PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. (July 29, 2022) – Mild temperatures and a light westerly breeze led to an absolute slugfest on Lake Champlain Friday, with nearly 2,500 pounds of bass crossing the stage after Day 1 of the MLF Pro Circuit Stop 6 tournament at Lake Champlain. Pro Kyle Hall of Granbury, Texas, racked up a five-bass limit weighing 21 pounds, 13 ounces to grab the early lead, ending the day with a slim 5-ounce advantage over Eldon, Missouri’s Casey Scanlon , the 2019 Pro Circuit Champion on Lake Champlain, who finished the day with a limit weighing 21-8, good for second place.
While a combination of largemouth and smallmouth bass rolled across the weigh-in stage Friday, it seems brown fish may take the trophy this week at the sixth and final regular-season Pro Circuit event, where 154 of the world’s best bass fishing professionals are competing for a top prize of up to $135,000.
“Things kicked off on my very first cast and I had a blast this morning,” Hall said. “I ran to my first spot and had a limit within 10 to 15 minutes, with a total of 17 to 18 pounds right off the bat, including three fish that were close to 4-pounders.
“I hit two or three more spots before I landed on a school that I’d found in practice and it lit up,” Hall continued. “I culled several times on that spot and there were actually more fish today than I’d found in practice, so I think they are coming into the area.”
Hall said he spent most of Day 1 dissecting the fishery with his Garmin Livescope, targeting bass with a drop-shot and a swimbait, in 15 to 30 feet of water.
“My goal today was 20 pounds, and we got that, then caught two more that put me over, so I’m feeling really good going into Day 2,” Hall said. “There were a lot of fish in the first area that I hit. I think if I stay there, I can definitely get 20 pounds, but I didn’t want to waste a bunch of fish on the first day.”
However, with a solid group of anglers nipping at his heels, Hall said he didn’t plan on slowing down any time soon.
“I’m not in the points race, so I’m in it to win it this week,” he continued. “With weights zeroing on Championship Monday, I’m not too concerned with building a big lead. I’m just concentrating on staying in contention for the final day and I’m ready to get back out there on Day 2.”
The top 20 pros after Day 1 on Lake Champlain are:
1st: Kyle Hall of Granbury, Texas, five bass, 21-13
2nd: Casey Scanlon of Eldon, Mo., five bass, 21-8
3rd: Evan Barnes of Dardanelle, Ark., five bass, 21-2
4th: Andy Newcomb of Camdenton, Mo., five bass, 20-14
5th: Cole Floyd of Leesburg, Ohio, five bass, 20-9
5th: Matt Becker of Finleyville, Pa., five bass, 20-9
7th: Kyle Cortiana of Broken Arrow, Okla., five bass, 20-8
8th: Shonn Goodwin of Moore, Okla., five bass, 20-1
9th: Kurt Mitchell of Milford, Del., five bass, 20-0
10th: Dakota Ebare of Brookeland, Texas, five bass, 19-13
11th: Cody Pike of Powhatan, Va., five bass, 19-8
12th: Mark Rose of Wynne, Ark., five bass, 19-7
13th: Alex Davis of Albertville, Ala., five bass, 19-6
14th: Braxton Setzer of Wetumpka, Ala., five bass, 19-5
14th: Scott Wiley of Bay Minette, Ala., five bass, 19-5
16th: Michael Neal of Dayton, Tenn., five bass, 19-2
16th: Lane Olson of Forest Grove, Ore., five bass, 19-2
18th: Larry Nixon of Quitman, Ark., five bass, 19-0
19th: Jason Reyes of Huffman, Texas, five bass, 18-12
19th: Brandon Mosley of Choctaw, Okla., five bass, 18-12
For a full list of results visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Goodwin brought a largemouth weighing 5 pounds, 14 ounces to the scale to win the day's $1,000 Berkley Big Bass award. Overall, there were 752 bass weighing 2,417 pounds, 12 ounces caught by 154 pros Friday. The catch included 143 five-bass limits.
In Pro Circuit competition, the full field of anglers compete in the two-day opening round on Friday and Saturday. The top 50 pros based on their two-day cumulative weight advance to Sunday. Only the top 10 pros continue competition on Monday, where weights are zeroed, and the winner is determined by the heaviest weight from the final day of competition.
Throughout the season, anglers are also vying for valuable points in hopes of qualifying for the 2022 Pro Circuit TITLE, the Pro Circuit Championship, where they will compete for up to $235,000. The 2022 TITLE will be on the St. Lawrence River in Massena, New York on Aug. 16-21, and is hosted by the Town of Massena.
Anglers will take off at 6:30 a.m. ET each day from the Plattsburgh Waterfront, located at 5 Dock Street in Plattsburgh. Weigh-ins will also be held at the park daily at 2:30 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend the event.
The MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Covercraft Stop 6 at Lake Champlain Presented by Wiley X will feature live on-the-water coverage and a two-hour action-packed television show that will premiere September 3 on the CBS Sports Network.