Funny socks equal three 5-pounders for Rivet

Three days before Tyler Rivet had to make one of the longest drives of his young life to a bass fishing tournament, he hurried over to Walker Toyota in Alexandria, Louisiana, and bought a brand new Tundra for the 1,600 mile, 24-hour drive to gorgeous Upstate New York.

Don’t worry though, he remembered to pack his spinning rods and his charismatic socks.

The former 5-time Carhartt College Bassmaster Series National Championship qualifier from Nicholls State in Southern Louisiana had never seen the St. Lawrence River until practice began earlier this week.

However, his colorful socks featuring “The Prez” have been to every Elite Series stop this season, and they may have been a factor in Rivet catching a 19-pound limit yesterday.

“Practice was not great. I was catching fish, but not big ones. So yesterday, on Day 1 of the derby, I just ran to a bunch of new spots and ended up catching three big ones that were all in the 5-pound range. So maybe there is something to the socks,” grins the often-ornery Rivet.

Before any of you get your political hackles in a knot … chill out. Tyler Rivet is not making a partisan statement. The 25-year-old is simply having fun while living his lifetime dream of being a Bassmaster Elite Series pro.

“I’m not really a political person, but I do love my country,” says Rivet. “My family buys me the socks because we like to have fun. I think my dad got me this particular pair, but I own about four pairs that are similar to these ones,” says the Raceland, LA resident.

When asked if he was wearing the exact same pair on Day 2 that he wore for 19-pounds of bronzeback goodness the day before — the answer was “Yes.”

“I swear to you I washed them last night,” he laughed.

Actually his sweet girlfriend and travel companion, Amanda washed them Thursday evening. She confirmed so, as she stood in the refreshing 58-degree air, just prior to Friday’s takeoff in Waddington.

If the wise-cracking Rivet can flop another 19 or 20 pounds on the scales Friday, Amanda may be doing laundry again tonight. And the other four pair of comical feet covers may have to hang in the sock drawer a while longer as the former Carhartt Bassmaster College Series stud lives-out his dream a really long way from home this week.