triton boat package with a Mercury outboard, MotorGuide trolling motor and Lowrance electronics.

To qualify for the Bassmaster event, Autrey had to win the Washington State title, then win the Western Division at Flaming Gorge.  

From there he went to the world event against the five other Federation Nation/Bassmaster Division Champions to win the championship, which included one junior from South Africa.

Joel Nania of Spokane, who watched his son, Joey, step to the world podium as a teenager a few years ago before going pro, offered this insight on the caliber of Washington's youth anglers:

“Since the Junior Bassmaster inception in 2004, of the 18 available titles (nine in the 11-14 age group and nine in the 15-18 age group) kids from Washington State have won four of them, more than any other state!”

(Joey Nania 11-14 in 2005, Joey again 15-18 in 2008, Jake Cook from the Tri-Cities 15-18 in 2009 and now Nik in 2012).  

Not bad coming from a state that tends to be all about salmon and trout! 

See the Bassmaster story here.

See more photos here.

TOURNAMENT FISHING — Dakota Jones of Spokane will be representing Washington in a national bass fishing competition after winning the 15-18 age-group title in the 2012 Washington’s Junior State Bass Fishing Championship at Lake Washington.

Jones, a member of the Inland Empire Junior Bass Club, will represent Washington State Bass Federation and the Washington National Guard at the National Guard Junior World Championship at Gainesville, Georgia. Aug. 9-12.

Jones weighed in four fish totaling 8.85 pounds to top the other 12 competitors in his division at the state championships April 28 near Seattle.

ANGLING — Bass fishing at Lake Coeur d'Alene is getting national attention this week as the North Idaho lake was listed No. 9 in Bassmaster magazine's list of the top 100 bass fishing lakes in the United States.

Only seven Northwest waters made the list determined by a panel of professional anglers and fishing writers.

The Columbia River is ranked No. 20.

Texas’s Falcon Lake, famous also for deadly attacks by Mexican pirates, topped the list.

Other Northwest waters making the top 100 ranks are:

45. Umpqua River, Oregon

65. Noxon Rapids, Montana

85. Dworshak Reservoir, Idaho

91. Lake Sammamish, Washington

95. Fort Peck Reservoir, Montana

“The 100 Best Bass Lakes list was ranked using a variety of qualifiers,” the magazine editors say. “Department of Natural Resource representatives provided the five most productive lakes in each state based on electroshock surveys and angler catch rates. B.A.S.S. Federation Nation presidents offered top lake recommendations based on tournament catches, while conservation directors supplied details on lake accessibility and best fish stocking practices.”

TOURNAMENT FISHING  — After a trip to a hospital to have a hook removed from his pinky, Brandon Palaniuk, 24, of Rathdrum powered forward through three days of fishing to dominate and win the Bassmaster Elite Series TroKar Quest tournament at Bull Shoals Lake, Ark., this weekend.

He'll have $100,000 in the bank after today's weigh-in, but that’s not going to change his lifestyle. He planned to spend tonight sleeping in the back of his pickup, just as he has every night this week and during most other tournaments.

 “It’s just easy,” said Palaniuk, who beds down in a bed  under the canopy of his pickup near launch sites. “I’ve got power and a shower, and it’s close to the water. That’s all I need. And it’s free.

“A hundred thousand dollars doesn’t go as far as it used to,” he added.

Read on for more details on Palaniuk's big win.

TOURNAMENT FISHING — Brandon Palaniuk, 24, of Rathdrum, Idaho, didn't get skunked today but he also didn't come up with enough fish to make the cut for the third and final day of competition in the 2012 Bassmaster Classic on the Red River near Shreveport-Bossier City, La.

The photo above shows Palaniuk landing his first of three fish totaling 5 pounds 15 ounces at today's weigh in. But that total just moved him up to 48th place among the 49 anglers who competed today. He was the only angler in the competition to get skunked on Day 1. 

After today's weigh in, the field was cut to 25 anglers for the last day of fishing.

Josh Polfer of Nampa, Idaho, a Bassmaster rookie, is the only Westerner to make the cut. In two days of fishing, he's in 19th place.

Continue reading for the latest news on the leaders and the complete catch totals in this “Indy 500” of bass fishing.

TOURNAMENT FISHING — Brandon Palaniuk, 24, of Rathdrum, Idaho, had a horrible start among the 50 select anglers who roared off this morning to start the 2012 Bassmaster Classic on the Red River near Shreveport-Bossier City, La.

The weigh-in has just been completed, and Palaniuk is the only angler in the field who caught no fish.  He's in last place after Day 1.  I don't have a report on what happened.

The 30th Bassmaster, a three-day culmination of months of qualifying tournaments, no longer has the distinction of being the richest prize in bass fishing. The Forrest Wood Cup claimed that distinction wtih a $1 million championship prize to Scott Suggs in 2007.

But the Bassmasster Classic is still considered the big stage. A win here can put a half a million bucks in your pocket and bring sponsors to your door.

This is the second consecutive year Palaniuk has qualified for the “Indy 500” of tournament bass fishing.

Palaniuk caught a lot of attention in last year's main event. The youngest competitor in the 2011 classic and the only angler to qualify from the West, he finished in fourth place, winning $30,000.

This year, four anglers from the West are in contention, including Josh Polfer of Nampa, Idaho, and Californians Jared Lintner and Iah Monroe.

Read on for more details on Palaniuk and the ESPN Bassmaster Classic TV coverage, which is being compiled for broadcast next week.

TOURNAMENT FISHING — Brandon Palaniuk, 24, of Rathdrum, Idaho, has been pre-fishing this weekend, warming up with the 50 anglers competing in the 2012 Bassmaster Classic, Feb. 24-26, on the Red River near Shreveport-Bossier City, LA.

This is the second consecutive year Palaniuk has qualified for the “Super Bowl” of tournament bass fishing.

Palaniuk caught a lot of attention in last year's main event. The youngest competitor in the 2011 classic and the only angler to qualify from the West, He finished in fourth place, winning $30,000. 

This year, four anglers from the West are in contention, including Josh Polfer of Nampa, Idaho, and Californians Jared Lintner and Iah Monroe. 

Read on for more details on Palaniuk and the ESPN Bassmaster Classic TV coverage scheduled for the following week.

COMPETITIVE FISHING — The Oregon State University team of Zach MacDonald, of Willits, Calif. and William Sparks, of Corvallis, Ore. won the National Guard FLW College Fishing West Conference event on Lake Shasta near Redding, Calif., Saturday.

An Eastern Washington University team of local anglers was in the top five, winning a berth to the  West Conference Regional Championship.

The Oregon team, with five fish totaling 9 pounds, 4 ounces, won the first place prize of $5,000.

Rounding out the top five teams advancing to the West Regional Championship are:

•  2nd: University of California-Santa Cruz – Chris Rhoden and Sam Sayad, both of Santa Cruz, Calif.(five bass, 9-00, $1,500)
• 3rd: Humboldt State University – Hideaki Kubo, Arcata, Calif., and Ben Smith, Samoa, Calif. (five bass, 8-7, $1,000)
• 4th: Eastern Washington University – Jarred Walker, Cheney, Wash., and Robert Trukositz, Spokane, Wash. (five bass, 8-5, $1,000)
• 5th: California State University-Long Beach – Alex Cox and Justin Gangel, both of Long Beach, Calif. (five bass, 8-1, $1,000)

The EWU team of Jake Ponce and Nick Barr placed 11 with 6 pounds, 3 ounces of fish.

The top five teams from each tournament qualify for the regional championship where the first-place team will win a bass boat with a 90-horsepower outboard wrapped in school colors for their fishing club. The top five teams from each regional tournament advance to the national championship.

College Fishing is free to enter and FLW provides boats and drivers for each competing team along with travel allowances. All participants must be registered, full-time undergraduate students at a four-year college or university and members of a fishing club recognized by their college or university.

The next National Guard FLW College West Conference tournament is scheduled for Feb. 25 at Lake Havasu in Lake Havasu City, Ariz.

FISHING — Much is written about the excellent trout fishing in the Columbia Basin. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife publishes pages of fishing prospects and stocking schedules to help anglers stay on top of these destinations for rainbows.

However, the majority if the waters are filled with warmwater species, such as bass and perch, and the Columbia Basin's warmwater fisheries biologists aren't being left in the dust.

Some of these waters provide excellent spiny ray fishing. Size them up for yourself with this handy guide the warmwater biologists

NEW ORLEANS — Brandon Palaniuk of Rathdrum finished fourth in the Bassmaster Classic after the final weigh-in today for the three-day “super bowl” of bass fishing.

Palaniuk, 23, was the youngest of the 50 anglers to qualify for the competition. He also was the only angler from the West.

See a gallery of 13 great photos of Brandon's three-day run in the Classic.

See the ESPN schedule for TV coverage of the Classic to air next week.

Defending champ Kevin VanDam of Michigan won his fourth Bassmaster title and the first-place prize of $500,000 by weighing in 15 fish over the three days totaling a whopping 69 pounds 11 ounces.

Alabama angler Aaron Martens finished second with a total of 59 pounds, followed by another Alabama angler, Derek Remitz with 56 pounds 8 ounces and Palaniuk with 55 pounds 7 ounces.

Martens earned $45,000, Remitz $40,000 and Palaniuk $30,000.

Today Palaniuk caught a big bass weighing 7 pounds 13 ounces. He told the cheering weigh-in crowd, “I had another one that I swear tried to eat this one.”

Palaniuk, who earned his spot in the classic by winning the $60,000 Federation Nation championship prize last fall, was already creating a buzz of interest among angling media during the pre-fishing in the Louisiana Delta before the event.

He reportedly slept in the back of his pickup to save money.

At least 15 family members and friends made the trek to New Orleans, several driving 2,400 miles one way from North Idaho.

Read on for a Bassmasters report featuring the winners.

PRO FISHING — Brandon Palaniuk of Rathdrum told the Bassmaster Classic weigh-in crowd in New Orleans tonight that he was fishing this morning in thick a fog and could hear other anglers casting nearby, but he couldn’t see who was around him.

Suddenly he realized he was sharing the water with reigning champion and three-time Classic winner Kevin VanDam.

“He was great and very respectful of me, and I’m trying to do the same for him,” said Palaniuk, 23, one of a small group of “youngsters” in this year's Classic. “It’s awesome to be fishing next to someone who I’ve looked up to since I was eight years old.”

He had good reason to look up to VanDam.

The champ had a huge day, topping the entire 50-angler field with five fish totaling 22 pounds 8 ounces to soar up to the top spot after the second day of fishing.

Palaniuk,  the only angler from the West in this year's Classic, caught a limit of five fish totaling 17 pounds 14 ounces today. Combined with the five fish he caught Friday, his total is 32 pounds 8 ounces with one more day of fishing to go.

VanDam's total is 41 pounds 11 ounces.

See all the first- and second-day results here.
  

PRO FISHING — Brandon Palaniuk of Rathdrum moved from 11th place to fourth place today  after the second day of fishing among the 50 anglers in New Orleans for the Bassmaster Classic .

Palaniuk, who's been creating a buzz since he arrived, has a shot a victory in the three-day Super Bowl of bass fishing, which runs through Sunday at  the Louisiana Delta.

Palaniuk, the only angler to qualify from the West, caught five fish totaling 17 pounds 14 ounces today. Combined with the five fish he caught Friday, his total is 32 pounds 8 ounces with one more day of fishing to go.

The leader is defending champ Kevin VanDam of Michigan with 41 pounds 11 ounces. In second is  Kansas angler Brent Chapman with 38 pounds 1 ounce. In third is  Alabama angler Aaron Martens with 33 pounds 2 ounces. See all the first- and second-day results here.

Follow the event online and Palaniuk  online; see  my  previous blog post and ESPN interview with Palaniuk.

Brandon might be the only angler from the West at the Classic, but he's not alone. .

At least 15 family members and friends made the trek to New Orleans, several driving from his hometown of Rathdrum, Idaho.

“That's only 2,392 miles Palaniuk, the 23-year-old winner of the B.A.S.S. Federation Nation championship last fall, has been sleeping in his truck to be able to afford his foray into professional fishing.

PRO FISHING — As I write this, Brandon Palaniuk of Rathdrum is still waiting for his weigh-in after the second day of fishing at the Bassmaster Classic in New Orleans.

Palaniuk, 23, is the only angler from the West among the 50-angler field.  He finished the first day of fishing in 11th place.

But he has a vocal group of fans, including about 15 family members who made the 2,400-mile expedition from Idaho to watch him compete in the bigget bassing event in the world.

PRO-FISHING — Brandon Palaniuk of Rathdrum is in 11th place after the first day of fishing among the 50 anglers  in New Orleans for the Bassmaster Classic .

The three-day Super Bowl of bass fishing runs through Sunday at  the Louisiana Delta.

Palaniuk, the only angler to qualify from the west, caught five fish totaling 14 pounds 10 ounces in the first day of competition.

The leader, Alabama angler Aaron Martens came in with five fish totaling 20 pounds 7 ounces. See all the first-day results here.

Follow the event online and Palaniuk  online; see  my  previous blog post and ESPN interview with Palaniuk.

PALANIUK HAS FAMILY FAN BASE

Brandon might be the only angler from the West at the Classic, but he's not alone.  Here a morning post from the Bassmaster Classic blog.

“Most Classic anglers have supportive families, but few can top B.A.S.S. Federation Nation qualifier Brandon Palaniuk. At least 15 family members and friends made the trek to New Orleans, several driving from his hometown of Rathdrum, Idaho.

“That's only 2,392 miles from Bayou Segnette State Park, or one day, 15 hours of driving at the speed limit. His mother, Tonya, and stepfather, Dan Lyden, along with his grandmother and aunts, stood in the bleachers and cheered him on. Palaniuk, the 23-year-old winner of the B.A.S.S. Federation Nation championship last fall, has been sleeping in his truck to be able to afford his foray into professional fishing.

“He's also signed up for the Bassmaster Elite Series, which kicks off in March. Family members held up a banner in the bleachers imploring Palaniuk to 'Do Work.' That's the code phrase he uses to tell his mother when he's faring well in a tournament — 'I do work,' he tells her.”

— Dave Precht

PRO-FISHING — Rathdrum, Idaho, angler Brandon Palaniuk (pronounced “pal-a-nick”) is catching some attention — and perhaps some extra cash — as he warms up for this weekend's Bassmaster Classic — the Super Bowl of competitive bass fishing.

An e-mail just received from a Bassmaster insider said Palaniuk, 23, is creating some buzz around the competition site at  the Louisiana Delta near New Orleans. The insider said he'd heard the Berkley fishing tackle company “just signed on to sponsor him, which suggests someone sees real potential in this guy!”

The 50 anglers who qualified for the Classic are pre-fishing this week; competition will run Friday-Sunday.

Read on for an ESPN pre-event Q&A interview with Palaniuk, who earned his berth at the Classic by winning the $60,000 grand prize at the 2010 B.A.S.S. Federation Nation Championship in Shreveport, La. — a long way from his North Idaho home.

By the way… Despite having competed in tournaments in the nation's goldbelt of bass fishing, he told ESPN that Lake Coeur d'Alene is still his favorite place to fish.

PRO BASSING — Joey Nania, 19, of Liberty Lake headed out of the region this week with fellow Inland Empire Bass Clubber Art Acuff of Spokane Valley to begin the 2011 professional bass fishing season at the Central Open in Texas.

After that, Nania plans to make a base in Birmingham, Alabama, to be close to major tournament venues.

Nania, the nation's only two-time Junior Bassmaster Champion, debuted on the pro bass tour last year. He finishing 9th in the BASS Central Open on Lake Amistad and first on the Washington State BASS Federation Nation Team while slipping to 24th in a field of 55 anglers at the Federation Nation National Championships.