Rick Clunn

[Ron Burgundy]

She looks like she is only in her 30's.

[abkeenan]

4 minutes ago, Ron Burgundy said:

She looks like she is only in her 30's.

He must have remarried. His son is like 13 and he will be 70 in July as he mentioned on stage. Do the math. Either way good for the old timer showing the young bucks what's up.

[Bill Babler]

I might be off on the date, so don't hold me to it.  I met Rick I think in 1977 or 1978.  He was about to fish a Bassmaster event on Lake of the Ozarks.  I came home and told Becky that I had shaken the hand of Rick Clunn and he had shown me a great new lure and I just had to get some.

I was sitting at the Linga Longa Marina boat dock talking to the owner.  He launched his boat there at the mouth of Rainy Creek on their ramp and pulled over to the Marina dock and filled it up.  He was pre-fishing for the event, and was very excited.  He was fishing a lure we had not seen called a Lunker Lure.  He talked to us for at least 2 hrs. showing us how the lure worked.  He said it was a top water spinner bait or what they, he said "Now call a buzz bait."  He caught about a 3 pounder off the roped swim beach while he was showing it to us.  The LM just exploded on the lure.  He was just tickled to death, and jumped up and down.  We all 3 laughed like kids when the fish hammered the bait.  He asked the owner if he wanted the fish to eat and the guy said sure.  It was amazing.  Said he had been catching 50 plus bass a day on it up to 7 pounds, just throwing it down the shoreline like you would a crank bait.

My how times change.  Several points here, and by the way Rick has been one of my favorites for decades.

1st, how many guys pull over to a Marina and gas up.. He did it out of respect for being allowed to use the ramp no one charged for ramp usage in those days.  Very Classy

2nd. he really wanted to talk and visit with us.  Simply Unreal by todays standards  2 freekin hours.

3rd. he not only showed us the bait he was using, but how to use it and how many he was catching on it, and where.

4th. the complete joy of fishing and sharing it with a stranger.  Rick Clunn jumped in the air and laughed so hard he was in tears about catching that fish with us watching.

5th. he gave that guy the fish to eat.  Different place and a totally different time.

Oh Ya, I'm very happy for Mr. Clunn.  If you all remember he was really close here last fall.  On another note I heard he gave his non boater a WP to fish with.  Your near the lead of the derby and give a bait to a non-boater, where not 1 fish, but oz's make a difference.  Pretty special guy. 

[Ketchup]

Man, congrats to Rick and his family.  I haven't got to look at the results yet, but tickled that he pulled it off, after that hefty bag yesterday.  Good story Bill.  From what I've seen of him, he's very down to earth. 

[doroger]

Bill:

Great story.  My Clunn story involves my daughter who was 4 years old at the time.  We were at the Spring Fishing Classic at Basspro in Springfield, back when they held the seminars in the building next door. Wife had gone to grab us a sandwich, daughter and I were standing near the front doors waiting for Clunn's seminar to start.  At the time, Poe's had a Clunn's boxed set of crankbaits that I had bought and we were looking at the baits.  Well, in walks Rick, see's my 4 year old looking at those baits, and kneels down and talks to her for about 20 minutes.  Nothing special, just talked about if she liked going to the lake, catching fish, and being with family.  He asked if those baits were for her or for Dad, she said "they're daddy's!"  He then asked if SHE thought daddy would like for him to autograph the box, she nodded yes, he signed, thanked her for being there and headed for the stage.  I will always remember Rick in this way, he provided a lasting memory for me and my daughter.

Don

[Bill Babler]

Not surprised in the least Don.  I know Rick kind of goes off the grid at times, but I have never heard of him ever not being a complete gentlemen.  He probably will go down in History especially with this win as being one of the greatest ambassadors for the sport.

[m&m]

+++1. Special win for a classy gentleman. 

Mike

[huntest]

I co-angler fished a full day with Rick Clunn at a Central Pro Am event a couple of years ago. Definitely one of the most unusual / unique experiences I have had.

His skill was something to behold and his occasional anecdotes were interesting but I would take a pass for a repeat.

[Quillback]

Bill you've just got to write a book one of these days.

I was watching the live feed yesterday for a bit, Clunn was a machine, constantly throwing that chatterbait, soon as he pulled it out of the water, her fired off another cast.  If you're 69 years old, it ain't easy to do that for 4 straight days.  He's in great shape for his age.

[Mitch f]

12 hours ago, huntest said:

I co-angler fished a full day with Rick Clunn at a Central Pro Am event a couple of years ago. Definitely one of the most unusual / unique experiences I have had.

His skill was something to behold and his occasional anecdotes were interesting but I would take a pass for a repeat.

I don't doubt it, people behave differently in different situations. I'm sure if he was having a good fishing day, all was roses and rainbows. If he was pressing, well, just the opposite.