For Immediate Release: October 18, 2024
WILKESVILLE, Ohio — The National Professional Fishing League has formally scheduled six of its seven tournament events for 2025 — including the second NPFL Championship — in what promises to be an exciting and competitive season. Another regular season event and the final dates for the Championship will be announced when finalized.
“Creating our tournament schedule is one of the most challenging things we do each year,” said NPFL President Brad Fuller. “Our complete regular season schedule for 2025 should be ready very soon, but we’re excited to announce what’s already been secured. We think it’s the best schedule we’ve ever assembled, and it promises to deliver a year of competition, content, and camaraderie to further elevate the League for our fans, our partners, and our anglers.”
Santee Cooper (South Carolina), March 6-8
In March, the NPFL will revisit legendary lakes Marion and Moultrie (often referred to as “Santee Cooper” for the rivers they impound) out of Clarendon County, South Carolina, March 6-8. Launch and weigh-in will take place at the John C. Land III Landing.
Santee Cooper was the site of a 2023 event won by local favorite Patrick Walters. Lake Marion produced the state record largemouth bass (16 pounds, 2 ounces) in 1949. These two historical bass fisheries were impounded in the 1940s, cover more than 170,000 surface acres and are renowned for lunker largemouths and heavy cover.
Douglas Lake (Tennessee), May 22-24
The NPFL will pay its first visit to 30,400-acre Douglas Lake out of Dandridge Tennessee, May 22-24. Launch and weigh-in will take place at Dandridge Boat Ramp in Jefferson County.
“We are incredibly excited to host the National Professional Fishing League on Douglas Lake in 2025,” said Lauren M. Hurdle, Director of Tourism for Jefferson County. “The tournament could not be scheduled for a better time of year, as it will really showcase just how amazing this fishery is. Douglas Lake is a tournament destination, but this will be its first time hosting an NPFL event, and it will be exciting to see what these anglers are able to do on these waters.”
Douglas Lake is widely regarded as one of the best bass fishing lakes in the country. It features both largemouth and smallmouth bass.
Lake Eufaula (Oklahoma), June 18-20
For the second time in two years, the NPFL will go west to Oklahoma and Lake Eufaula, June 18-20. The massive U.S. Army Corps of Engineers impoundment was completed in 1964 and covers 105,500 acres. Launch will be at Xtreme Cove Marina and weigh-in will be at Nichols Point.
“We are looking forward to welcoming NPFL back to Eufaula for the 2025 season,” said City Manager Jeb S. Jones. “Recreation is our economic engine, and we are excited to have NPFL as a community partner.”
In 2023, Lake Eufaula was the site of the closest finish in league history with Louis Fernandes taking the title by virtue of a tiebreaker over Will Harkins. The fishing can’t get any closer than that, but a return to Eufaula promises plenty of drama and a tight competition.
To Be Announced, July 31 – August 2
The NPFL is finalizing location and host details for an event in the northeast, July 31 – August 2. The League has yet to hold an event in this region, renowned for large, plentiful and aggressive smallmouth bass.
Logan Martin Lake (Alabama), September 25-27
In its continuing effort to shake up conventional tournament scheduling, the NPFL will return to the site of the 2024 season opener — Logan Martin Lake in Oxford Alabama — but this time in the fall, September 25-27. Launch will be at Lincoln’s Landing each morning, and weigh-ins will be held in Oxford.
“The City of Oxford looks forward to hosting the National Professional Fishing League again in 2025,” said Mayor Alton Craft. “Oxford’s inaugural partnership with the NPFL in 2024 proved to be a success for both as it boosted our local tourism and economy, while the visiting professional anglers found a variety of ways to engage and entertain our youngsters, senior citizens, and everyone in between. We are pleased to welcome back this positive, family-friendly experience which brings together good sportsmanship, community spirit, and the fun of fishing.”
Will Harkins claimed the win in 2024 out of the largest field of anglers in NPFL history. That event was in March under tough conditions with high, muddy water. A fall tournament should present new challenges and opportunities for league anglers.
NPFL Championship — Lake Hartwell (South Carolina), Fourth Quarter of 2025
The NPFL’s second Championship will be its third visit to Lake Hartwell and Anderson, South Carolina. The venue is not only one of the fishing friendliest in the country, but the 55,900-acre lake offers the kind of angling diversity that make it a true test of the best, suitable for the league’s premier event.
“We’re very excited for the opportunity to host the NPFL Championship at Green Pond Landing, Lake Hartwell, and Anderson County,” said Neil Paul, Executive Director of Visit Anderson, and a leading advocate for professional angling events. “We’ve hosted the NPFL twice for regular season events and could not be more impressed with the impact they made on our community. The opportunity to host their second Championship is an honor and a privilege. The leadership of Anderson County has provided us with a world class facility in Green Pond Landing as well as the resources to be able bring the NPFL Championship to our community. We take a great deal of pride in providing a championship caliber experience to our guests and look forward to providing the NPFL, the anglers, their families, and industry support with a memorable experience in our community.”
Hartwell was the site of NPFL events in April of 2022 and May of 2024. A fall tournament on the big Savannah River reservoir will guarantee that a wide variety of baits and methods will be in play for the 40-plus anglers in the field, all with their eyes on the biggest prize the NPFL has to offer — the gold Championship trophy and a six-figure payday.
“Final details of the 2025 NPFL season will be announced as soon as possible,” said Fuller. “We wanted to get this information out to stakeholders and prospective anglers now so that decisions can be made for next year.
“The challenge of putting our schedule together only after other leagues have made their announcements means that we can avoid unnecessary and unproductive conflicts, but it also means that things may come together later than we’d like and without every last detail being nailed down. Nevertheless, we work to ensure that our angler and sponsor partners can move forward with confidence and commitment.”
About the National Professional Fishing League
The National Professional Fishing League (NPFL) was founded to bring competitive fishing to a broader audience and offer anglers a platform to compete at the highest level. The NPFL is committed to fostering integrity, competition, and innovation in the sport, providing anglers and fans alike with an exciting and unique experience.
Media Contact: Ken Duke — (407) 574-1898 or ken@tnpfl.com.