Story by Brad Fuller | Photos by Tanner & Travis Lyons
As we head into Lake Norman, a lot of the focus has naturally been on the fishing—and on the live stream. Rightfully so. We’ve spent the four weeks since our last event diving deep into what we call the “Live Stream Matrix.” We’ve analyzed, refined, reconfigured, and tested every piece of that broadcast puzzle. And I can tell you this: We feel good about where we are. We’re proud of the effort. Proud of the improvements we’ve made and the experience we’re delivering.
But today, I can’t help but ask myself … why?
Yes, I know the answer. It’s rhetorical. The broadcast matters. The fishing matters. Our product matters. But I wonder if our time might be better spent lifting up the anglers and families within our league who are quietly, courageously, battling some of the hardest moments life can throw at a person.
Right now, we have multiple NPFL anglers who are dealing with devastating health battles. A couple are fighting cancer. One has been diagnosed with ALS. Another has a young child facing a life-altering disease.
I will not name them here—it’s not my place to do so—but these are more than anglers. They are our friends. Our brothers and sisters. And as a league, as a family, we hurt with them. We carry some of that burden with them. And we will continue to show up for them—in whatever way we can.
So, as you tune in to watch the NPFL this week, I ask you to keep them in your thoughts. As you follow the action and cheer on your favorites, remember the quiet strength of those who are showing up to compete—or even just be present—while navigating the fight of their life.
And when the stream hiccups, or something doesn’t go quite right in the broadcast, maybe pause for a moment before dropping that sarcastic comment. Maybe think instead about the humanity behind the jersey. The man behind the smile. The family holding it together behind the scenes.
We talk a lot about love and compassion here at the NPFL. And we mean it. We want the best for our anglers—not just on the water, but off it too. We say we’ve built a family atmosphere … but truthfully, we didn’t build it. It’s who we are.
This morning, one of our anglers shared a verse in our daily Church Chat that stopped me in my tracks and inspired me to write this message!
Galatians 5:22 (KJV):
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith.”
Read that again. That’s not just scripture. It’s a blueprint for how we walk through these hard days together. With love. With patience. With gentleness.
And with faith.
We care about people. We care about each other.
And we hope, as fans, you’ll get behind us—not just for the competition, but for the community. For the strength, the resilience, and the heart of these incredible human beings who are facing incredibly tough times.
So, here’s what we ask:
When you watch the NPFL, cheer a little louder. Comment with kindness. Share a word of encouragement. Let these anglers—and their families—know they are seen. They are supported. And they are not alone.
This league isn’t just about winning trophies. It’s about lifting each other up when life tries to pull us down. That’s what makes this place special. That’s what makes it family.
We stand with our brothers who are hurting. And we invite you to stand with them, too.
