Hallman Out Front
Sight-bite still dominant
Day two of the Rayovac FLW Series presented by Power-Pole on Grand Lake saw strong weights largely based on bedding fish yet again. This time, it was Bradley Hallman of Norman, Okla., who ended the day in the lead. Hallman brought 23 pounds, 3 ounces to the scale today for a two-day total of 43 pounds, 11 ounces. Hallman is just 3 ounces ahead of Jonathan Henry, who was also in second place after the first day, and 11 ounces above day-one leader Todd Castledine.
Hallman, who fished the Bassmaster Elite Series from 2006 through 2011, rose to the lead in the tightly packed top 10 on more than just visible bedding fish.
“I’m really just fishing what looks good in front of me,” says Hallman. “I’m not strictly sight-fishing like some of the guys. This morning when it was cloudy I caught two good ones on topwater and this afternoon I caught a few on a jig. I’m not seeing all of them, but they are relating to the spawn – they might be on a flat or cruising or just one on a bed you can’t see.”
Hallman says he caught about 10 keepers today (a few more than he did on the first day), but he is a little concerned about the sight-fishing bite on Saturday.
“We’re running out of fish. I had a couple new ones today that had moved up overnight. With everyone sight-fishing, it makes it tough.”
A boomer of a thunderstorm hit Grand Lake early in the day on Friday and there could be a repeat situation on the final day. Saturday’s forecast calls for a 70 percent chance of rain and scattered thunderstorms. Many pros that were sight-fishing were challenged by clouds the morning of the second day and by muddied water after the storms passed through. With that in mind, Hallman might be on the wining formula of fish you can see and fish that you can’t.
Hallman declined to give specifics about the baits he was throwing between beds, but he was upfront about his sight-fishing bait of choice – a classic white tube.
Top 10 Pros
1: Bradley Hallman – Norman, Okla. – 43-11 (10)
2: Jonathan Henry – Grant, Ala. – 43-8 (10)
3: Todd Castledine – Nacogdoches, Texas – 43-0 (10)
4: Matt Arey – Shelby, N.C. – 40-6 (10)
5: Jason Christie – Park Hill, Okla. – 40-4 (10)
6: Dylan Hays – Sheridan, Ark. – 39-0 (10)
7: Robbie Dodson – Harrison, Ark. – 37-13 (10)
8: James Watson – Springfield, Mo. – 37-7 (10)
9: Jeremy Lawyer – Sarcoxie, Mo. – 37-3 (10)
10: Brandon Perkins – Counce, Tenn. – 36-9 (10)
Triplett Rises To Co-angler Lead
Kyle Triplett of Washington, Mo., rose from second to first on the second day of competition with a day-two weight of 16 pounds, 9 ounces. In all, Triplett has sacked up 30 pounds, 3 ounces of the first two days.
“I stopped fishing at 10 o’clock,” says Triplett, who fished with James Watson. “I stopped fishing because I didn’t want to catch any that James needed.”
Triplett says he has thrown a little bit of everything to catch his fish, and seems confident in his ability to adapt to whatever the final day brings.