Elite

Combs contends with the elements

Catch up with Keith Combs as he battles the rain and the bass on Day 3 of the 2022 Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at Mississippi River!

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Photography by
Kyle Jessie
Coming into Day 3 of the Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at Mississippi River, Keith Combs found himself sitting in third place with 31 pounds, 12 ounces.
After an hour run south, Combs made his way to his starting spot in Pool 9 of the river.
Combs has not had the season he hoped for, but a “win and you’re in” format has given his Bassmaster Classic hopes alive in Wisconsin.
Combs’ starting spot was a target rich environment with lily pads, reeds and matted vegetation.
As you can tell in the photos, the rain was coming down extremely heavy and never stopped until Combs went back to the lock.
After working over his best stretch of pads with no luck, Combs moves on to his next spot.
As we were still idling up to his second location, Combs boats his first keeper of the morning – a small largemouth.
A look at the vegetation that covers this area.
After fishing his shallow vegetation for a little bit longer without any luck, Combs moves on to an offshore spot.
Combs hooks up almost immediately after making the switch.
The offshore spot was loaded with smallmouth, and Combs filled his limit in a hurry.
Combs’ unique area speaks volumes to how diverse this fishery is. Just a few hundred yards away from where Combs has caught fish in ultra shallow water, he is now fishing off the bank for smallmouth.
Combs boats another good one.
Combs hooks up with another smallmouth.
Current was a major factor in this spot, and Combs missed a few as a result of that.
After filling his limit, Combs made his way back to his shallow vegetation.
This move paid dividends as he hooked up with a big largemouth.
After making a couple of small moves, Combs boats another big largemouth in the same area.
Around 11:30, Combs had to make his way back to the lock as a barge was headed that way.

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