Tyler Rivet has taken the lead on BassTrakk here on Day 2 of the Gamakatsu Bassmaster Elite at Lake Seminole with an estimated 18 pounds in the box early. As everyone likely knows by now, he gained his first Elite title last week at Lake Okeechobee. Setting the proverbial woods on fire to start his 5th season on the Bassmaster Elite Series, Rivet is off to a riveting start.
Though a solid college angler no doubt during his time at Nicholls State, it’s not likely that many thought Rivet would have a breakout season this year. The south Louisiana native finished his rookie season in 45th place of the 2019 Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year race– a season that saw only 75 compete for the prestigious title. He took his lumps that year clawing for his place in the largest Elite Series rookie class of all time.
Rivet’s sophomore season was a little tougher, ending the year 61st of 88. The extremely likable young Cajun kept his head down and kept grinding. As the field expanded to 100 anglers in 2021, the compounding experience of Rivet’s first three years on tour started to pay dividends as he finished 44th in the standings. Moving to 25th of 94 last year, he seemed to be hitting his stride, but we couldn’t have predicted what came next.
Pulling off the most astonishing win we’ve seen in decades, Rivet fished against his presumed strengths last week to hoist his first blue trophy. And he’s in contention again this week. He’s building a fanbase by the bite with his “big guns loaded” biceps ripping jerseys off on stage and snipping sleeves on the water. It’s hard get noticed among these hammers, without doing something cheesy. There’s nothing cheesy about Rivet. This isn’t a schtick. He’s worked hard to build both physical and mental muscle mass these last 5 years. And now that things are coming together, he is finally just getting to be his authentic self in front of the world. An eager angler who was humbled early on by a tough sport. A guy you can’t help but root for as his dreams come to fruition. A new star in the sport.
