Story by Justin Brouillard | Photos by Tanner & Travis Lyons
The final day of the 2024 NPFL season is here, and the pressure is on at Lake Murray. True post-frontal conditions are presenting a challenge for anglers, but the fish are still biting. The “scopers” are putting in the work, culling through smaller fish to improve their bags as the day goes on. With the shortened event format, every move counts, and anglers targeting actively feeding fish are capitalizing on the bites they can get.
As of now, only eleven anglers have reported limits on the Weigh Live Tracker, a decrease from yesterday. However, 45 anglers have caught fish, and big bass continue to make a significant impact on the standings.
Bailey Gay Takes Unofficial Lead
Unofficially, Bailey Gay has moved into the lead, though he faces strong competition from Oklahoma’s Zack Birge and Missouri’s Brock Bila. All three anglers have quality fish in their livewells.
Gay has 15 pounds, 12 ounces on the board, Birge is just behind with over 15 pounds and Bila has nearly 14 pounds, bolstered by a 4.5-pound kicker.
Todd Goade is holding steady with over 15 pounds, and Justin Kimmel rounds out the top five with a 13-pound limit.
Scopin’ for Success
On-the-water photographers report that, similar to yesterday, most top anglers—except for Ron Farrow and AOY leader Kyle Welcher, who is rotating shallow and deep—are using electronics to target bass with precision. They’re fishing deep, looking for bass feeding on schools of baitfish, and using minnow-style baits and drop shots.
AOY Race Update
The Progressive Angler of the Year race has flipped today. After yesterday’s weigh-in, Kyle Welcher erased a four-point deficit and gained an 11-point lead going into today. Welcher has a limit on the board, while Drew Cook is working on his own bag.
According to Tanner and Travis Lyons, Cook is targeting offshore brush with a jig and minnow. His limit is estimated between 13 to 14 pounds. Unofficially, the race is still wide open with plenty of room for both anglers to improve before the final flight checks in.
Catch the Weigh-In
The weigh-in begins at 3:00 PM EST on TNPFL.com. Don’t miss it!
The top ten look like this:
Bailey Gay 34-9
Zack Birge 33-13
Brock Bila 33-7
Todd Goade 18-12
Justin Kimmell 27-3
Dustin Williamson 26-15
Christian Nash 26-10
Will Harkins 26-1
Ryan Satterfield 25-9
Joseph Webster 25-7
Follow along on the Weigh Live Tracker for real-time unofficial updates from the water.
Check out the Morning Story and Launch Photo Gallery.
