Story by Justin Brouillard | Photos by Tanner & Travis Lyons
After storms swept through the Palmetto State on Thursday, forcing a postponement, Day One of the Strike King NPFL Stop One at Santee Cooper Lakes officially kicks off this morning in Summerton, SC.
Stop One of the Strike King NPFL at Santee Cooper Lakes begins today in Summerton, SC. In what seems like a recent theme, Day One of the competition is set to kick off this morning, with the full field now competing Friday-Sunday for the $100,000 prize. The battle also begins for the 2025 Progressive Angler of the Year race, with anglers vying for points to qualify for the 2026 NPFL Championship.
Santee Cooper consists of Lake Marion and Lake Moultrie, with an average depth of 16 feet. Spanning 180,000 acres of fishable water, the lakes offer plenty of opportunities, including ditches, cypress trees, and grass beds holding big bass preparing to spawn.
Practice has been up and down temperature-wise, with a cold front blowing through alongside Thursday’s storms, bringing morning takeoff temps down to 40 degrees. Coming into the event, local angler Ronnie McCoy predicted a big bass beatdown, and despite the cold and wind, that still seems likely. However, with two days off—Wednesday for NPFL community outreach and Thursday as a weather delay—anglers face a 48-hour gap between practice and competition, leaving plenty of unknowns as they launch on Day One.
Anglers Take
With an off day on Wednesday and a weather-related postponement on Thursday, NPFL anglers are still figuring out what has changed at Santee Cooper.
Todd Goade, who finished second the last time the league visited, noted that while conditions are different, fish are still relating to similar types of cover as 2023—just in different areas.
“The key this time is that the fish are trying to spawn, and that’s dictating their positioning,” he said. “They seem to be further back, and most of the ones I’ve seen and have caught are pre-spawn. The few trying to spawn have been extremely uninterested in biting.”
The 2024 NPFL Championship winner, Brandon Perkins, agreed but noted that some bass may be caught off beds throughout the week as many are staging and waiting for a slight increase in water temperature. Most of his practice bites came from pre-spawn fish, though he did see some nesting activity—but the two off days have left him uncertain about what’s changed.
“I had a decent practice, but I’m not sure what this weather has done to the water,” said Perkins. “I’ve rigged and re-rigged a few times, anticipating more stained water. I’m hoping conditions are similar to what I found in practice.”
Will Harkins, who finished third in 2023, is torn on which lake to fish this time around. The Georgia pro found promising areas in both Marion and Moultrie and plans to base his decision on wind and water clarity.
“I definitely found some potential in Moultrie, and I don’t think the wind should be too bad,” said Harkins. “But with three days off and changing temps, it’s hard to predict. If that area doesn’t fire tomorrow, I’ll run back to Marion and fish structure.”
Harkins believes anglers will need to rely on real-time adjustments more than ever.
Similarly, Jesse Wise is hopeful that the wind hasn’t blown out his primary areas, where he saw big fish earlier in the week during practice. If they locked down during the cold front—as locals say they often do—he’ll be in business. If not, it’s on to Plan B.
“I’ll have to let the conditions dictate my week,” said Wise. “If things are blown out and different, I’ll treat the first day like a practice day and adjust on the fly. This one may come down to making the right moves at the right times as the front moves through.”
Weather Watch
With storms in the rearview, anglers can expect a mix of sun and clouds today at Santee Cooper. Morning lows start at 37°F before climbing to a high of 65°F. Winds will be out of the south at 5-10 mph, providing manageable conditions on the water. Rain is unlikely, setting the stage for a solid day of competition.
How to Watch
Tune in daily Friday-Sunday to catch the action from Santee Cooper Lakes, and Follow along with the daily Fishing Chaos LIVE Leaderboard, LIVE Blog, and photo galleries throughout the event.
Under the Go Live Tab, choose LIVE Broadcast or check out the real-time, unofficial 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!
Live Coverage will be on Saturday and Sunday, with top anglers having live cameras, commentary provided by hosts Luke Dunkin and FatCat Newton.
And be sure to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and X.
The Strike King NPFL Stop One at Santee Cooper Lakes is hosted by Clarendon County Tourism, and the event will launch and weigh in each day at the John C. Land Boat Ramp – fans are encouraged to attend.
