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Rick Clunn
Hometown: Ava, Missouri
Born: LaPorte, Texas
Birthday: 7/24/1946
Family: (Wife) Melissa; (Children) Brooke, Courtney, Sage and River
Hobbies: Mountain biking and hiking
Favorite Food: Homegrown vegetables in the summer
Favorite Music: Native American music (chanting or instrumental)
Favorite Book/Movie: Jonathon Livingston Seagull
Why He Fishes: "It's my greatest teacher. It's my vehicle to learn about myself and the universe."
Hometown: Ava, Missouri
Born: LaPorte, Texas
Birthday: 7/24/1946
Family: (Wife) Melissa; (Children) Brooke, Courtney, Sage and River
Hobbies: Mountain biking and hiking
Favorite Food: Homegrown vegetables in the summer
Favorite Music: Native American music (chanting or instrumental)
Favorite Book/Movie: Jonathon Livingston Seagull
Why He Fishes: "It's my greatest teacher. It's my vehicle to learn about myself and the universe."
Career Stats
Scorecard:
14 BASS Titles
96 Top 10 BASS Finishes
17 Top 10 FLW finishes
BASS Times in money: 212
BASS Total Entries: 301
BASS Total Weight: 8,370-12
BASS Career Winnings: $1,648,944.50
Career Earnings: Over $2.2 million
Former Job: Computer Programmer, Exxon, Houston, until 1976
College: The University of Texas
Turned Pro: 1974
Titles/Honors:
4 Bassmaster Classic Titles (1976, 1977, 1984, 1991)
Most BMCs Fished (28 consecutive events, a record that will stand for at least the next 14 years)
Most Consecutive BMCs Fished (28)
Heaviest Weight Caught in BMC Competition: 75-9 at 1984 BMC
1988 BASS AOY
Bass Fishing Hall of Fame inductee
Received inaugural B.A.S.S. Outstanding Achievement Award (2002)
Notables:
Second place on BASS all-time money list in earnings
Third place on list of BASS victories with 14 wins
Timeline:
1969: Joined a BASS club
1972: Enters first "professional" tournament on Sam Rayburn, paired with Roland Martin
1974: Joins BASS trail and qualifies for first Classic, placing 16th
1976: Wins first tournament (BMC)
1977: Wins second tournament (BMC)
1977: Wins BASS Champs tournament
1978: Writes "Rick Clunn's World Championship BASS Fishing" book (with Steve Price)
1978: Runner-up in BMC after loosing winning fish at the boat with one hour to go
1979: BMC third place finish
1981: BMC fourth place finish
1984: Wins third BMC (sets heaviest winning Classic weight with 75-9 catch)
1988: AOY
1990: Wins fourth BMC
2001: Wins MegaBucks
2002: BMC streak ends
Defining Moment:
When he won a second consecutive Classic in 1977 … from then on Clunn became a dominant force, earning him the nickname "Mr. October" when the Classic was held in the autumn in its early years. Second, third, fourth place finishes in '78, '79, '81. Claim To Fame:
The longest continuous BMC streak with 28 appearances, dating back to 1974 Miller High Life Classic; only angler to win 4 BMC titles. Mentor:
Holmes Buckner Clunn (his father) Strengths:
Fall tournaments (when the fish are toughest to pattern), crankbaiting, events when the going is tough. Nuggets:
After quitting Exxon job he worked as a guide on Lake Conroe between BASS tournaments
First boat was a 16-foot "runabout" with an 85 h.p. outboard and a 5 h.p. kicker on the stern
Paired with Roland Martin in a 1972 tournament
Took a change of clothes in the boat with him to disguise himself from others in the 1981 BMC
Was once criticized by pros when he studied Zen and yoga and began camping as an alternative to motels
Holds seasonal "Angler's Quest Advanced Bass Fishing School"
2001 inductee into Bass Fishing Hall of Fame
Worked with Abu to develop the first "thumbar" casting reel
Once charted a jet to fly to Montgomery, Texas from an Oklahoma tournament to escort his daughter, the high school homecoming queen.
When he left his Exxon job in 1976, Clunn had a "business plan." He would give tournament fishing no more than three years of his time and effort without success. At the time, his annual Exxon salary was $12,000.
Influential People:
Roland Martin: "When he won three events (1980-81 season) in a row it allowed me to believe I could control my own destiny." Guido Hibdon: "He's very honest and I admire him." Randy Fite (step brother) Gary Klein Complete BASS statistics
BASS Times in money: 212
BASS Total Entries: 301
BASS Total Weight: 8,370-12
BASS Career Winnings: $1,648,944.50
Career Earnings: Over $2.2 million
Former Job: Computer Programmer, Exxon, Houston, until 1976
College: The University of Texas
Turned Pro: 1974
Titles/Honors:
1969: Joined a BASS club
1972: Enters first "professional" tournament on Sam Rayburn, paired with Roland Martin
1974: Joins BASS trail and qualifies for first Classic, placing 16th
1976: Wins first tournament (BMC)
1977: Wins second tournament (BMC)
1977: Wins BASS Champs tournament
1978: Writes "Rick Clunn's World Championship BASS Fishing" book (with Steve Price)
1978: Runner-up in BMC after loosing winning fish at the boat with one hour to go
1979: BMC third place finish
1981: BMC fourth place finish
1984: Wins third BMC (sets heaviest winning Classic weight with 75-9 catch)
1988: AOY
1990: Wins fourth BMC
2001: Wins MegaBucks
2002: BMC streak ends
Defining Moment:
When he won a second consecutive Classic in 1977 … from then on Clunn became a dominant force, earning him the nickname "Mr. October" when the Classic was held in the autumn in its early years. Second, third, fourth place finishes in '78, '79, '81. Claim To Fame:
The longest continuous BMC streak with 28 appearances, dating back to 1974 Miller High Life Classic; only angler to win 4 BMC titles. Mentor:
Holmes Buckner Clunn (his father) Strengths:
Fall tournaments (when the fish are toughest to pattern), crankbaiting, events when the going is tough. Nuggets:
Roland Martin: "When he won three events (1980-81 season) in a row it allowed me to believe I could control my own destiny." Guido Hibdon: "He's very honest and I admire him." Randy Fite (step brother) Gary Klein Complete BASS statistics
