Elite

Combs’ crushes ’em early

Head out with Keith Combs as he fills his limit fast on the final day of the 2022 Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at Mississippi River!

Posted on
Photography by
Kyle Jessie
Keith Combs wasted no time putting fish in the boat on Championship Monday.
As soon as we pulled up to the Elite Series veteran, he was already reeling in a solid fish.
On Day 3, Combs started his day in Pool 9, but eventually culled out his entire limit later in the day in Pool 8. Today he decided to go in reverse order by starting in Pool 8 and locking down to Pool 9 later in the morning.
This decision paid off, as Combs got on a massive flurry for the first couple of hours.
Just 20 minutes into the day, Combs already has a good fish in the box.
Moments later, Combs hooks up again.
This one wouldn’t make the 14 inch length minimum.
Another non-keeper for Combs. It was a bit of a numbers game for a while, as he had to weed through smaller fish before boating keepers.
Just a few minutes later, Combs hooks up with another big one.
Combs rotated through a variety of baits, but mentioned that there was only a few baits that he could effectively fish in this area because of the eel grass.
Combs and cameraman Jake Latendresse share a laugh after Combs reels in a stick, or “tree pounder” as some would call it.
Combs boat flips a keeper smallmouth.
As the bite slowed down, Combs mixed in a finesse approach with a spinning rod and immediately hooks up with a solid keeper.
Combs boxes a solid largemouth.
After a bit of a mid-morning lull, Combs got the school of fish fired up again.
Eventually Combs decided to give the area a rest and come back.
At roughly 9:00, Combs calls the lock master to check what time he would be able to lock through to pool 9.
Once the bite essentially died at his starting spot, Combs decides to make a run towards the lock!

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