On a blistering cold morning, the Riverside Rebels fished their first B.A.S.S. tournament ever out of and finished in the Top 10.

Kyle Wilson and Kelson Simon, along with boat captain Kevin Simon, set off out of Bayou Segnette State Park in Westwego in search of a stringer that would qualify the Rebels to fish in the state tournament. What they found was a stringer that would land them in seventh place out of 127 boats from all over the state.

The boys took a 45-minute boat ride to the canal where they would spend most of the day. Having to take numerous breaks to warm their hands from the cold, the Rebels caught fish all day. Slow rolling spinner baits and chatter baits were the key to swinging fish in the boat.

“I had to slow down the spinner bait and feel the blades turn to get a hit”, said senior Kelson Simon.

The cold could not stop the duo from getting to the spot where they would spend most of the day. Kyle Wilson said, “The cold ride was worth it, the canal we were in blocked us from the wind allowing us the conditions we need to qualify for the state tournament.”

The B.A.S.S State Championship will be a two-day tournament held at Dorian’s Landing in Morgan City in April. With the seventh place finish the Rebels qualify to be in it. Until then the boys will have to get to know the Lake Verret waterway to compete for a win.