Through years of hard work and sacrifice, this pro has built a career for himself that most only can dream of having. In addition to catching big bass, he's also known for being brutally honest when it comes to the sport of professional fishing.
"If you're talented enough and want it bad enough, anyone can make it in this sport," said Palaniuk. "You don't need to have a bunch of money...but you do need some talent. Some guys have it, and some don't. There has to be some self-awareness there."
Palaniuk went on to explain that he has pay stubs which indicate he made $26,000 working two jobs in 2009, the year before he qualified for the Elite Series.
"I barely made enough money to live on. I don't buy the 'silver spoon' argument one bit. It's a long, hard grind for the large majority of us," he noted.
With the emergence and growing popularity of high school and college fishing, it's becoming "cool" to be on a fishing team. That's awesome for the sport, but Palaniuk wants to make sure these young anglers have realistic expectations if they want to fish for a living.
"I want them to understand that you have to be somewhat selfish if you want to take it to the professional level," he said. "That doesn't mean being cocky. It means telling your friends that you're not going out on Friday and Saturday nights. It means telling your girlfriend that you're leaving for three weeks. It also means missing family functions.
"You don't have a fancy truck or boat...and that's OK," he continued. "I saved up to buy a $35,000 bass boat, and I towed it with a $1,500 truck. You have to go all-in. There's no grey area. You really have to shut yourself off from the outside world and your social life in order to dig in and focus on your goal. Not everyone can do that."
It's easy to watch professional fishing and think the anglers have it made, what with the fancy boats, slick-looking jerseys, and some even have lifted trucks worth more than some small houses. According to Palaniuk, though, there is a huge gap between the big guys and the little guys.
"I was guilty of this when I started fishing professionally," he said. "You assume that everyone is instantly making a bunch of money, and every jersey logo is worth $10,000. That simply is not reality. There is such an enormous gap between the guy who is making the most and the guy who is making the least. You have guys out here whose sponsorship money doesn't even cover their expenses, and then some guys who make seven figures...and they're fishing together on the same tour."
It's important to note, however, that even the big-name anglers earned every penny of their lucrative sponsorship deals.
"My first year on tour," said Palaniuk, "the only money I had was the little bit I got from B.A.S.S. Nation. I sold the boat I won in the Federation National Championship, so I could have some money. Got a Skeeter on a delayed bill, and that's how I paid for my entry fees. I didn't have a single paying sponsor. I think I got like $10,000 from the Federation because I was the first guy to go from the Federation to the Elites. The only other people who paid me was Berkley, and it wasn't even in the contract. After the Classic, they sent me a letter, saying they knew I was sleeping in the back of my truck, and they gave me $5,000. That was a huge help for me, and I'll always appreciate it."
This is a common story for a lot of professional anglers as they rise through the ranks. Oh, and this is just for entry fees. Now you need to have money for travel, food, and gas money, too.
All too often, all we see are a lot of photos with anglers hoisting big trophies over their heads. What we don't see is the stress and pressure that comes along with it, which, according to Palaniuk, eats a lot of guys alive.
"Perhaps the most unique thing about this sport is that you're going to get beat a lot more than you'll win," he said. "It doesn't matter who you are, or how good you are. You have to be willing and able to withstand those blows. It's so much more of a mental thing than you'd think. A lot of these guys are fishing defensively...meaning they're just trying to cut a check and pay some bills. I'd say that a healthy portion of professional anglers are scared to death about money while they're fishing. There's no doubt in my mind.
"Everyone is in a different position," he continued, "but man, when a guy has two kids, a wife, health insurance, and a mortgage to worry about, that stuff comes into play...big time. You don't want to drag your family down a financial hole. Some guys perform best under that pressure, but some will fish scared, play defense, and completely buckle. We see it all the time. This addiction we have to tournament fishing has ruined a lot of marriages and left a lot of families broken. It's no joke."
Because losses are such a common theme in professional fishing, your mental toughness and positivity becomes paramount to your success. If someone is bringing you down, sometimes you have to cut 'em out.
"I think you have to reject negativity at all costs," said Palaniuk. "You need to surround yourself with positive people, no matter what. I'm talking sponsorships, family, girlfriend, wife...everyone. Whom you hang out with makes a huge difference.
"When I roomed with Chad Pipkens on the Elite Series," Palaniuk continued, "I was much more positive than I ever had been. I would make a top 20 and be upset about it, but Chad might finish lower than me and be pumped up and optimistic. That type of stuff is infectious. It's so important to spend your time around positive people. You need that support system on the road and at home. You absolutely cannot be worried about what's going on at home. It takes a very special significant other to understand this lifestyle."
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