WILKESVILLE, Ohio — What has 118 fully-rigged bass fishing machines, comes from 23 states, has earned 172 Bassmaster Classic berths and four Classic titles, 132 Forrest Wood Cup berths and six Forrest Wood Cup titles, has seven Jasons, four Scotts, and one J Todd?
Of course, it’s the 2025 National Professional Fishing League competition field—the most star-studded, talent-laden, and passionate group of anglers the league has ever assembled.
“It’s difficult to express how excited we are with the anglers who are joining us on our 2025 journey,” says NPFL president Brad Fuller. “In all, more than 150 anglers applied to fish the NPFL in 2025, and we pared that list down to these 118 who share our passion, our vision, and our commitment to the sport. It promises to be our best year ever as an organization, and we’re working hard to make it the best ever for our anglers and our fans through our enhanced coverage and platforms.”
Unlike other leagues where qualification to participate is based on lower-level tournament performance alone, the NPFL’s vetting process has been developed to demand the highest standards of personal character, reputation, and performance.
“It’s a time-consuming and interpersonal process,” says Fuller, “but we believe it leads to a better experience for everyone involved and that it better serves our sport.”
The 2025 NPFL field includes 118 anglers hailing from 23 states, including 20 from North Carolina, 14 from South Carolina, 12 from Alabama, and 11 each from Georgia and Tennessee.
Of the 118 anglers, 76 are returning from the 2024 NPFL season, with three others returning from previous seasons. Notably, the field includes 2024 NPFL Championship winner Brandon Perkins and 2024 NPFL Progressive Angler of the Year Kyle Welcher.
Ten anglers have competed in every season of the NPFL since its inception in 2021. They are Hunter Baughman, Dan Blackert, Richard Cooper, Louis Fernandes, Brian Hatfield, Stu Martel, Matt Massey, Brandon Perkins, Timmy Reams, and Kevin Rogers.
Forty anglers are new to the league in 2025, including former Bassmaster Classic champions Hank Cherry and Jason Christie and former Forrest Wood Cup champions Justin Atkins, Greg Hackney, and Scott Suggs. They join returning title holders John Cox, David Fritts, and Darrel Robertson.
Here is the full list of 2025 NPFL competitors and their hometowns:
Jason Abram — Piney Flats, Tenn.
Barron Adams — Blue Ridge, Ga.
Sean Alvarez — Anderson, S.C.
Charlie Apperson — Jay, Okla.
Allen Armour — Cumming, Ga.
Stuart Arthur — Scott City, Mo.
Justin Atkins — Florence, Ala.
Todd Auten — Lake Wylie, S.C.
Keith Bardolf — Abbeville, Ala.
Hunter Baughman — Judsonia, Ark.
Gary Bean — Chickamauga, Ga.
Tommy Biffle — Wagoner, Okla.
Zack Birge — Blanchard, Okla.
Dan Blackert — Richfield, Ohio
Joey Bloom — Winter Springs, Fla.
John Bosley — Westminster, Md.
John Branch — Magnolia, Ky.
Nick Brown — Lindale, Texas
Jason Burroughs — Hodges, S.C.
Tim Cales — Beckley, W.Va.
Scott Canterbury — Odenville, Ala.
Corey Casey — Moncks Corner, S.C.
Hank Cherry — Lincolnton, N.C.
Jason Christie — Welling, Okla.
Brandon Classon — Leesburg, Ga.
Brandon Cobb — Greenwood, S.C.
William Collie — Cherokee, Tenn.
Michael Comeau — Alburgh, Vt.
Drew Cook — Cairo, Ga.
Richard Cooper — Benson, N.C.
John Cox — Debary, Fla.
Wayne Crosby — Green Pond, S.C.
Darrell Davis — Dover, Fla.
Harmon Davis — Marlow, Okla.
Seth Ellis — Durham, N.C.
Ron Farrow — Rock Hill, S.C.
Louis Fernandes — Santa Maria, Calif.
Will Fletcher — Dallas, Ga.
Tim Frederick — Leesburg, Fla.
Dylan Freeze — Blanchester, Ohio
David Fritts — Lexington, N.C.
Nick Gainey — Charleston, S.C.
Austin Garland — Kernersville, N.C.
Kyle Glasgow — Guin, Ala.
Todd Goade — White Pine, Tenn.
Buddy Gross — Chickamauga, Ga.
Greg Hackney — Gonzales, La.
Hayden Hammond — Salisbury, N.C.
Scott Hamrick — Denver, N.C.
Will Harkins — Blairsville, Ga.
Cole Harris — Raleigh, N.C.
Brian Hatfield — Spring City, Tenn.
Stephanie Hemphill-Pellerin — Village Mills, Texas
Matt Herren — Ashville, Ala.
Jeff Hodges — Apex, N.C.
Josh Hooks — Apex, N.C.
Stacey James — Campobello, S.C.
Richard Kee — Somerville, Tenn.
Justin Kimmel — Athens, Ga.
Koby Kreiger — Alva, Fla.
Caleb Kuphall — Mukwonago, Wis.
Shane LeHew — Catawba, N.C.
Derek Lehtonen — Woodruff, S.C.
Shane Lineberger — Lincolnton, N.C.
Wes Logan — Springville, Ala.
Bill Lowen — Brookville, Ind.
Kevin Madeley — Brookeland, Texas
Buck Mallory — Lawton, Mich.
Chad Marler — Jasper, Texas
Stu Martel — Elmhurst, Ill.
Lendell Martin Jr. — Nacogdoches, Texas
Matt Massey — St. Augustine, Fla.
Matthew McBee — Concord, N.C.
Jason Meninger — Yulee, Fla.
Jesse Millsaps — Jasper, Ga.
Harry Moore — Valley, Ala.
Tavin Napier — Harriman, Tenn.
Bryan Oakley — St. Matthews, S.C.
Jordan Osborne — Longview, Texas
Brandon Perkins — Counce, Tenn.
Jamie Pierce — Hallsboro, N.C.
Pete Ponds — Madison, Miss.
Chad Poteat — Mount Airy, N.C.
Kristopher Queen — Catawba, N.C.
Mike Quinlin — Mooresville, Ind.
Andrew Ready — Auburndale, Fla.
Timmy Reams — Morgantown, W.Va.
Jason Reyes — Huffman, Texas
Darrel Robertson — Jay, Okla.
Ricky Robinson — Greenback, Tenn.
Troy Roder — Brookeland, Texas
Kevin Rogers — Pleasant Hill, Mo.
J.T. Russell — Crane Hill, Ala.
Hunter Sales — Blaine, Tenn.
Russ Simpson — Given, W.Va.
Derrick Snavely — Piney Flats, Tenn.
Brad Staley — Sophia, N.C.
Christopher Stamm — Mishawaka, Ind.
Scott Suggs — Alexander, Ark.
Gerald Swindle — Guntersville, Ala.
J Todd Tucker — Moultrie, Ga.
Andrew Upshaw — Hemphill, Texas
Patrick Walters — Eutawville, S.C.
Josh Watkins — Marissa, Ill.
James Watson — Lampe, Mo.
Mitchell Webb — Skiatook, Okla.
Kyle Welcher — Valley, Ala.
Scott Wiley — Bay Minette, Ala.
Alton Wilhoit — Noble, Okla.
Tyler Williams — Belgrade, Maine
David Williams — Newton, N.C.
Dustin Williamson — Aiken, S.C.
Jason Williamson — Aiken, S.C.
Alexander Wilson — Elmore, Ala.
Jason Wilson — Lincolnton, N.C.
Timothy Wilson — Marion, Ind.
Jesse Wise — Erwin, N.C.
Robert Wroblewski — Knoxville, Tenn.
Stop #1 of the 2025 NPFL season kicks off March 6-8 on the renowned Santee Cooper lakes. Check out the full 2025 NPFL schedule.
