Greg Hackney Closes Strong to Win NPFL at Lake Norman
Veteran pro Greg Hackney made good on his Day Two prediction that consistent weather would turn up the bite across Lake Norman. On the final day of the NPFL event, Hackney delivered his biggest bag of the tournament—17 pounds even—to secure his first NPFL title with a total weight of 47 pounds, 11 ounces.
The win didn’t come easy. After leading Day One with a solid 16-6 bag of mostly largemouth, Hackney struggled to relocate the quality green fish on Day Two, weighing in 14-5 of spotted bass. But on Finale Friday, the largemouth reappeared, and Hackney capitalized with a steady, calculated approach that showcased his experience and composure.
“Today was slow and steady—one good one here, one good one there—and I never got shaken up,” said Hackney. “When you’re catching them all day, it just makes everything easier.”
A Clutch Final Cull
The defining moment came just before the cutoff, when Hackney made a final cull with a 4-pounder that ultimately sealed the deal. But even as he stepped off stage with the trophy, Hackney couldn’t stop thinking about one fish that nearly got away—a bedding bass he hooked multiple times, fought for hours, but never landed.
“It was time-consuming, but I knew if I caught it, it would win the event—so I stayed,” he said. “I was sure she was going to cost me the win. But overall, I fished extremely well today. I had no anxiety at all.”
That calm focus paid off. While battling a keeper largemouth to the boat, Hackney spotted a massive 4- to 5-pound spotted bass trailing close behind—further proof that it was, as he put it, “one of those days where it just feels like it’s your time.”
Smart Strategy, Simple Gear
Hackney credited his Lowrance C-Map and simple finesse tactics for helping him unlock the bite. He targeted pockets below the main bridge, using the map to highlight water six feet or less and pinpoint spawning areas. He threw Strike King Finesse Worms in Green Pumpkin—both a 4” shaky head rig and a 6” weedless wacky setup.
“I burned the majority of my practice water on Day One, so I ran completely new stuff the last two days,” Hackney said. “The key fish were between docks, sitting on brush or stumps—not actually on the docks themselves.”
Queen Comes Up Just Short
North Carolina local KJ Queen made a serious push for the win, finishing just 11 ounces behind Hackney with a total of 47-1. Queen was consistent all week, opening with 15-8, adding 14 on Day Two, and delivering the second-heaviest bag of the tournament on Friday—17-9.
Queen stuck with his sight-fishing game plan in the mid-lake region, relying on a tight rotation of Zoom soft plastics and a Queen Tackle jig in MR Craw. A lost fish on Day Two proved costly in the end, but Queen remained upbeat.
“It kind of sucks, but it is what it is,” he said. “Overall, it was a great finish on my home waters. I kept it simple, covered a ton of water, and stayed locked in on spawning fish.”
Welcher’s Wild Ride Continues
After his Bassmaster Elite Series win in North Carolina just a week prior, Kyle Welcher showed no signs of slowing down. Despite a tough Day One that left him in 30th, Welcher stormed back with 19-13 on Day Two, the biggest bag of the tournament, to take the lead heading into Friday.
But with fewer new fish moving into his primary area, Day Three proved more challenging. He managed 12-8, good for third place with a total of 45-1.
“I had no history here at all,” Welcher said. “So finishing third—I’ll take that all day. It was just one of those weeks where you had to be in the right place at the right time.”
Still, Welcher claimed a consolation prize with the event’s Big Bass, a 5-pound, 10-ounce largemouth caught on Thursday. He leaned on a Rapala Crush City Bronco Bug to trigger strikes from aggressive spawners.
“I just looked and threw that bug at everything I could see. It was a great week.”
Rounding Out the Top 5
Patrick Walters showed consistency throughout, finishing fourth with 44-13 and notching another strong NPFL performance. Seth Ellis rounded out the top five with 42-14.
Top 10 Final Standings – Lake Norman
-
Greg Hackney – 47-11
-
KJ Queen – 47-1
-
Kyle Welcher – 45-1
-
Patrick Walters – 44-13
-
Seth Ellis – 42-14
-
Drew Cook – 41-13
-
Jason Burroughs – 41-10
-
Tim Frederick – 39-15
-
David Williams – 39-12
-
JTodd Tucker – 39-3
Discover the ultimate resource for bass fishing enthusiasts with Bass Angler Magazine! Packed with expert tips, the latest cutting-edge techniques, and in-depth articles, our magazine is your go-to guide for mastering the art of bass fishing. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just getting started, Bass Angler Magazine delivers the insights and inspiration you need to reel in the big ones. Subscribe today and elevate your angling game!
.aioseo-author-bio-compact{display:flex;gap:40px;padding:12px;text-align:left;border:1px solid #000;border-radius:5px;color:#111;background-color:#FFF}.aioseo-author-bio-compact-left{flex:0 0 120px}.aioseo-author-bio-compact-right{flex:1 1 auto}.aioseo-author-bio-compact-left .aioseo-author-bio-compact-image{width:120px;height:120px;border-radius:5px}.aioseo-author-bio-compact-right .aioseo-author-bio-compact-header{display:flex;align-items:center}.aioseo-author-bio-compact-right .aioseo-author-bio-compact-header .author-name{font-size:22px;font-weight:600}.aioseo-author-bio-compact-right .aioseo-author-bio-compact-header .author-job-title{margin-left:12px;padding-left:12px;font-size:18px;border-left:1px solid gray}.aioseo-author-bio-compact-right .aioseo-author-bio-compact-main{margin:12px 0;font-size:18px}.aioseo-author-bio-compact-right .aioseo-author-bio-compact-main>p:last-of-type{display:inline}.aioseo-author-bio-compact-right .aioseo-author-bio-compact-main .author-bio-link{display:inline-flex}.aioseo-author-bio-compact-right .aioseo-author-bio-compact-main .author-bio-link a{display:flex;align-items:center}.aioseo-author-bio-compact-right .aioseo-author-bio-compact-main .author-bio-link a svg{fill:#000}.aioseo-author-bio-compact-right .aioseo-author-bio-compact-footer .author-expertises{display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:10px}.aioseo-author-bio-compact-right .aioseo-author-bio-compact-footer .author-expertises .author-expertise{padding:4px 8px;font-size:14px;border-radius:4px;background-color:#DCDDE1;color:inherit}.aioseo-author-bio-compact-right .aioseo-author-bio-compact-footer .author-socials{margin-top:12px;display:flex;gap:6px}.aioseo-author-bio-compact-right .aioseo-author-bio-compact-footer .author-socials .aioseo-social-icon-tumblrUrl{margin-left:-2px}.aioseo-author-bio-compact-site-editor-disclaimer{color:#000;margin-bottom:12px;font-style:italic}@media screen and (max-width:430px){.aioseo-author-bio-compact{flex-direction:column;gap:20px}.aioseo-author-bio-compact-left .aioseo-author-bio-compact-image{display:block;margin:0 auto;width:160px;height:160px}.aioseo-author-bio-compact-right{text-align:center}.aioseo-author-bio-compact-right .aioseo-author-bio-compact-header{justify-content:center}.aioseo-author-bio-compact-right .aioseo-author-bio-compact-footer .author-socials{justify-content:center}}
$post[‘post_content’] .= ‘Source‘;
