Clunn Tops 29 For Day-1 Lead At Fork

By John Johnson
BassFan Senior Editor

It's been quite some time since Rick Clunn ranked among the most consistently successful anglers on the Bassmaster Elite Series – the most recent of his 32 Classic appearances occurred in 2009. There are particular days, however, when the 74-year-old legend can still catch 'em better than anybody.

Clunn amassed 29-04 on opening day of the season-ending Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest at Lake Fork – well over 4 pounds more than anybody else in the 85-angler field could muster. The 16-time B.A.S.S. winner (and four-time Classic champion) anticipated having a good day, but not to the level that he performed.

His massive haul was highlighted by an 8 1/2-pounder.

"I didn't expect to catch 29, but I expected over 20 – I'd been getting that every day (during practice)," he said. "The thing is it was all from two spots and all but the big one came from one dock, so I don't know what'll happen if there's boats there tomorrow.

"I went looking around and caught another limit or two, but they weren't the same size. I got the big one moving from one place to another, just fishing; some days it goes like that and other days it doesn't. This was act 1 of a four-act play and act 2 is tomorrow, so I'll go out and see what happens."

Patrick Walters is Clunn's closest pursuer with 24-14. Seth Feider, who caught a 9-09 bruiser that could garner him the new Tundra that goes to the angler who catches the heaviest fish of the tournament, is 3rd with 23-04, followed by Greg DiPalma with 22-09 and Ed Loughran with 21-13.

John Cox paces the lower half of the Top 10 with 20-14. He's trailed by Koby Kreiger (20-03), Chad Morgenthaler (20-01), Skylar Hamilton (19-13) and Brock Mosley (19-08).

The eight 20-pound bags might've been more than were anticipated with Fork in a relatively stingy state, but the leaderboard was decidedly top-heavy. It appears that it won't take much more than 20 pounds total to make the day-2 cut to the Top 40.

Angler of the Year points leader David Mullins and 2nd-place Austin Felix are currently just outside that mark after weighing stringers in the 10 1/2-pound range (Mullins had only three keepers). That's opened the door for 3rd-place Clark Wendlandt, who led the race for much of the year prior to an 81st-place bomb at Lake Chickamauga last month. Wendlandt, who trailed Mullins by 16 points coming in, is in 18th place in the event with 16-11.

Clunn caught his fish on the Ichikawa RC King Kong Shad 10, an oversized square-bill of his own design. In addition to the 8 1/2-pounder, he also had a 6-06 and a 5-09.

"It's a big-fish bait and this is a big-fish lake," he said. "The biggest keys are how you're working it and finding the right water to fish it in."

He went through 15 keepers and didn't lose anything that he had hooked up.

"I'm the first boat out tomorrow, so I should get to fish that dock unless there's locals on it, which is the one thing you can't control. I don't think anybody saw me there, but who knows.

"I've got some water that I didn't run that's farther away and I'll go there if where I fished today isn't producing. I think I can catch 17 to 20 pounds from those other areas if I get one or two big bites."

Walters said he caught some suspended fish offshore and some from shallower water, all relating to timber. He handled at least 20 keepers (maybe 30) and his biggest weighed 6-06.

"I'm pretty happy with 25 pounds," he said. "I felt pretty good after practice and I was pretty sure I could catch some fish, but I didn't know what the quality was. They definitely bit better today than what I expected them to.

"I'd have to have an extremely good day to reach that weight again (on day 2), but I'll just go out and catch what bites and see what they end up weighing."

Feider started the day hoping to catch just a single keeper to secure his slot in next year's Classic. He achieved that goal about 20 minutes after take-off when he boated his monster. He added a 5-pounder just 10 minutes later, both enticed by a Rapala OG flat-sided crankbait

"I was pretty much on cruise-control after that," he said. "I think it was a pretty situational deal – it hadn't been windy and cloudy all week until this morning and I think those fish just slid up on that point and bit. I don't think it's something that's happening most of the time."

DiPalma worked a creek channel with a crankbait and a football jig, pulling his fish from 9 to 12 feet of water. His best specimen was a 5 1/2-pounder.

"Some guys came through, but I basically had the place to myself," he said. "I'd like to say that I can go back and catch them again tomorrow, but the fish in these bodies of water move so much.

"I saw another 40 on my Humminbird 360 that I didn't fish for. As the day went on they kind of dissipated, but when I was about to leave 12 more pulled up and were sitting there."

Notable

> Day 1 stats – 47 limits, 7 fours, 7 threes, 17 twos, 6 ones, 1 zero.

> Cox caught a 6-pounder on a frog from the only grass clump he encountered all day, which he said was about the size of the front deck on his boat. "It's pretty exciting because you know that on any throw you could catch a big one and win a truck. I'm fishing for big ones because I need a new truck."

> Robbie Latuso caught just a single keeper, but it was an 8 3/4-pounder that has him in 55th place.

Weather Forecast

> Fri., Nov. 6 – Partly Cloudy - 75°/51°
- Wind: From the ESE at 4 mph

> Sat., Nov. 7 – Mostly Sunny - 75°/56°
- Wind: From the E at 3 mph

> Sun., Nov. 8 – Partly Cloudy - 76°/62°
- Wind: From the SE at 6 mph

Day 1 Standings

1. Rick Clunn -- Ava, MO -- 5, 29-04 -- 100
Day 1: 5, 29-04

2. Patrick Walters -- Summerville, SC -- 5, 25-14 -- 99
Day 1: 5, 25-14

3. Seth Feider -- New Market, MN -- 5, 23-04 -- 98
Day 1: 5, 23-04

4. Greg DiPalma -- Millville, NJ -- 5, 22-09 -- 97
Day 1: 5, 22-09

5. Ed Loughran III -- Richmond, VA -- 5, 21-13 -- 96
Day 1: 5, 21-13

6. John Cox -- Debary, FL -- 5, 20-14 -- 95
Day 1: 5, 20-14

7. Koby Kreiger -- Alva, FL -- 5, 20-03 -- 94
Day 1: 5, 20-03

8. Chad Morgenthaler -- Reeds Spring, MO -- 5, 20-01 -- 93
Day 1: 5, 20-01

9. Skylar Hamilton -- Dandridge, TN -- 5, 19-13 -- 92
Day 1: 5, 19-13

10. Brock Mosley -- Collinsville, MS -- 5, 19-08 -- 91
Day 1: 5, 19-08

11. Jay Yelas -- Lincoln City, OR -- 5, 19-02 -- 90
Day 1: 5, 19-02

12. Chris Zaldain -- Fort Worth, TX -- 5, 17-15 -- 89
Day 1: 5, 17-15

13. Chad Pipkens -- Dewitt, MI -- 5, 17-11 -- 88
Day 1: 5, 17-11

14. Rob Digh -- Denver, NC -- 5, 17-05 -- 87
Day 1: 5, 17-05

14. Brad Whatley -- Bivins, TX -- 5, 17-05 -- 87
Day 1: 5, 17-05

16. Hank Cherry Jr -- Lincolnton, NC -- 5, 17-04 -- 85
Day 1: 5, 17-04

17. Tyler Rivet -- Raceland, LA -- 5, 17-02 -- 84
Day 1: 5, 17-02

18. Clark Wendlandt -- Leander, TX -- 5, 16-11 -- 83
Day 1: 5, 16-11

19. Brandon Palaniuk -- Rathdrum, ID -- 5, 16-03 -- 82
Day 1: 5, 16-03

20. Jason Williamson -- Wagener, SC -- 5, 16-00 -- 81
Day 1: 5, 16-00

21. Derek Hudnall -- Denham Springs, LA -- 5, 15-13 -- 80
Day 1: 5, 15-13

22. Shane Lineberger -- Lincolnton, NC -- 5, 15-09 -- 79
Day 1: 5, 15-09

23. Hunter Shryock -- Newcomerstown, OH -- 5, 15-08 -- 78
Day 1: 5, 15-08

24. John Crews Jr -- Salem, VA -- 5, 15-03 -- 77
Day 1: 5, 15-03

25. Brandon Card -- Salisbury, NC -- 5, 14-14 -- 76
Day 1: 5, 14-14

25. Luke Palmer -- Coalgate, OK -- 5, 14-14 -- 76
Day 1: 5, 14-14

27. Kyle Monti -- Okeechobee, FL -- 5, 14-13 -- 74
Day 1: 5, 14-13

28. Stetson Blaylock -- Benton, AR -- 5, 14-00 -- 73
Day 1: 5, 14-00

29. Todd Auten -- Lake Wylie, SC -- 5, 13-10 -- 72
Day 1: 5, 13-10

29. Caleb Kuphall -- Mukwonago, WI -- 5, 13-10 -- 72
Day 1: 5, 13-10

31. Scott Canterbury -- Odenville, AL -- 5, 13-07 -- 70
Day 1: 5, 13-07

32. Jake Whitaker -- Fairview, NC -- 5, 13-01 -- 69
Day 1: 5, 13-01

33. Wes Logan -- Springville, AL -- 5, 12-11 -- 68
Day 1: 5, 12-11

33. Bill Weidler -- Helena, AL -- 5, 12-11 -- 68
Day 1: 5, 12-11

35. Brandon Lester -- Fayetteville, TN -- 5, 12-05 -- 66
Day 1: 5, 12-05

36. Destin DeMarion -- Grove City, PA -- 5, 12-04 -- 65
Day 1: 5, 12-04

37. Kyle Welcher -- Opelika, AL -- 5, 12-03 -- 64
Day 1: 5, 12-03

38. Bob Downey -- Hudson, WI -- 5, 11-08 -- 63
Day 1: 5, 11-08

39. Keith Combs -- Huntington, TX -- 5, 11-07 -- 62
Day 1: 5, 11-07

40. Chris Johnston -- Peterborough, ON -- 4, 10-12 -- 61
Day 1: 4, 10-12

41. Steve Kennedy -- Auburn, AL -- 5, 10-11 -- 60
Day 1: 5, 10-11

42. Austin Felix -- Eden Prairie, MN -- 5, 10-09 -- 59
Day 1: 5, 10-09

43. David Mullins -- Mt Carmel, TN -- 3, 10-06 -- 58
Day 1: 3, 10-06

44. Brandon Cobb -- Greenwood, SC -- 4, 10-05 -- 57
Day 1: 4, 10-05

45. Randy Pierson -- Oakdale, CA -- 5, 10-04 -- 56
Day 1: 5, 10-04

46. Gary Clouse -- Winchester, TN -- 5, 09-11 -- 55
Day 1: 5, 09-11

47. Jamie Hartman -- Newport, NY -- 5, 09-09 -- 54
Day 1: 5, 09-09

48. Buddy Gross -- Chickamauga, GA -- 4, 09-08 -- 53
Day 1: 4, 09-08

49. Gerald Swindle -- Guntersville, AL -- 5, 09-04 -- 52
Day 1: 5, 09-04

50. Lee Livesay -- Longview, TX -- 4, 09-01 -- 51
Day 1: 4, 09-01

51. Randy Sullivan -- Breckenridge, TX -- 3, 09-01 -- 50
Day 1: 3, 09-01

52. Cory Johnston -- Cavan, ON -- 3, 08-13 -- 49
Day 1: 3, 08-13

53. Bill Lowen -- Brookville, IN -- 5, 08-12 -- 48
Day 1: 5, 08-12

54. Jesse Tacoronte -- Kissimmee, FL -- 4, 08-12 -- 47
Day 1: 4, 08-12

55. Robbie Latuso -- Gonzales, LA -- 1, 08-12 -- 46
Day 1: 1, 08-12

56. David Fritts -- Lexington, NC -- 2, 08-03 -- 45
Day 1: 2, 08-03

57. Bryan Schmitt -- Deale, MD -- 4, 08-01 -- 44
Day 1: 4, 08-01

58. Taku Ito -- Chiba, JAPAN -- 2, 08-00 -- 43
Day 1: 2, 08-00

59. Chris Groh -- Spring Grove, IL -- 4, 07-15 -- 42
Day 1: 4, 07-15

60. Clent Davis -- Montevallo, AL -- 2, 07-13 -- 41
Day 1: 2, 07-13

61. Matt Arey -- Shelby, NC -- 2, 07-05 -- 40
Day 1: 2, 07-05

62. Drew Cook -- Cairo, GA -- 2, 07-01 -- 39
Day 1: 2, 07-01

63. Cody Hollen -- Beaverton, OR -- 4, 06-12 -- 38
Day 1: 4, 06-12

64. Brett Preuett -- Monroe, LA -- 3, 06-11 -- 37
Day 1: 3, 06-11

65. Ray Hanselman Jr -- Del Rio, TX -- 3, 06-10 -- 36
Day 1: 3, 06-10

66. Bernie Schultz -- Gainesville, FL -- 2, 06-09 -- 35
Day 1: 2, 06-09

67. Drew Benton -- Blakely, GA -- 3, 06-05 -- 34
Day 1: 3, 06-05

68. Cliff Prince -- Palatka, FL -- 2, 06-04 -- 33
Day 1: 2, 06-04

69. Mike Huff -- Corbin, KY -- 2, 05-09 -- 32
Day 1: 2, 05-09

70. Frank Talley -- Temple, TX -- 2, 05-02 -- 31
Day 1: 2, 05-02

71. Harvey Horne -- Bella Vista, AR -- 2, 04-10 -- 30
Day 1: 2, 04-10

72. Brian Snowden -- Reeds Spring, MO -- 3, 04-09 -- 29
Day 1: 3, 04-09

73. Clifford Pirch -- Payson, AZ -- 2, 04-09 -- 28
Day 1: 2, 04-09

74. Garrett Paquette -- Canton, MI -- 2, 04-07 -- 27
Day 1: 2, 04-07

75. Micah Frazier -- Newnan, GA -- 2, 04-05 -- 26
Day 1: 2, 04-05

76. Dale Hightower -- Mannford, OK -- 2, 03-10 -- 25
Day 1: 2, 03-10

77. Matt Herren -- Ashville, AL -- 2, 03-09 -- 24
Day 1: 2, 03-09

78. Quentin Cappo -- Prairieville, LA -- 2, 03-06 -- 23
Day 1: 2, 03-06

79. Rick Morris -- Lake Gaston, VA -- 2, 03-01 -- 22
Day 1: 2, 03-01

80. Paul Mueller -- Naugatuck, CT -- 1, 01-15 -- 21
Day 1: 1, 01-15

81. Jeff Gustafson -- Keewatin, ON -- 1, 01-12 -- 20
Day 1: 1, 01-12

82. Caleb Sumrall -- New Iberia, LA -- 1, 01-09 -- 19
Day 1: 1, 01-09

83. Carl Jocumsen -- Queensland, AUS -- 1, 01-06 -- 18
Day 1: 1, 01-06

84. Tyler Carriere -- Youngsville, LA -- 1, 01-03 -- 17
Day 1: 1, 01-03

85. Shane LeHew -- Catawba, NC -- 0, 00-00 -- 0
Day 1: 0, 00-00