THE LEAGUE 2025
Top Bait Performers
Check out the top performers of the week on the NPFL Tournament Trail
2025 SEASON
STOP #1 - SANTEE COOPER LAKES | MARCH 7-9
The Strike King NPFL Stop One at Santee Cooper is in the books, and it didn’t disappoint, delivering giant bags and record-breaking weights. Now, we’re taking a closer look at the top-producing baits that helped the best in the field land trophy fish and climb the leaderboard, presented by Tackle Warehouse.
JASON CHRISTIE - 1ST
Jason Christie dominated Santee Cooper by sticking to his strengths, slow-rolling a ½-ounce BOOYAH Covert Single Colorado Blade spinnerbait around isolated cypress trees in 2 to 5 feet of water. Targeting the cooler water in Lake Marion’s “Brickyard” area, he relied on a Falcon Cara Head Turner (6-10, medium-fast) rod, paired with a SPRO Jason Christie Elite MG (5.6:1 ratio) reel and 22# Sunline Power 2C FC fluorocarbon. His methodical approach kept him around fish, leading to two 30-pound bags – setting a new NPFL three-day weight record of 82 pounds, 12 ounces.
COREY CASEY - 2ND
Caleb Kuphall kept it simple with one rod and one lure, using a Piscifun Alloy M Reel (7.5:1 ratio) and a St. Croix Legend Tourney 7’2” Heavy, Ripping Chatter Rod, paired with 20-pound Viscous Fluorocarbon for superior sensitivity. He threw Z-Man EVO Elite 3/8-ounce bladed jig in black and blue, with a Zoom Shimmer Shad trailer. Kuphall focused on two main areas: a 4-foot deep grass flat leading to a spawning bay, where he found key fish early on Day One around scattered cypress trees, and a spawning flat surrounded by cypress, where he targeted pockets with grass near the trees, especially in drains and ditches.
CALEB KUPHALL - 3RD
Caleb Kuphall kept it simple with one rod and one lure, using a Piscifun Alloy M Reel (7.5:1 ratio) and a St. Croix Legend Tourney 7’2” Heavy, Ripping Chatter Rod, paired with 20-pound Viscous Fluorocarbon for superior sensitivity. He threw Z-Man EVO Elite 3/8-ounce bladed jig in black and blue, with a Zoom Shimmer Shad trailer. Kuphall focused on two main areas: a 4-foot deep grass flat leading to a spawning bay, where he found key fish early on Day One around scattered cypress trees, and a spawning flat surrounded by cypress, where he targeted pockets with grass near the trees, especially in drains and ditches.