Scott Hamrick rallies on the final day to take the Championship on Lake Hartwell.
Justin Brouillard | Photos by Tanner & Travis Lyons
The most consistent angler over three days at the 2025 NPFL Championship on Lake Hartwell, hosted by Visit Anderson, was Scott Hamrick. He opened with a 14‑10 bag on day one, followed by 15‑3 on day two, and closed strong with his biggest bag of the week on Showdown Sunday, weighing 15‑15, anchored by a 6‑1 largemouth.
His three-day total weight of 45‑12 secured the Championship victory, earning him a $100,000 payday, a berth into next year’s Championship event, and the coveted NPFL shield.
Rallying to second after day two with 16‑12, to go with his day one weight of 14‑4, Tennessee angler Michael Stout did enough on the final day, catching 14‑10 to finish the Championship in second place with a three-day total of 45‑10. In third, Georgia pro Will Harkins, a pre-tournament favorite, also finished with 45‑10.
Moving into fifth place, 2024 Progressive Angler of the Year winner Kyle Welcher caught the biggest bag, and biggest bass of the event, making up for a tough day two. His 6-11 lunker anchored his 19-14 rally bag, moving him several spots on the final day.
Hamrick Flips the Switch
Living in North Carolina, Scott Hamrick is a bit familiar with Lake Hartwell. When he arrived for practice this week, he had a hunch he would be fishing shallow and picking apart cover, but he did not know it would unfold the way it did.
“I knew what the plan was going to be before I got here,” he said. “I knew the weather was coming and that it would help the bite in the creeks, where I focused my time. I had a decent practice, but you’re not really fishing anything, so I was not sure what the potential was going to be.”
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