Rick Clunn Calls It A Career At The Elite Level, Today

One of the greatest and most successful professional bass fishermen of all time announced he would not be back on the Elite Series next year. Rick Clunn fished at the top level of B.A.S.S. for an amazing 50 years. He still plans to fish a few select Bassmaster Opens and a few other events. Over the last few years I have grown to appreciate this man's wisdom and character. He is one of a kind.

You will be missed Mr. Clunn.

I hope the various bass fishing podcasters don't forget about Rick and will continue bringing him on as a guest. He is as thoughtful of angler as there ever has been. 
 

Phenomenal Interview With Living Legend Rick Clunn

 For whatever reason Rick Clunn isn't an angler I have paid very much attention to here at Bass Pundit over the years. I've got nothing but respect for the man. He lives life his own way and walks the walk of trying to be as good of a man as he is an angler. That really comes out in this interview. This will be his 50th year fishing B.A.S.S., incredible.

Special Appearances by Milliken, Feiderman, "Fear My Heart" Carl, and Gussy.

Congratulations Keith Combs On Winning Falcon Lake B.A.S.S. Elite Series

James Overstreet 

Basstrakk had Clunn winning it, but Keith Combs weighed in 28-2 thus beating Clunn by an ounce short of 6lbs.  Personally I was rooting for Combs.  Nothing against Clunn, but the guy has won enough and doesn't need the win like a young Pro does.

Congratulations Keith!!!

41st Bassmaster Classic Final Analysis

If a new "Greatest Angler Debate" were to be held again this year or any year hereafter I think there can be little doubt a different king of the mountain would emerge as the winner. Kevin Van Dam has now matched Rick Clunn's signature accomplishments of 4 Bassmaster Classic Titles and back to back Bassmaster Classic wins. I recently read that Clunn told KVD to hurry up and win #4, so they could race to #5. Who knows maybe Clunn has what it takes to make a run at the Classic title a few more times. After all Clunn was in the hunt for the US Open in 2010. If Clunn can make it back to the Classic, he could win. However there can be little doubt that absent unforeseen tragic circumstances Kevin Van Dam will be contending for Classic crowns as far as the eye can see.

Kevin Van Dam IS THE GREATEST PROFESSIONAL TOURNAMENT BASS FISHERMAN TO EVER LIVE.

As for how KVD won this Classic it was a virtuoso performance that showed just why he is the best there has ever been. Just like last year he was among a fair host of others that located the area where the tournament would be won. Last year at Lay Lake Kevin pretty much had the winning water to himself thanks to Takahiro Omori conceding the area to Kevin after the first day. This year Kevin was sharing the exact same water with no fewer than 3 other anglers, all of whom finished in the top 10 and two of which with KVD made up the top 3. To win Kevin had to be flat out better than the other anglers and there can be no doubt that he was in winning with a 10lb plus margin of victory. What Kevin did at this Classic was truly astounding.

I think the biggest keys to Kevin's victory were his uncanny abilities to read the behavior of bass then to "trigger" the bass to strike. Kevin stated he was aware that the first days spinnerbait bite was going away by the end of the day. Kevin knew the fish were changing and so he began to experiment to find out what would work best. Strike King has to be the most fortunate fishing lure company in the history of fishing*. The fish wanted the new Strike King KVD 1.5 crankbait and Kevin figured out exactly how to fish the crankbait to trigger the strikes on Day 2. From that point Kevin stepped on the gas and never looked back. A 10lb 11oz margin people! Simply amazing!

*For the 2nd year in a row the Bassmaster Classic was won by KVD on a lure Strike King Lure Company was just bringing to market, no doubt driving initial sales through the roof and building a legacy that will make the lure a top seller for years to come.