Brown Battles to Victory at NPFL Lake of the Ozarks

With a three-day total of 45 pounds, 13 ounces, Texas pro Nick Brown secured his first National Professional Fishing League (NPFL) victory at the Chompers/NPFL Stop #5, presented by Bait-Wrx. His success, achieved with a mix of strategic patience and tactical adaptation, awarded him a $100,000 prize and an additional $5,000 bonus as the highest-placing Bass Cat Boats owner.

Brown started with 11 pounds, 11 ounces on day one but rocketed to the top on day two with 21 pounds, 8 ounces, the event’s heaviest bag, thanks to a 6-pound, 5-ounce kicker. His confidence soared after this record-breaking performance, solidifying his plan to stick with the same area for the final day.

“That flat looked so good in practice, and it was loaded with stumps and laydowns, with a gravelly/silty bottom. The fish were moving into it during the event, but in practice and on day one, it was a dead zone,” Brown shared. His persistence paid off on the final day as the sun and breeze created ideal conditions, although an influx of local anglers limited his access to certain targets.

“There were thirty or so pieces of brush in there, and at one point, there were people everywhere,” he explained. Early on, he caught a big fish that wrapped itself around limbs before he landed it. “It was wild,” he added.

Brown returned to his productive area at 2 p.m., targeting isolated timber and securing a third keeper—a three-pounder—followed by his final fish, “a little structure jig,” which gave him the four fish he needed to seal the win.

After battling unpredictable conditions and falling short of limits on two of three days, Brown is thrilled to have clinched an automatic qualification for the NPFL Championship. “It feels great,” he said, reflecting on his season turnaround. “Now I don’t have to worry about making top twelve at the final two events. Plus, I am the first NPFL angler to win from a Bass Cat, which is awesome.”

Webster Finishes Second, Just Ounces Behind

Alabama’s Joseph Webster finished just 5 ounces short, with a three-day total of 45 pounds, 8 ounces. Webster started the event confidently with 14 pounds on day one, followed by 16 pounds, 2 ounces on day two. On the final day, he managed a four-fish bag totaling 15 pounds, 6 ounces, including a 5-pound kicker.

“Everything I caught in practice was a decent fish,” Webster explained. “I only got a few bites, but that was enough.” His primary tactics included rotating between a plopper, a Berkley Choppo, and a jig. Unfortunately, he lost a critical fish in the last 20 minutes of the event, which could have secured him the title.

The area Webster fished was full of big gizzard shad, which attracted larger bass. “I threw a big Choppo and a big jig because I think the little ones wouldn’t want to touch it,” he noted. Adapting to the conditions, he opted for white on cloudy days and black when the sun was out.

Webster’s patience served him well, as he stated, “I like playing the mind game; I can fight through the slow points.” However, the unpredictability of his target area’s bites kept him on his toes. Despite coming up just short, Webster remains optimistic for a strong finish in the NPFL Championship on Lake Hartwell.

Trent Palmer Lands Power Pole Big Fish of the Day

In addition to the thrilling competition, Trent Palmer claimed the Power Pole Big Fish award with a catch weighing 6 pounds, 15 ounces, highlighting the impressive caliber of bass at the event.