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.

The Passing of a Legend: Guido Hibdon loses battle with cancer

Legendary angler Guido Hibson has died due to complications from cancer. A true legend in the bass fishing world Guido is best know for popularizing finesse and tube fishing in eastern America. Guido won two BASS Angler of the Year (1990 & 1991) and the 1988 Bassmaster Classic on the James River. Thoughts and prayers for his family and his thousands of grieving fans.

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!’”

All Bassmaster Classic Champs

Jordan Lee,  the 2017 Classic Champ on Lake Conroe Texas. 

With the 2018 Bassmaster Classic only a week away, BASS has a great historical photo slide show of each Classic Champ. How many can you name without looking?
Link here

6th Annual Bowmanville Tackle Swap and Fishing Show on Sunday Mar 11th, 2018

Please join us for the 6th Annual Bowmanville Tackle Swap and Fishing Show on Sunday Mar 11th at Clarington Central Secondary School in Bowmanville. Located at 200 Clarington Blvd. Show runs from 10am to 4pm. Entry fee is either $5.00 per family or $2 per family with a non-perishable food donation, which will be donated to the local Salvation Army Food Bank.
Over 120 vendors, great deal on new and used fishing gear, tackle, rods, reels, and apparel. Manufacture reps, Pro-staff, tournament anglers, guides, and fishing personalities on hand to answer questions and talk fishing. All Kids 13 years and under will receive a free bag of plastic baits courtesy of Widow Maker Lures Canada, Casting area for kids, kids making a practice cast will receive a free Lucky Strike spoon courtesy of Lucky Strike Bait Works. Free Cotton Candy for the kids.
There will be two fishing seminars at the show. One seminar on Muskie fishing and the other will be on Carp fishing (Max capacity of 110 people).
Will have lots of free draw prizes again, plus silent auction prizes and raffle draw prizes in support of the local Bowmanville Salvation Army, for the Memory of fellow angler Stuart Ellis who was tragically killed in November by an impaired driver, and for Fishing for a Cure for childhood Cancer.
Hope to see you on Sun March 11th. For more information find us on Facebook at Bowmanville Tackle Swap and Fishing show. Cash Only Sales.

3 Finesse Smallmouth Presenations with Yamaha Pro Dave Chong

One of the best smallmouth anglers in North American, Dave Chong knows how to catch them. Here are his 3 best finesse presentations that will work anywhere you are after smallmouth in lakes, rivers or reservoirs.  Listen as he tell IBASSIN.com viewers which 3 finesse presentations he relays on when after smallmouth.

LAKEMASTER Mapping

For decades LakeMaster® has been putting accuracy, detail, and a passion for angling on the map lead by a devoted team of GIS analysts, anglers, and surveyors alike. LakeMaster's partnership with Humminbird® is now beginning to break down more barriers than ever before. Humminbird LakeMaster mapping is not only growing in coverage area, but also expanding the possibilities of cartography. Together innovation continues to lead to new and exciting products, seamless integration between software and hardware, a relentless focus on helping anglers catch more fish, and a commitment to doing it all right here in the U.S.A. and now Ontario.
Link here to see more

Shimano Improving Muskies on Lake St. Clair

It’s a good day for muskie anglers when natural resource managers from Ontario, Michigan and Ohio all come together to make the fishery better. Combine that with the involvement of volunteers from both Muskies Canada and Muskies, Inc., and now financial support from Shimano’s Canada operations, and targeting these big fish on Lake St. Clair has a positive outlook.

            During ‘Muskie Sunday’ events at the just completed Spring Fishing & Boat Show, Canada’s largest outdoor show at The International Center in Mississauga, Ont., Shimano added to the day with a $1,000 donation to support the Lake St. Clair muskellunge tracking project. “We wanted to step up after seeing how the DNR fishery experts in both Michigan and Ohio, and our Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry have teamed up on this project,” said Bob Mahoney with Shimano’s Canada operations. “And we applaud the joint efforts of the Muskies Canada and Muskies, Inc. organizations for their assistance.

            The donation will go to the purchase of additional acoustic radio tags that are implanted in caught-and-released muskies out of Lake St. Clair. The project provides the ability for donors to name a tagged muskie, and follow its travels at any time - similar to shark tagging programs. More than 50 muskies currently swim in Lake St. Clair, where their movements are tracked by using underwater receivers of the Great Lakes Acoustic Telemetry Observation System.