Story by Ken Duke | Photos by Tanner & Travis Lyons
It’s Day 1 of the Chompers/National Professional Fishing League’s Stop #5 on Lake of the Ozarks presented by Bait-Wrx, and there’s a lot on the line.
First and foremost, there’s a six-figure check for the winner and a terrific-looking trophy — the most attractive in the business … though I personally believe the gold Progressive Angler of the Year trophy is even nicer.
Second, there are AOY points that will soon earn one outstanding angler the most prestigious title in the League. It’s a tight race, with Kyle Welcher leading Drew Cook by just six points, and six other anglers within 50 points of the lead.
Third, there are 10 anglers who have brought a limit to the scales each day of the 2024 season. Keeping that streak alive is going to be tough this week at Lake of the Ozarks. The fish are in transition and not yet following their traditional fall pattern of chasing shad into the backs of creeks and pockets. It means that even the locals may struggle.
The 10 anglers who have limited every day this season are (alphabetically):
Barron Adams
Brock Bila
Louis Fernandes
Wes Logan
Jason Meninger
Jesse Millsaps
Isaac Peavyhouse
Hunter Sales
Joseph Webster
Kyle Welcher
Not surprisingly, six of them rank in the top 10 of AOY and nine are in the top 20.
One other angler — Zack Birge — has limited every day he’s competed this year, but Birge missed the season opener on Logan Martin Lake in Alabama, so he won’t be able to complete a “perfect limit” season.
What’s special about limiting every day for an entire season? Well, it’s rare — even at the highest levels of the sport — and it’s never happened in the NPFL. In 2022 and 2023, four different anglers missed the accomplishment by just one fish. This year, 10 anglers are still in the mix to do it, but Lake of the Ozarks will take its toll. Don’t be surprised if only five or six of those anglers still have their streak intact going into the season finale on Lake Murray in December.
We’ll keep you posted.
