Kentucky angler Bailey Gay earned his first-ever NPFL win Friday at South Carolina's Lake Murray with a two-day total weight of 39 pounds, 15 ounces. Demonstrating consistency throughout the weather-shortened event, Gay brought in 18-12 on Day 1 and a stout 21-3 on Day 2 to win by a margin of just under 2 1/2 pounds.
Gay faced a tough practice, with bites decreasing each day. Heading into Day 1 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 1, 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 3-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 caught all his fish on the dropshot, a technique he’s highly confident with.
“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.”
Missouri's Brock Bila ended up 2nd with 37-08. Fishing in a style similar to how he approaches waters back home in the Ozarks, Bila identified a few 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 1 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. He 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.”
South Carolina angler Patrick Walters remained consistent in his home state, finishing 3rd with 35-9.
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.”
Overcoming a 4-point deficit at the start of the event, Kyle Welcher captured the Angler of the Year (AOY) title with his 4th-place finish, narrowly edging out Drew Cook.
“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 1 to focus on suspended fish using forward-facing sonar.
Welcher relied on a Crush City Mooch Minnow paired with a 12-pound Sunline Shooter fluorocarbon leader.
Matt Massey, the 5th-place finisher, claimed the Power-Pole Big Bass Award with an 8-3 lunker caught on Day 1.
Here's a look at the final Top 10:
1. Bailey Gay: 39-15
2. Brock Bila: 37-8
3. Patrick Walters: 35-9
4. Kyle Welcher: 35-0
5. Matt Massey: 34-12
6. Zack Birge: 34-10
7. Dustin Williamson: 34-2
8. Louis Fernandes: 33-5
9. Michael Stout: 33-0
10. Justin Kimmel: 32-10
