Story by Todd Goade | Photos by Tanner & Travis Lyons
The final stop of the NPFL season kicks off in just a few short weeks on Logan Martin Lake in Alabama, and I’m sure there will be some amazing storylines developing at that event. The AOY race is tight, and the battle to get inside the top 40 and qualify for the Championship will be worth talking about as well. Currently I’m in 32nd place with some points to give. I don’t want to slip, and hopefully I’ll be able to put some things together to qualify. As anglers, we all strive to make the Championship, and I hope I never miss one.
Spending a few days at Logan Martin during pre-practice, I saw some things I really liked, and the fish liked them too! There is a ton of shoreline water willows, docks, laydowns, and offshore stuff to target that I think a person can fish his or her strengths and do just fine. I saw plenty of bait, and as typical fall patterns develop, it will probably make bass somewhat difficult to catch.
The lake has both a good population of spotted bass and largemouths, and I think the angler who figures out how to catch a couple of bigger largemouths each day will be in a position to win.
There’s some gambling to be considered too: Do you run up the river to fish current? Will that hold up for three days of competition? Or do you run down lake and fish docks by the dam?
In the end, Logan Martin is going to demand a mix of discipline and gut instinct. Fall fish can move overnight, so building a pattern might be less about camping on a single spot and more about staying one step ahead of the bait. Having a couple of backup plans—maybe a main lake stretch you can hit when things change—could keep you in the hunt.
I feel like it will probably take 16 pounds a day to win, somewhere around 12 pounds a day for a top 10, and around 10 pounds a day to get a check. As with many events so far this year, the weights have been super tight and one or two key fish will make a huge difference.
No matter what the route, I know the anglers who succeed will be the ones making the right adjustments in the moment. Hopefully, I can make the right decisions as each day unfolds to keep me in the hunt. One big bite each day could swing an entire week’s outcome, and that’s the kind of opportunity I’ll be chasing.
As always, the NPFL finale isn’t just another tournament. It’s the culmination of a season’s worth of lessons. I’m excited to put what I’ve learned to work, fight for every ounce I can weigh in, and hopefully punch that ticket to the 2026 Championship.
See you on the water!
Todd Goade – Angler Profile
