2018 FLW TOUR Lake Lanier Day 3: Hallman Eyes Win with 55-03lbs!

Gustafson 3rd with 48.10lbs

by Sean Ostruszka

FLW PRESS RELEASE

Bradley working his magic on Day 3.
(Photo: FLW)

Back in 2016, Bradley Hallman went into the final day of the FLW Tour kickoff on Lake Okeechobee with a 13 ½-pound lead. His main pattern seemed to be fading, and he ended up catching only two bass the final day. Yet, it didn’t matter. His lead was too great for anyone to overcome.

Fast forward to the FLW Tour presented by Ranger on Lake Lanier, and once again Hallman has a sizable lead. It’s not double digits, but his 55-pound, 3-ounce total is still 5 ½ pounds more than fellow Oklahoman Zack Birge. And once again, his patterns seem to be fading – he had to switch to a completely new pattern today – and his weights keep dropping, as he only brought in 13-1 today. Yet, he’s hoping he can hang on once again.

“I’m trying everything,” says Hallman. “Neither of my two patterns happened today. So I completely changed to a new deal to catch most my weight.”

Hallman has basically changed patterns every day, though he knew he had the first two going into the tournament.

He started today with his key pattern from Thursday, running dozens of deep structure spots, but it didn’t pan out and he ditched it after only an hour, saying he knew it wouldn’t go if it didn’t go early.

2018 FLW TOUR Lake Lanier Day 2: Bradley Hallman Leads by 7 Pounds with with 42-02lbs!

Gustafson 15th, Cory Johnston 67th, Chris Johnston 92th & Richardson 172th

by Sean Ostruszka

FLW PRESS RELEASE

Hallman on a big roll.
(Photo: FLW)

Everyone needs a backup plan. Bradley Hallman sure was glad he had one on Friday.

At around 1 p.m. Hallman only had one small fish swimming in his livewell. Fortunately, he’d been sitting on an ace in the hole – a secondary pattern that just so happens to get better later in the day. That pattern got him right in a hurry, as he quickly sacked up another 18 pounds, 11 ounces of spotted bass to extend his lead at the FLW Tour presented by Ranger on Lake Lanier. His 42-2 total is a little over 7 pounds more than second-place angler David Williams.

“I’ve got two deals; well, maybe three, but two main deals,” says the Norman, Okla., pro. “They’re totally different deals.”

Hallman started out on his first pattern Friday – running dozens of deeper structures – because he knows despite being high risk, it’s also high reward. The high rewards showcased themselves on day one when he crushed 23-11, but the risk reared its head on day two, as Hallman only connected with one fish all morning.

He wasn’t the only pro to struggle, however. Weights were down across the field, as many pros said the bluebird skies and post-frontal conditions had completely moved their fish or at the very least changed how they were biting.

Hallman managed to catch two small keepers shortly after 1 p.m., but then he decided to try his second deal. He’d sampled it on day one, quickly catching a 4-pounder and leaving. Today he leaned on it a bit more to help extend his lead.

2018 FLW TOUR Lake Lanier Day 1: Bradley Hallman Commands with 23-11lbs!

Gustafson 10th, Cory Johnston 107th, Chris Johnston 120th & Richardson 154th

by Sean Ostruszka

FLW PRESS RELEASE

Every angler has “one of those days” when he can do no wrong. Today was Bradley Hallman’s.

Big spots on the bite on Lanier but Hallman bested them all.
(Photo: FLW)

Yes, the Norman, Okla., pro had a pattern, but he’ll also admit he got a little lucky. Regardless, the end result was a 23-pound, 11-ounce bag of fish to lead the FLW Tour presented by Ranger on Lake Lanier. But they weren’t just any fish. He weighed in 23-11 of spotted bass.

“Today … it was such a day,” Hallman says of his dream day of spotted-bass fishing.

Case in point: Hallman knew he 20+ pounds by 1 p.m. So, he went to a spot he figured would help his co-angler finish up his limit.

“I pull up, just flip a cast out randomly and let [my co-angler] have the good area,” says Hallman. “Then it was just, ‘I’m on,’ and it’s huge. I put it in the livewell, and I have no idea what they all weigh. Their bellies are all so fat. So I balance beam and cull. Then I weigh the smallest one I have left, and it’s 4-4. I saw that and was like, ‘I’m done!’”

2017 Walmart FLW Tour Lake Travis Day 1: Thrift Takes Big Lead with 24-12!

Chris Johnston 21st, Richardson 22nd, Gustafson 54th & Cory Johnston 120th. 
By Luigi De Rose

Thrift lead on Travis. (Photo: FLW)

Keepers a struggle for the 164 Walmart FLW Tour anglers on Day 1 of Lake Travis, Texas. Under an early fog and cool weather the fishing was a challenge for most except Bryan Thrift. Thrift, a professed "runner and gunner",  milked several key areas to take the day 1 lead with 24-12lbs of bass. Stephen Patek is 4 pounds back in second place with 20-05lbs and Bradley Hallman is sitting 3rd with 19-04 with only 4 bass.

Top 10 pros

1. Bryan Thrift – Shelby, N.C. – 24-12 (5)

2. Stephen Patek – Garland, Texas – 20-5 (5)

3. Bradley Hallman – Norman, Okla. – 19 – 4 (4)

4. Scott Suggs – Alexander, Ark. – 17-3 (5)

5. Christopher Brasher – Longview, Texas – 16-8 (5)

6. Justin Atkins – Florence, Ala. – 16-0 (5)

7. Deal Alexander – Georgetown, Texas – 15-0 (5)

8. Dylan Hays – Sheridan, Ark. – 14-15 (5)

9. Anthony Gagliardi – Prosperity, S.C. – 14-13 (5)

10. Grae Buck – Harleysville, Penn. – 14-12 (5)