Story by Justin Brouillard | Photos by Tanner & Travis Lyons
Day Two of the 2025 NPFL Championship is underway on Lake Hartwell, hosted by Visit Anderson. In the league’s third visit to Hartwell, the tournament runs through October 5, with takeoffs each morning from Green Pond Landing starting at 7:30 AM EST. Live coverage with Luke Dunkin and FatCat streams daily from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM EST, building to the crowning moment on Sunday. Fans can also watch the action in person during the live weigh-ins at 3:30 PM EST each day.
It is nearing fall in South Carolina, and the fish are scattered, giving the field several options. When the dust settled on day one, South Carolina angler Jason Burroughs, who finished sixth in a stacked 2025 Progressive Angler of the Year race, emerged with the Day One lead.
Burroughs, familiar with Hartwell, spent the majority of his day targeting suspended fish in the main lake section before calling an audible and changing his plan. The move resulted in a 17‑12 limit, giving him a 14-ounce lead over 2024 NPFL Championship winner Brandon Perkins.
While Burroughs and Perkins caught their fish away from the main lake, neither would commit to saying that they were targeting the bank. The several creeks on Hartwell provide ample areas for pressured largemouth and spotted bass to position, and on day one, the two executed flawlessly.
Oklahoma angler Zack Birge weighed in 15‑9 on day one, putting him in third, while a three-way tie for fourth included Georgia pros Will Harkins and Drew Cook, as well as Florida pro Jason Meninger, all at 15‑8.
Pre-tournament predictions suggested the main lake would produce the most consistent bite, while the “shallow” water could yield the biggest bags. Day two will reveal whether the weights balance out or if the largemouth anglers can repeat their success.
Weather Watch
Day Two will feature partly sunny skies, with morning temperatures in the mid-50s rising to the upper 70s. Northeast winds are expected around 5–10 MPH as the day progresses.
How to Watch
Tune in daily to watch the action from Lake Hartwell and the beautiful City of Anderson Catch the daily LIVE Leaderboard, LIVE Blog, and on-the-water photo galleries and blogs of the anglers for the NPFL Championship.
Catch the LIVE Coverage with Luke Dunkin and FatCat at TNPFL.com will run all three days, Friday to Sunday.
Under the Go Live Tab, choose LIVE Broadcast or check out the real-time leaderboard on the Fishing Chaos Catch Track with estimated weights entered by the anglers on the water and join us for the LIVE Weigh-ins.
And be sure to follow the NPFL on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, & X.
