Story by Robert Wroblewski | Photos by Tanner & Travis Lyons
The finale of the NPFL season is coming up in less than a month, and I couldn’t be more excited to finish the year on a high note. When I first saw the schedule back at the beginning of the season, I’ll admit this was the event I was most concerned about. Not because I don’t like Logan Martin, but because of the time of year.
Late September can be unpredictable. We could be dealing with extreme heat that makes fishing tough and stressful on the fish, or we could be blessed with an early cool down that positions bass in fall patterns and creates some of the most fun fishing you can have. Either way, I think this event is going to fish well, and I believe it has the chance to be every bit as exciting as people are imagining.
I was fortunate to spend some time on the water before the cutoff for official practice, and that gave me some confidence. I was able to put together a limit fairly quickly, which tells me that catching five fish each day should be very doable for most of the field. The real separator is going to be finding those slightly bigger bites.
In my mind, 10 to 12 pounds a day will probably keep you in the mix for a top 40 finish, but if you can push into the 13- to 15-pound range consistently, that’s when things get really interesting. And, of course, on the Coosa River chain, those weights are absolutely doable.
This event is personal for me because of where I sit in the points standings. Right now, I’m in 37th place in the Progressive Angler of the Year race. The cut line for the Championship is the top 40. That means I cannot afford to slip. If I do, my season is essentially over in terms of my biggest goal: qualifying for the Championship. Missing it again would be devastating for me.
Last year, I was inside the cut during the season, but I couldn’t sustain it. I fell out late, and that cost me a chance to fish the 2025 Championship. To this day, that still bothers me because I knew I was capable of making it. This season, I’ve been given a second chance, and I know how rare those opportunities are in this sport. That’s why I’ve got to fish clean, stay focused, and make the most out of every single bite I get.
Logan Martin is the perfect test for that. The lake is loaded with fish and offers so many options: docks, points, brush piles, ledges, and shallow cover. It really comes down to conditions. If we get current rolling through the system, it could set up for an epic bite. Current is the heartbeat of these Coosa River lakes. On the other hand, if it stays dry with no rain leading up to the event, things might get tougher. Or a cool snap in late September might push fish shallow and create some phenomenal fishing opportunities. So, I feel like we’re sitting on a razor’s edge between it being a grind and it being wide open.
I’ve had a mixed history on Logan Martin. Last year, I struggled the first two days of practice and during the event itself. But on the final day I trusted my gut, made a change, and ended up weighing in over 14 pounds. On a lake like this, that’s a solid bag and a reminder of what’s possible when you fish with confidence. This year, that’s my mindset—trust myself, fish thoroughly, and capitalize on everything that goes my way.
I believe it’s going to take 15 to 17 pounds a day to win this event. The weights at the top are going to be strong, but they’ll fall off quickly, which will make every decision matter even more. And honestly, that’s what makes this finale so exciting. All season long, our schedule has been on point. Every stop has been timed perfectly, and you couldn’t ask for a better script for the year. Now we’re down to one last event, and my goal is right there in front of me. All I have to do is execute.
At the end of the day, that’s what keeps me pushing. Fishing is unpredictable, and nothing is guaranteed. But I know what’s on the line, and I know what I need to do. I’ve worked too hard to let this slip away. One more event. One more chance. Time will tell how it plays out, but I’m ready to leave everything I’ve got out there on Logan Martin.
Robert Wroblewski – Angler Profile
