Shortly after the final weigh-in on St. Lawrence, Elite Series angler, Brandon Palaniuk has only one thing on his mind: heading back to his home state of Idaho — specifically, to begin stalking elk.

 

The Elite Series season is over. The prepping, the driving, the on the road fathering, the practicing, the actual tournament days are all in the rearview. For all Elite series anglers, the season is a grind. It’s a job that feels like a dream — and it is, but truth be told, it’s not for the faint of heart. If you succeed one year — it’s not unlikely to be humbled the next.

 

 

Simms Pro, Brandon Palaniuk, however, has found a way, a knack if you will, to stay on top year after year amongst a vast field consisting of the best anglers in the world, all of which are competing in the most prestigious bass tournaments in existence.

 

Brandon’s consistency on maintaining an edge over his competitors isn’t a coincidence and it’s not by chance. There’s a method to sustaining his top tier status and it starts with his offseason.

 

You’d think that after a grueling travel schedule, the inevitable highs and lows of the season, and non-stop pressure, relaxation and vacation would rank at the very top of his offseason to-do list. And for some, that very well may be the case. Brandon on the other hand, kicks his offseason off with a somewhat unconventional approach. Starting in the Fall, Brandon hikes 10+ miles a day in Idaho’s backcountry and scouts his favorite ungulate — the infamous Rocky Mountain elk.

 

Deep in the backcountry, disconnected from people and countless miles away from the closest weigh-scale and/or camera boat is where and when Brandon is able to unplug, take a step back, and finally reflect.

 

While fishing is how Brandon earns his living and is obviously a huge part of his life, growing up in Idaho, hunting has equally been present throughout his life.

 

Although they offer completely different experiences, the contrast between hunting and fishing provides much needed balance. Brandon has always said, “The lakes have my heart, but the mountains have my soul”. And after a long arduous season, it’s his soul that’s in dyer need of replenishment.

 

This season, after days upon days of scouting, Brandon got a beat on a big bull. He crafted a plan and in the end, he downed an animal that will feed his family for many months ahead. For Brandon, having a plan like this that actually comes together is an experience that means much more than filling a freezer. Once the elk is broken down, the meat is processed, and the freezer is loaded, Brandon is able to continue with his offseason unwind.

 

 

After a successful hunt, he feels mentally recharged and switches gears back to fishing. Interestingly enough, however, bass is not the target species during the cooler months of late fall. Instead, he focusses on species that are a little more synonymous with Idaho —  fishlike trout, pike, walleye, and salmon. These species behave quite a bit differently than bass, but provide a similar challenge on forward facing sonar.

 

Implementing tactics and techniques that regularly put him in the winner’s circle during his bass season is a unique advantage Brandon has at his disposal. The different behavior of these fish, offer diverse looks on forward facing sonar. The casting angles, the responses, the bait combinations all put forth a unique perspective to targeting bass in a warm water lake. This cross-reference of behavior of pelagic cold-water lake fish to pelagic warm water bass gives Brandon an edge going into the season.

 

 

There’s not a lot that he hasn’t seen on forward facing sonar, an important skill he has developed over the years. Of course, rainbow trout don’t yield a fat foam board check come January, but this time of year is about enjoying life and reflecting on the accomplishments that wouldn't be possible without a ton of work, sacrifices, and an unwavering will to win — the essence of the offseason.

 

 

As Brandon embarks on yet another season on the Elite Series, he will have a new addition to his squad as he just welcomed his second child to the world this November. This season will be different than the others as a new family of four, but one thing remains the same, the inherent success of being revitalized after a successful offseason.