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
Corey Casey adapted to changing conditions throughout the event, keeping it simple with a Z-Man Jack-Hammer to target staging fish in deeper weed areas. He paired it with a Daiwa 7’2” Chatterbait casting rod, a Daiwa 6.3:1 ratio reel, and 20-pound fluorocarbon line. After adjusting his approach on Day Two, he found a productive spot that delivered a massive 30-pound, 4-ounce bag. Though the final day proved tougher, his strategy secured a strong second-place finish on his home waters of Santee Cooper.
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.
STOP #2 - LAKE NORMAN | APRIL 16-18
Stop Two at Lake Norman is a wrap and the weights were as tight as ever. The majority of the field brought limits to the scales each of the three days when it was all said and done, largemouth made the difference, bumping those who found them way up the leaderboard. 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.
GREG HACKNEY - 1ST
Hackney focused his efforts on creeks with shallow pockets in the back, employing a one-two punch of Strike King soft plastics to target both spawning fish and those staging to spawn. When the fish were locked on beds or positioned on the bottom, he used a 4-inch Green Pumpkin-colored Finesse Worm on a 1/8-ounce shaky head jig. As the fish moved higher in the water column—especially around dock posts and floats—he switched to the same Green Pumpkin Finesse Worm, this time in a 6-inch version, wacky-rigged without any weight. For both setups, Hackney relied on a Mark Zona Lew’s All-Purpose rod paired with a Lew’s HyperMag reel, spooled with 10-pound braided line and a 10-pound Gamma leader material. This combination was key to fighting fish around docks and wood, ensuring he could handle the heavier pressure from the structure.
KJ Queen - 2ND
While the majority of his fish were spawning, KJ Queen filled a limit on Day One by strolling a Queen Tackle LS Jighead around dock poles. After that, he switched to a Zoom Z Craw with a ¼-ounce Queen Tackle Tungsten Flipping Weight and a Zoom Zlinky Stick Worm to target spawning largemouth. For all his setups, Queen used a Khaotic Kustom Rod paired with a Lew’s Reel, spooled with 12-pound fluorocarbon line.
Kyle Welcher - 3RD
Kyle Welcher is on a roll, and his key weapon for his recent victory on the Pasquotank River—and this week on Lake Norman—was the Rapala Crush City Bronco Bug. On Norman, he used a 7′ 6″ Khaotic Kustom Rod paired with a Lew’s Hypermag reel with an 8:1 gear ratio, spooled with 22-pound Sunline Shooter fluorocarbon. Targeting spawning bass, he fished a ¼-ounce tungsten weight with a 4/0 Gamakatsu G-Power Flippin Hook.
STOP #3 - DOUGLAS LAKE | MAY 22-24
Alabama pro Scott Canterbury used a mix of Khaotic Custom Rods to seal the deal on his first NPFL victory at Douglas Lake. He started each morning targeting a marina shad spawn with a spinnerbait or swim jig, then transitioned to areas where trash mats had blown into the sides of pockets—keying in on fish staging near flooded bushes. Here’s a closer look at the top-producing baits that topped the leaderboard, presented by Tackle Warehouse.
SCOTT CANTERBURY - 1ST
For his flipping setup, Canterbury rotated between two 7’6” heavy-action Khaotic Custom Rods. One was paired with a KastKing Speed Demon casting reel spooled with 20-pound P-Line 100% Fluorocarbon and rigged with a Dirty Jigs Scott Canterbury Flippin’ Jig. The second was spooled with 25-pound P-Line 100% Fluorocarbon and featured a Dirty Jigs Matt Herren Flippin’ Jig.
When the fish required a soft plastic presentation, Canterbury used the same Khaotic rod, this time paired with a KastKing Deadbolt reeland P-Line 100% Fluorocarbon. The flipping rig featured a Spearpoint Fury Flipping Hook, a ¾-ounce or ½-ounce Epic Tungsten weight, and either a Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver or Spicy Beaver.
A special shoutout went to Fishlife Products, including both the First Aid Fish Treatment and Livewell Treatment, which helped keep his fish alive and healthy all three days. On Day One, a 4-pounder that was tongue-hooked and bleeding responded well to treatment—and swam away strong after weigh-in.
KYLE WELCHER - 2ND
In second place, with a total of 48 pounds, 3 ounces, Alabama pro Kyle Welcher rotated between two baits throughout the week at Douglas Lake, focusing entirely on shoreline cover, debris mats, and vegetation. His primary weapon—responsible for all 15 of his weighed fish—was the Rapala Crush City Bronco Bug, a bait that’s been a standout for him throughout the 2025 season. He also mixed in a topwater frog to try and generate kicker bites throughout the event.
Welcher fished the Bronco Bug on a 7’6” heavy-action Khaotic Custom Rod paired with a Gamakatsu Flipping Hook, spooled with 25-pound Sunline FC Sniper Fluorocarbon.
BARRON ADAMS - 3RD
In third place with 43 pounds, 2 ounces, Georgia pro Barron Adams caught 14 of his 15 bass flipping with a 7’3” heavy-action Fitzgerald All Purpose Rod paired with a Daiwa Tatula Elite Flipping Reel. His go-to setup was a Zoom Brush Hog rigged on a 5/0 Gamakatsu Superline Hook, pegged with a ¼-ounce flipping weight, and spooled with 25-pound Seaguar Invizx fluorocarbon. His remaining fish came on a wacky-rigged stick bait, using a Fitzgerald Neko Rod and Daiwa Tatula MQ spinning reel, with 15-pound Seaguar braid to a 15-pound Seaguar InvizX leader.