Hall Back On Top Headed To Final Day

By MLF Communications Staff

Chasing the first major title of his career, Kyle Hall of Granbury, Texas, regained his lead on Day 3 of the MLF Pro Circuit event at Lake Champlain in Plattsburgh, N.Y.. Hall weighed in 19 pounds, 14 ounces to move his three-day total to 61-09, giving him a 10-ounce lead over Kyle Cortiana of Broken Arrow, Okla., who ended the day in second place with a three-day total of 60-15.

Lake Champlain continues to show out for anglers across the board, including Andy Newcomb of Camdenton, Mo., who maintained his third-place position with a limit weighing 19-04, good for a three-day total of 60-15. Matt Becker of Finleyville, Pa., finished the day in fourth place with a limit weighing 20-03 to bring his three-day total to 60-13, while Dakota Ebare of Brookeland, Texas, brought a limit to the stage weighing 20-04 for a three-day total of 60-04 to round out the Top 5.

The top prize of up to $135,000 is ripe for the picking as the final 10 anglers resume competition Monday, when weights are zeroed and the angler who catches the heaviest five-fish weight will be crowned the champion.

Hall, who was the 2020 Pro Circuit Rookie of the Year, said he knew from the moment he saw the 2022 schedule that he would be hunting smallmouths on Lake Champlain, but the Texan never expected he would be leading the Top 10 into day 4.

“I’ve had a terrible year, so it feels great to be sitting in first place going into the final day,” said Hall, who is going into his first Championship Round this season on the Pro Circuit. “If you had told me I’d be in first place after the third day of competition, I wouldn’t have believed you. I knew I had what it took, and I knew what to do and where to do it, but sometimes I’m a little stubborn.”

Hall said the difference this event is that he is forcing himself to sit and cover a lot of water on the trolling motor, instead of firing up his outboard and running to various areas across the lake.

“I’ve really only hit two spots this entire tournament, which is unusual for me,” Hall said. “I’m normally running and gunning but knew I couldn’t do that successfully at this event.

“I was going for 20 pounds today and caught 18 pounds pretty quick this morning, But, by 9 a.m., I couldn’t get another bite. I stayed on that spot until 12:30 – over three hours without a single bite – before running to my other area where I had success the first day. I fished there for 15 minutes and caught a 4 1/2-pounder and three more that didn’t help, but that kicker fish made all the difference.”

While Hall said he plans to start the final day in the same location, he has several other places to fall back on if his primary spot dries up.

“My game plan tomorrow is to go stick it out on that spot because there are obviously big fish there and with the number of fish I saw today, compared to how many were there Friday, they are definitely loading up. I’ve just got to hunker down and sit on it like I’ve done on the other spot the last three days.”

Anglers were also vying for the 2022 Pro Circuit Angler of the Year (AOY) title that is determined by the most points accumulated over the six Pro Circuit events.

Reigning AOY Michael Neal of Dayton, Tenn., once again clinched another title Sunday after ending the event in 15th place. Neal overtook Josh Butler of Hayden, Alabama, who had a 14-point lead coming into the event, and now becomes the third pro in the tour's history to win the AOY in consecutive years, joining Andy Morgan of Dayton, Tenn. (2013, 2014) and David Dudley of Lynchburg, Virginia (2011, 2012). Neal will receive his entry fees paid for the entire 2023 Pro Circuit season for his win.

“I came into the year with the goal of winning AOY again, and while the reality of that didn’t seem very possible, you’ve always got to have those types of goals in mind,” Neal said. “However, to actually win it and to be in the company of the other anglers that have achieved that goal – that’s pretty special.”

Neal said he is ecstatic for the win but has no intention of letting up on the gas, and plans to finish out the season strong at the Pro Circuit TITLE on the St. Lawrence River next month in Massena, N.Y.

“A championship win is what my career is lacking at this point,” Neal continued. “I had a good finish on the St. Lawrence River at the TITLE last year and I’m starting to figure out smallmouth a little better, so I’m looking forward to that as well.”

The final 10 anglers will launch at 6:30 a.m. ET Monday from the Plattsburgh Waterfront, located at 5 Dock Street in Plattsburgh. Monday’s Championship weigh-in will also be held at the waterfront at 2:30 p.m. Fans are encouraged to attend the event or follow the live on-the-water action online on MLF NOW! beginning at 7 a.m. ET at MajorLeagueFishing.com.