Story by Justin Brouillard | Photos by Tanner & Travis Lyons
The final day of the Strike King NPFL Stop One at Santee Cooper Lakes is underway, and someone is going to take home the NPFL Shield and $100,000.
As the dust settled on day two, the cream has risen to the top. Changing weather and winds mean changes on the leaderboard, and some anglers who caught them well on day one struggled on day two. Similarly, some anglers made a comeback on day two, working their way back from a tough start back into the top 40 check range.
A lot of big names and NPFL veterans alike are outside the top 40 and looking in, but unique to the NPFL, with the full field fishing all three days of competition, there is one more day to catch a big bag and make a move.
Aside from the top three, things are fairly tight. From fourth to eighth is only 2 pounds, 14 ounces. From tenth to twelfth is less than a pound. On Santee Cooper, where four 30-pound bags have been weighed through two days, big moves could be made.
South Carolina angler Corey Casey has been the most consistent of the top anglers, with another 27 pounds, 3 ounces on day one to go with his 30-pound, 4-ounce limit on day two. He leads Michigan’s Buck Mallory by 3 pounds, 8 ounces. Behind Mallory, Skeeter Crosby, another South Carolina angler, sits in third by only 5 ounces. Veteran Patrick Walters occupies fourth with 51 pounds, 15 ounces, and Georgia pro Buddy Gross sits in fifth with 51 pounds, 4 ounces.
The top ten is stacked with big names, as Oklahoma angler Jason Christie sits in sixth, Indiana angler Bill Lowen in seventh, day one leader Jordan Osborne is in eighth, Chad Marler in ninth, and Hank Cherry is in tenth.
Weather Watch
Welcomed clouds and rain have arrived, as the sunny day on Saturday was short-lived. Showdown Sunday brings rain and clouds, with highs only creeping up to the high 50s, with takeoff temperatures in the mid-40s. Winds will be Northeast from 5 to 10 MPH.
How to Watch
Catch the Live Coverage starting at 9 am this morning, hosted Luke Dunkin and Fat Cat Newton as they break down the top anglers.
Catch all the action from Santee Cooper Lakes and follow along with the daily LIVE Leaderboard, LIVE Blog, and photo galleries throughout the event.
Throughout each day, follow the unofficial leaderboard on the Fishing Chaos Catch Track with estimated weights entered by the anglers on the water, and join us for the LIVE Weigh-in @ 4pm EST!
And be sure to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter.
The Strike King NPFL Stop One at Santee Cooper Lakes is hosted by Clarendon County Tourism, and the event will launch and weigh in each day at the John C. Land Boat Ramp – fans are encouraged to attend.
