At a weigh in very similar to the 500 he has taken part in in a professional fishing career that has spanned five decades, Rick Clunn announced he would be taking a step back from competition. He refuses to call it retirement; instead saying he’s going to continue to participate in select events closer to his home in Missouri. But this will be his last weigh-in on the Bassmaster Elite Series stage. From his speech:
“Yeah I caught every one on the spinner bait. It’s probably my Achilles heel here; I can get a few big ones like that, but here you got to get all big ones. But uh, this is going to be my last. My heart doesn’t want to quit but I’m finally listening to my brain. I really listen to my heart more than anything else, but my brain and my body…I’m not retiring, I don’t want to hear that word. But I am going to pick some Opens and just fish some tournaments I want to fish. I learned in Covid that if I want to stay alive at my age I got to challenge my mind and my body every day, and fishing does that. So I’m going to continue to fish open tournaments and things like that stay close to home spend a little more time with family and I I need to thank everybody but I can’t I want thank my family they’ve supported me forever and it’s it’s going to be tough I know that but it’s also been an incredible journey so I appreciate you guys coming out and all those that have come out before.”
After a 50 year career with 32 Bassmaster Classic qualifiers, 16 Bassmaster wins, four Classic championships, and Angler of the Year titles, it’s safe to say he’s one of the best there ever was. The sport is better because of his contributions, and his legacy will no doubt continue on for a long time.
