Story by Ken Duke | Photos by Tanner & Travis Lyons
Yesterday, I wrote a column on the Progressive Angler of the Year standings and opined that it’s now a three-man race between Kyle Welcher, Greg Hackney and Patrick Walters.
Today, I want to cover the “other” aspect of the AOY standings—a part that gets less attention but is often almost as interesting. I’m talking about the cutline for the 2026 NPFL Championship.
There are three ways to qualify for the 2026 Championship: First, you can be the defending champion. We won’t know who that is until the conclusion of the 2025 Championship on Lake Hartwell in early October.
Second, you can win a regular season NPFL event. As many as six spots will be filled that way. Jason Christie, Greg Hackney, Scott Canterbury, and Chad Marler have punched their tickets already. Two more spots remain and will be filled at the St. Lawrence River in August and at Logan Martin Lake in September.
Finally, you can finish in the top 40 of the Progressive Angler of the Year standings.
The field for the 2026 Championship will number somewhere between 40 and 47 anglers, depending on how many anglers double- or even triple-qualify. In the event that there are anglers who multi qualify—and several certainly will—the League does not add other anglers by moving down the AOY list. If you are not the defending champ, a regular-season tournament winner, or in the top 40 of the AOY standings at the end of the season, you are not qualified.
Right now, 40th place in the AOY standings belongs to Will Harkins. Along with Shane LeHew and Tim Frederick, he has 804 points. LeHew ranks 39th because he has more cumulative weight this year than Harkins, and Frederick ranks 41st because he has less.
Some simple math will help us to estimate what it will take to finish in the top 40. For LeHew, Harkins and Frederick to have 804 points after four events, they’re averaging 201 points per tournament. That will likely continue so that roughly 1206 points will keep you in or around the top 40 at the end of the year.
To finish with 1206, LeHew, Harkins and Frederick need to average a 50th place finish in the last two tournaments. Darrel Davis is currently in 50th place, tied with two others at 788 points. Those three will need to average a 42nd place finish to stay around the cutline. The angler in 60th place (Brandon Perkins) has 767 points and needs to average a 31st place finish to have a real shot at the Championship. In 70th place right now is Zack Birge with 747 points. He needs a 21st place average to get in the hunt … and I think he’ll get there. His schedule is the main reason he’s outside the cut right now.
The anglers ranked below 80th should forget about points and simply fish to win at the St. Lawrence and Logan Martin. It’s their only realistic shot.
