![Brandon Palaniuk completed an amazing run to become 2017 Toyota Angler of the Year.
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<em>All captions: Craig Lamb</em>](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/01_-_palaniuk_lead_1_of_2.jpg)
All captions: Craig Lamb
![Feats included qualifying for six of the nine regular seasonâs Championship Sundays. Here is a tacklebox gallery of the lures used by the Idaho pro to win the title.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/02_-_palaniuk_lead_2_of_2.jpg)
![<b>Cherokee Lake: 12th place</b><br>
Palaniuk relied on a trio of baits. He began the day fishing a homemade 3/4-ounce tailspin with a No. 4 Colorado blade. âI slow-rolled it off the bottom in 37 feet of water.â Later in the day he cranked channel swings or rockplies in the backs of shallow spawning flats. A Rapala DT Flat 7, Ikeâs Demon, and Storm Wiggle Wart, Phantom Brown Orange Craw, were the choices.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/03_-_palaniuk.jpg)
Palaniuk relied on a trio of baits. He began the day fishing a homemade 3/4-ounce tailspin with a No. 4 Colorado blade. âI slow-rolled it off the bottom in 37 feet of water.â Later in the day he cranked channel swings or rockplies in the backs of shallow spawning flats. A Rapala DT Flat 7, Ikeâs Demon, and Storm Wiggle Wart, Phantom Brown Orange Craw, were the choices.
![<b>Lake Okeechobee: 105th place</b><br>
Palaniuk fished open water with a 1/2-ounce Evergreen Jackhammer by Chatterbait, adding some orange strands to the skirt. For a trailer he added a Zoom Z Craw, California 420 and Green Pumpkin Flash.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/04_-_palaniuk_okeechobee_1_of_2.jpg)
Palaniuk fished open water with a 1/2-ounce Evergreen Jackhammer by Chatterbait, adding some orange strands to the skirt. For a trailer he added a Zoom Z Craw, California 420 and Green Pumpkin Flash.
![He made a punch rig with a Zoom Z Hawg Jr., Sprayed Grass and June Bug. He added that to a 4/0 VMC Heavy Duty Flipping Hook and 1.5-ounce VMC Tungsten Weight.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/05_-_palaniuk_okeechobee_2_of_2.jpg)
![<b>Toledo Bend: Fifth place</b><br>
Palaniuk concentrated on isolated vegetation using these two baits. His main choice was a 1/2-ounce bladed jig with a 4.25-inch Zoom Z Craw, California 420 pattern. Alternatively, he used a 3/8-ounce swim jig and white 4-inch Zoom Super Speed Craw.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/06_-_brandon_palaniuk_1_of_1.jpg)
Palaniuk concentrated on isolated vegetation using these two baits. His main choice was a 1/2-ounce bladed jig with a 4.25-inch Zoom Z Craw, California 420 pattern. Alternatively, he used a 3/8-ounce swim jig and white 4-inch Zoom Super Speed Craw.
![<b>Ross Barnett Reservoir: 18th place</b><br>
Palaniuk used a 3/8-ounce white/green/black swim jig with a white Zoom Super Speed Craw for a trailer. He made a punch rig with a Zoom Z Hawg, June Bug, rigged to a 4/0 VMC Heavy Duty Flipping Hook, and a 1.5-ounce VMC Tungsten Weight. He also used a 1/2-ounce buzzbait with Zoom Horny Toad.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/07_-_palaniuk_ross_barnett_1_of_2.jpg)
Palaniuk used a 3/8-ounce white/green/black swim jig with a white Zoom Super Speed Craw for a trailer. He made a punch rig with a Zoom Z Hawg, June Bug, rigged to a 4/0 VMC Heavy Duty Flipping Hook, and a 1.5-ounce VMC Tungsten Weight. He also used a 1/2-ounce buzzbait with Zoom Horny Toad.
![He also used a Terminator Walking Frog Junior in fields of lily pads and heavy cover.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/08_-_palaniuk_ross_barnett_2_of_2.jpg)
![<b>Sam Rayburn: First place</b><br>
Palaniuk found bass holding on the deeper side of the contour lines near brushpiles. The weedless feature was key for this Neko-type rig. He made it using a 5-inch Zoom Magnum Finesse Worm, Green Pumpkin. To that he added a 1/32-ounce VMC Neko Weight at one end of the worm. He completed the rig with a prototype VMC Weedless Neko Hook.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/09_-_brandon_paluniak_3_of_4.jpg)
Palaniuk found bass holding on the deeper side of the contour lines near brushpiles. The weedless feature was key for this Neko-type rig. He made it using a 5-inch Zoom Magnum Finesse Worm, Green Pumpkin. To that he added a 1/32-ounce VMC Neko Weight at one end of the worm. He completed the rig with a prototype VMC Weedless Neko Hook.
![Alternatively, Palaniuk fished deep using this Texas rigged 10-inch Zoom Olâ Monster, Plum pattern. A VMC Sinker Stop ahead of a 1/2-ounce VMC Tungsten Weight and 5/0 VMC Heavy Duty Wide Gap Hook completed the rig.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/10_-_brandon_paluniak_4_of_4.jpg)
![<b>Lake Dardanelle: 12th place</b><br>
Palaniuk cranked a Rapala DT Flat 7, Ikeâs Caribbean Shad to cover water. For a finesse approach he used a 3/16-ounce VMC Stand Up Shaky Head Jig with a Zoom Z3 Trick Worm, Z3 Edge color. Alternatively, he used a 3/4-ounce VMC Ike Approved Rugby Jig, with a 4.25-inch Zoom Z Craw, California 320 color.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/11_-_brandon_palaniuk_2_of_2.jpg)
Palaniuk cranked a Rapala DT Flat 7, Ikeâs Caribbean Shad to cover water. For a finesse approach he used a 3/16-ounce VMC Stand Up Shaky Head Jig with a Zoom Z3 Trick Worm, Z3 Edge color. Alternatively, he used a 3/4-ounce VMC Ike Approved Rugby Jig, with a 4.25-inch Zoom Z Craw, California 320 color.
![<b>St. Lawrence River: Third place</b><br>
Palanuikâs key drop shot weapon was a 4-inch Zoom Z Drop Worm, Green Weenie, rigged to a No. 2 drop shot hook, with 3/8-ounce tungsten drop shot weight.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/12_-_brandon_palaniuk_2_of_2.jpg)
Palanuikâs key drop shot weapon was a 4-inch Zoom Z Drop Worm, Green Weenie, rigged to a No. 2 drop shot hook, with 3/8-ounce tungsten drop shot weight.
![<b>Lake Champlain: Third place</b><br>
Palaniuk created a drop shot using a Zoom Z Drop, with No. 2 drop shot hook and 3/8- or 1/4-ounce tungsten drop shot sinker. A Storm Arashi Spinbait, Green Gill, was key for triggering strikes using a spybaiting technique.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/13_-_brandon_palaniuk_2_of_2.jpg)
Palaniuk created a drop shot using a Zoom Z Drop, with No. 2 drop shot hook and 3/8- or 1/4-ounce tungsten drop shot sinker. A Storm Arashi Spinbait, Green Gill, was key for triggering strikes using a spybaiting technique.
![Also key was a Storm Arashi Top Walker 13, Ayu. For strike appeal he added a VMC Feathered Treble Hook. He also used this Rapala Shadow Rap Deep.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/14_-_brandon_palaniuk_3_of_3.jpg)
![<b>Lake St. Clair: 29th place</b><br>
Palaniuk fashioned a drop shot rig using a 4-inch Zoom Z Drop Worm, Green Weenie and Purple Smoke. He added a No. 2 drop shot hook and 1/4- or 3/8-ounce tungsten weights. He used the same rig at the St. Lawrence River.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/15_-_palaniuk_st._clair_1_of_1.jpg)
Palaniuk fashioned a drop shot rig using a 4-inch Zoom Z Drop Worm, Green Weenie and Purple Smoke. He added a No. 2 drop shot hook and 1/4- or 3/8-ounce tungsten weights. He used the same rig at the St. Lawrence River.
![<b>Mille Lacs: 20th place</b><br>
A drop shot rig worked best for Palaniuk at the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Championship. He made it with a 5.25-inch Zoom Super Fluke, Purple Smoke, rigged to a 2/0 straight shank hook and 3/8-ounce drop shot sinker.](http://www.bassmaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/16_-_palaniuk_mille_lacs_1_of_1.jpg)
A drop shot rig worked best for Palaniuk at the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Championship. He made it with a 5.25-inch Zoom Super Fluke, Purple Smoke, rigged to a 2/0 straight shank hook and 3/8-ounce drop shot sinker.