Stracner and Rivet’s Day 3 rally

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Josh Stracner popped into the Top 10 early on Day 3, so I ran him down to capture his fishing action on Lake Harris.
Josh Stracner popped into the Top 10 early on Day 3, so I ran him down to capture his fishing action on Lake Harris.
Stracner told me he was running main-lake shell beds. He was using a combination of a vibrating jig and a Carolina rig.
Stracner told me he was running main-lake shell beds. He was using a combination of a vibrating jig and a Carolina rig.
He wouldn’t stay long any one spot. If the fish didn’t play quickly, he moved on. “The bite has died,” Stracner told me about 10 a.m. “It always dies in the middle of the day.”
He wouldn’t stay long any one spot. If the fish didn’t play quickly, he moved on. “The bite has died,” Stracner told me about 10 a.m. “It always dies in the middle of the day.”
A north wind kicked up mid-morning, chopping up Lake Harris.
A north wind kicked up mid-morning, chopping up Lake Harris.
One of Stracner’s shell beds was on a wind-blown bank in the main lake.
One of Stracner’s shell beds was on a wind-blown bank in the main lake.
A move to that bed quickly paid dividends with another solid bite.
A move to that bed quickly paid dividends with another solid bite.
The catch allowed him to cull up about 1 1/2 pounds.
The catch allowed him to cull up about 1 1/2 pounds.
The very next cast Stracner set the hook on another bass that gave up only after a vicious struggle at the side of the boat.
The very next cast Stracner set the hook on another bass that gave up only after a vicious struggle at the side of the boat.
This bass weighed just over 3 pounds, again allowing him to cull.
This bass weighed just over 3 pounds, again allowing him to cull.
Next stop was in Lake Eustis to check up on Tyler Rivet, who bumped in and out of the Top 10 during the morning.
Next stop was in Lake Eustis to check up on Tyler Rivet, who bumped in and out of the Top 10 during the morning.
Rivet was working a small bay off the main lake that featured eel grass and hydrilla.
Rivet was working a small bay off the main lake that featured eel grass and hydrilla.
He landed a bass he did help him shortly after I arrived.
He landed a bass he did help him shortly after I arrived.
“I swear the fish are in here,” Rivet said after a long dry spell.
“I swear the fish are in here,” Rivet said after a long dry spell.
This couple stopped to take a photo of Rivet working the area.
This couple stopped to take a photo of Rivet working the area.
Defending Angler of the Year Seth Feider was fishing offshore, and I looked over just as he set the hook on a solid bass.
Defending Angler of the Year Seth Feider was fishing offshore, and I looked over just as he set the hook on a solid bass.
Rivet finally left, showing his displeasure as he passed.
Rivet finally left, showing his displeasure as he passed.
The move paid off with a quick hook set that ended with the pro flipping a solid bass into the boat.
The move paid off with a quick hook set that ended with the pro flipping a solid bass into the boat.
He quickly put his bait back in the water.
He quickly put his bait back in the water.
And set the hook on another bass.
And set the hook on another bass.
Rivet culled up with that bass, and just like that his day got better.
Rivet culled up with that bass, and just like that his day got better.