t’s a Champion’s Finale on Lake Murray to close out the 2024 NPFL Season.
Story by Justin Brouillard | Photos by Tanner & Travis Lyons
Kentucky angler Bailey Gay earned his first-ever NPFL win at Stop Six on Lake Murray hosted by Capital City Lake Murray Country, with a two-day total weight of 39 pounds, 15 ounces. Demonstrating consistency throughout the shortened event, Gay brought in 18 pounds, 12 ounces on Day One and an impressive 21 pounds, 3 ounces on Finale Friday, securing victory by a margin of 2 pounds, 7 ounces.
Gay faced a tough practice, with bites decreasing each day. Heading into day one with low expectations, he capitalized on being one of the few anglers focusing on the lower end of the lake. Settling in, he methodically worked the small sections of grass he located during practice.
“I did not expect to do well after my practice, but I knew I was alone down there and just went to work,” he said. “There were big fish around, and I was able to find quality ones using the grass edges. I relied heavily on forward-facing sonar and kept a bait above the grass on a dropshot rig.”
On day one, most of his fish came from the grass. However, late in the afternoon, he found additional fish on main lake points near the dam—a discovery that ultimately made the difference.
“This morning, it was really slow,” Gay explained. “I had one three-pounder and decided to make a change and go for the win fishing on the points. I fished every point inside the dam and took my time locating single bass.”
Focusing on depths of around 35 feet, he identified big bass tight to the bottom and picked them off one by one, steadily upgrading throughout the day. Gay weighed all his fish on the dropshot, a technique he’s highly confident with, and struggled to find the words after the weigh-in.
“I just can’t believe it,” he said. “It was my first time with a camera in the boat, and I got to put on a show. I’ve been chasing one of those cool trophies all year, and this was the perfect way to end the season. God is good. Big thanks to Wieda’s Marine for working after hours to keep my boat running all year.”
Brock Bila
Missouri angler and Bait Wrx pro Brock Bila secured a second-place finish at Lake Murray with a two-day total weight of 37 pounds, 8 ounces. Bila started strong on Day One with a 19-pound, 9-ounce bag and followed it up on the final day with another solid effort, weighing in 17 pounds, 15 ounces.
Fishing in a style similar to how he approaches waters back home in the Ozarks, Bila identified three to four key areas in the midsection of the lake during practice, where bass were suspended over deep water. Throughout the event, he relocated the schools and targeted bigger fish as the tournament progressed.
“I found those fish suspended between 30 and 50 feet, but throughout the off day and Day One of the tournament, they floated up near the surface,” he said. “I had to change my approach and target them with the minnow.”
His focus was on areas adjacent to creek mouths and other locations where bass would school up on baitfish. Relying on Miller Tech Lithium Batteries from Wholesale Batteries, Bila moved around until he found active groups.
“I had one area where I could get a limit, and then I’d search for the bigger fish,” he said. “Herring lakes have always been semi-difficult for me, so ending the season on a good note feels really good.”
Bila is thrilled with his successful 2024 season, which landed him high in the Progressive Angler of the Year race and qualified him for the 2025 NPFL Championship.
“The opportunity to prove myself against pro-level competition is a really cool deal. I’m looking forward to that championship next year—40 anglers fishing for $100,000. It’s been a great season.”
For his efforts, Bila also secured the NPFL Bass Cat Boats contingency award as the top Bass Cat Boats pro.
Patrick Walters
South Carolina angler Patrick Walters remained consistent in his home state, weighing in 17 pounds, 11 ounces on Day One and 17 pounds, 14 ounces on Day Two. His total of 35 pounds, 9 ounces earned him a third-place finish overall at Lake Murray.
Focusing on a slow, methodical approach—unlike his usual style—Walters targeted isolated cover and structure in a key depth range.
“Practice was tough for me overall, but I’ve fished Murray in December a handful of times and knew where I wanted to be,” Walters said. “I went against my typical style and targeted rocks, brush, and stumps with a small football jig. It was painfully slow for me.”
Welcher Secures Progressive AOY
Overcoming a four-point deficit at the start of the event, Kyle Welcher captured the Progressive Angler of the Year (AOY) Golden Shield with a two-day total weight of 35 pounds, narrowly edging out Drew Cook. Cook, who capped off a stellar season with a 14th-place finish at Murray, made the race a thrilling battle to the very end.
“It feels incredible to win AOY—it’s a huge relief,” Welcher said. “I’ve been in contention all year, but it always felt like I was chasing. This title means more to me than any individual tournament victory.”
Familiar with winter fishing, Welcher drew on his experience from competing in local Alabama tournaments to adapt successfully at Lake Murray. After starting the event targeting shallow water, he shifted early on Day One to focus on suspended fish using forward-facing sonar. This ability to adapt not only earned him a strong fourth-place finish but also secured his first NPFL Angler of the Year title.
Welcher relied on a Crush City Mooch Minnow paired with a 12-pound Sunline Shooter fluorocarbon leader. This setup allowed him to efficiently fight striped bass to the boat and maximize his success during the two-day event.
Power Pole Big Bass
Florida angler Matt Massey claimed the Power-Pole Big Bass Award at Lake Murray with an impressive 8-pound, 3-ounce lunker caught on Day One. Massey had a strong showing throughout the event, weighing in 16 pounds, 6 ounces on the first day and adding four bass for 18 pounds, 6 ounces on the final day. His two-day total of 34 pounds, 12 ounces secured a top ten finish.
Top Ten Anglers
Bailey Gay 39-15
Brock Bila 37-8
Patrick Walters 35-9
Kyle Welcher 35-0
Matt Massey 34-12
Zack Birge 34-10
Dustin Williamson 34-2
Louis Fernandes 33-5
Michael Stout 33-0
Justin Kimmel 32-10
