Heard once that you should never try and meet your hero. (Someone in this class of a sport). They might break your heart, i am sure they can get tired of people not respecting your personal time. If your lucky, they will meet you. Fished with many people, and have made friends with many. But when you meet a mentor, who teaches you things it's refreshing. I have met a couple in my life, and currently learning from one now. I can remember watching the big guns battle it out on tv when i was younger. Many people have done it, but it's the ones with the correct mindset, and family backing them that succeed.. Would love to chew the fat, with a man like Mr. Clunn, or Many of the others from back in the day. Mr. Parker, Mr. Dance, and especially Mr. Houston. Those three kept my mind in the clouds for many years while in college, work, and the such. If i wasn't fishing, I was thinking about it. I don't think fishing is a sport, It's a gift that will reward you if you can slow down and really see the beauty in it. Don't know why there is so much drama in the clubs, tournaments, and the circuits.. Life is too short..

Once at one of the BASS events on Lake Wylie, where only the top 20 or 30 fished and there was no entry, the weigh in was held inside the old Charlotte arena. Dave Wolack won the event. The arena wasn't to full and I just happened to look way up in the top row and by himself set Clunn. I had spoke with him before and could read him a little. I went around and walked up and asked him to sign my hat. I thanked him and he said no Thank You. I then asked him why he was watching. He said while he was fishing he knew he was missing something. Instead of loading up and moving on he stayed and listened as how the top guys fished. The winner caught the fish on bluegill beds on a topwater prop bait. The man's mind never stops working, sort of like Ike's mouth,. I seen several big names treat folks a little rough at events where they just get off the water. In my book Rick Clunn is THE MAN

Ask Jay about Rick... He's the devil... Dan

I have followed Rick since the beginning. He is lazer focused when he is fishing. One of the greatest. His focus is what a lot of people think is arrogance. I'm only a couple years younger than he is. People think I'm crazy too. Maybe that's why he is still my hero.

If that’s the case he sure had more than most

This is a great story here, I'm sure 60 years of microphones and media gets old.

In 1983 I watched him come from behind at the US OPEN and win that $50,000 pile of cash under glass at TROPICANA. Three decades later in 2013 I watched once again as he came close to winning the Falcon Slam finishing second. He will always be one of my heros.

Clunn has always been a head case but he is one of the greats in bass fishing

met him at Texas Bassfest at Lake Travis. Stopped his conversation with others to take pic with me. Rick's alright.

Cool story Mark

Mark

Had the exact same experience with him at the Bass Pro in San Antonio several years ago. Talked to my wife and I for over an hour
and took us down multiple aisles to show us the baits that he was talking about. Very impressed with our experience with him..

AJ

I think its fishy as hell they still don't have the day 3 weigh in video up, I think 'ol Rick might have got called to the trailer after this one.

agreed

Yep it's still not up, and Day 3 of Guntersville is up one day after...

Funny, I met him and KVD at a dealer owners convention at the Gaylord in Grapevine a few years back and the three of us had about a 15 minute conversation. They were both relaxed, funny, and very easy to talk to. I wasn't even supposed to be in that place and told them how I "conned my way in". They thought it was a hoot and we took a picture together. We didn't talk about fishing much as we just chatted about our backgrounds in general. As nice guys as they are great fishermen.