OKEECHOBEE, Fla. — Brandon Palaniuk delivered a commanding performance to win the Champion Power Equipment Bassmaster Elite at Lake Okeechobee with a four-day total of 95 pounds, 4 ounces. Despite a slow final day, Palaniuk’s early momentum carried him to victory.
“It’s so crazy how things happen for a reason,” Palaniuk said about his final-day struggles. “This morning, me and (seventh-place Greg DiPalma) were fishing next to one another, and I watched him lose several big ones. I hate that and I love it, at the same time. I don’t wish that upon anyone, but if he would have caught those, I would have been sweating bullets.”
A Record-Breaking Performance
Palaniuk, a two-time Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year, started strong with a third-place, first-round limit of 23-7. He surged into the Day 2 lead with a 34-10 bag, his personal best and the heaviest single-day weight in Bassmaster Elite history at Lake Okeechobee. His lead over Greg DiPalma extended to 9-12 going into Day 3.
On Semifinal Saturday, pressure from earlier rounds made fish wary, but Palaniuk managed a 23-pound bag, widening his lead to 18-3. He closed the tournament with a final-day limit of 14-3, securing his sixth Elite Series title and the fourth-largest winning margin in Bassmaster Elite history at 15-13 over John Garrett.
Key Fishing Strategy and Baits
All week, Palaniuk focused on a small stretch of the C-41A Canal near Lake Istokpoga. His key fishing spot featured a ridge with an adjacent trench, which allowed fish to funnel through and replenish daily.
“I think the biggest thing was this spot had deep water and spawning areas nearby,” Palaniuk said. “That allowed those fish to funnel through and replenish every day.”
His winning bait selection included:
- Megabass Kanata jerkbait
- Prototype Megabass crankbait
- Megabass Big M 4.0
- KGB glidebait
- Neko-rigged Zoom Magnum Finesse Worm (green pumpkin)
- XZone Lures Muscle Back Craw (punched through hyacinth mats)
Top Competitors and Standings
John Garrett – Runner-Up with 79-7
Garrett, from Union City, Tenn., started with a slow 10-8 on Day 1, then bolted into 12th place on Day 2 with 22-7. He maintained momentum with 23-3 on Semifinal Saturday and closed with a final-day limit of 23-5.
“This Florida swing has been absolutely unbelievable,” Garrett said. “Every decision I’ve made the past two weeks has been the right one.”
Garrett’s go-to baits included:
- Black and blue Strike King Hack Attack Swim Jig with a Strike King Rage Scounbug trailer
- Texas-rigged black and blue Strike King Rage Bug
Kyoya Fujita – Third Place with 77-4
The Japanese angler focused on the Rim Canal near Taylor Creek and relied on Livescope to find fish.
His key baits were:
Notable Achievements and Bonus Awards
- David Gaston (Sylacauga, Ala.) landed an 11-8 bass, winning the $2,000 Phoenix Boats Big Bass Award. His catch is the largest bass ever caught at Lake Okeechobee in Bassmaster Elite history.
- Palaniuk won the $2,000 Rapala Crush City Monster Bag award for his 34-10 limit on Day 2.
- Garrett leads the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings with 204 points.
- Evan Kung (Pickering, Canada) leads the Dakota Lithium Elite Series Rookie of the Year standings with 143 points.
- Will Davis Jr. earned $3,000 as the highest-placing entrant in the Toyota Bonus Bucks program.
- Palaniuk earned an additional $4,000 through the Yamaha Power Pay program.
Looking Ahead
With this win, Palaniuk now has six Bassmaster Elite Series victories, further cementing his legacy. “We’re not done yet,” he said. “I’m 15 years into it; I figure I have at least that many more. I feel like we’re just getting started.”
Event Hosted by Visit Florida
Visit Florida hosted the event, bringing top anglers from around the world to one of the most renowned bass fishing locations in the country.
2025 Bassmaster Elite Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2025 Bassmaster Elite Series Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Progressive Insurance, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2025 Bassmaster Elite Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew’s, Lowrance, Marathon, Triton Boats, VMC
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About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
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