Elite

Semifinal Saturday with Rivet

Posted on
Photography by
Andy Crawford
Louisana’s Tyler Rivet headed out for the third day of the 2023 SiteOne Bassmaster Elite Series event just 2 pounds, 1 ounce behind leader Brandon Cobb.
Rivet ran straight up the Kissimmee River to the area that produced his first two days’ combined weight of 53-7.
He quickly sent his hard-plastic crankbait out to get to work.
It didn’t take long for a bass to inhale Rivet’s offering.
And was soon scooping in his first bass …
… a 3 1/2-pounder that set a solid foundation on which to build.
“They’re going to eat today,” Rivet said just before making another cast.
However, conditions had really changed. A front rolled through overnight, and the day began with hard overcast and a drastically lowered temperature. The wind also was howling out of the northwest, straight down the Kissimmee River. That dropped the water level a foot.
Rivet seemed excited about the changes, however. “The lower water should pull more fish out off the banks,” he said.
The pro kept his eyes glued to his foward-facing sonar, identifying targets.
Rivet said he was seeing bass all over his area, but they didn’t seem too interested in his lure.
“I watch them charge the bait, but they won’t eat it,” he said.
Rivet went to the rod box in hopes that a change would trigger some bites.
He made a number casts with the spinnerbait …
… but was soon back on the jerkbait, the lure that got him to the third day.
Finally, a bass decided to play.
It was a keeper, but definitely not the size he hoped for.
… but, again, it was a small bass that made the livewell but needed to be culled.
Rivet finally left his primary area and headed out for a secondary location. He saw the sunny back edge of the front upriver, and hoped that would be the ticket.
This spot was another outflow canal, which had been productive on the same jerkbait pattern.
Fellow Elite pro John Crews had arrived there minutes before Rivet. He told Rivet about a group of fish on one side of the canal …
… before re-rigging and leaving the outflow canal for Rivet to fish.
Ten minutes later, Rivet set the hook …
… and this bass had some size to it.
The 3-pounder defiinitely made the team.
The sun finally popped out, and a few minutes later Rivet was sinkng the hook into another bass.
This one was another 3-pounder.
It wasn’t the 5-pounders Rivet had been catching, but after a slow, tough morning the catch provoked a single-gun pose …
… and allowed him a big cull.

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