Rick Clunn's Rod setups

[Cory20]

Hey, don't know if this is old hat, but I recently saw on the Art of Angling and an online interview that Rick Clunn uses a 7' Heavy, Fast graphite rod for all of his baitcasting techniques.  Topwater, crankbaits, jerkbaits, jigs...everything.  

My understanding of it is that he only wants to adjust to the weight of a lure when he changes up.  Not a different rod and reel.  He also feels that as a power fisherman that the heavy action is the way to go.

So what's up with this?  Have I been searching for that perfect pitching stick with the right tip to backbone for nothing?  Is my quest for a good lefty low gear ratio cranking reel over?  Is Rick Clunn just that good?

What do you guys and gals think about the one size fits all setup?

[roadwarrior]

Why?

Rick Clunn has been voted The Greatest Bass Fisherman, so his "new" approach surely works for him. All your fishing can be done with one rod, but certain combinations of power, action, length and design "aid" most fishermen.

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1196114229

8-)

[Pencil Pusher]

Rick Clunn also talked about his one rod system on the "Bass Pros" show last week. Two points that he mentioned more than once were that it worked for his style of fishing but that it wouldn't necessarily work for everybody and that while he used a 7' heavy rod for everything, he had a boat load of them set up for different baits and techniques.

[Mike-in-WV]

Why?

Rick Clunn has been voted The Greatest Bass Fisherman, so his "new" approach surely works for him. All your fishing can be done with one rod, but certain combinations of power, action, length and design "aid" most fishermen.

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1196114229

X2

8-)

[5bass]

  Is Rick Clunn just that good?

Yes...yes he is.

[jrhennecke]

I think that Rick's approach shows that we are conditioned to believe that the process is a lot more complicated than it really is. Oh ya Rick is that good.

[flechero]

Rick may be that good but I bet Ike and KVD have a little different set of rods- actions and powers.  

But I do like RC.  

[5bass]

Maybe when Ike and KVD get to be as old and seasoned as the "greatest fisherman alive", they'll use one specific rod for everything.  

[gabes]

Clunn is a great fisherman but this is like having one golf club for all your shots.  

[flechero]

Maybe when Ike and KVD get to be as old and seasoned as the "greatest fisherman alive", they'll use one specific rod for everything.

This is a fairly new thing and NOT what made him the best.  You're probably right though, if Ike and KVD could cast worth a darn, they'd probably win more often and might eventually become top pro's like Clunn.  ...lol

[5bass]

Maybe when Ike and KVD get to be as old and seasoned as the "greatest fisherman alive", they'll use one specific rod for everything.

This is a fairly new thing and NOT what made him the best. You're probably right though, if Ike and KVD could cast worth a darn, they'd probably win more often and might eventually become top pro's like Clunn. ...lol

You're funny  

[huskertko]

Clunn is a great fisherman but this is like having one golf club for all your shots.

Something tells me that Tiger Woods could still kick my  butt even if he only used a putter too, but I think like it has been mentioned.  This set up works for RC but may not work for KVD or Ike, or anyone else for that matter, to each his own.

I think one of the downsides would be that every rod looks the same so if you are fishing and want to change rods or baits quickly, you would have to really make sure that you grabbed the right one.  Or maybe that would just be my problem, sometimes not the most detail oriented person. :-[

[Bassn Blvd]

I agree with Clunn to a point.  But then again who am I compared to him?  Wait a minute, who says I can't be as good as him.  

I use 7' rods for ALL applications ecxept for Flipping and large swimbaits. All my rods weigh within 1 oz of eachother.  I try to make my reels all the approximate weight but not necessarily the same brand.  I do HATE going from heavy to light or light to heavy.

[flechero]

5BL,

I was only pressing it so you didn't feel like selling all those cranking rods & reels... you could single handedly flood the flea market section!! It was that or an IMX fire sale and keep the glass sticks. ;D ;D

[roadwarrior]

Yep, this is a kinda fun thread.

I can just picture myself throwing an original Floating Repala

into the wind with a 7' Heavy Power baitcaster and then follow

up with a 5" senko on the same rod...

That dog don't hunt!

8-)

[Cory20]

Yep, this is a kinda fun thread.

I can just picture myself throwing an original Floating Repala

into the wind with a 7' Heavy Power baitcaster and then follow

up with a 5" senko on the same rod...

That dog don't hunt!

8-)

I hear you barking RW!

[tyrius.]

7' Heavy Power baitcaster

On the Bass Pro show he said "Heavy action".  Does this mean heavy power or extra fast action?  Van Dam also said that he used a medium action rod on the Bass Pro show too.  Is that moderate action, medium power?  I hate it when people on TV shows use this type of terminology.  How am I supposed to translate it into an actual setup.  

Maybe the online interview clears this up, but the TV show definately left me scratching my head.  If Clunn is talking heavy power then he must never fish a dropshot, shakey head, small crankbaits, weightless plastics, or any other finesse technique (1/4 oz weights or less).  How would he cast them?

[Pencil Pusher]

What I remember him saying was 7 foot heavy rod, fast action. Again, he said this worked for his style which was power fishing.

Twenty plus years ago, he was the primary proponent of fiberglass rods for crankbaits. His Team Daiwa crankbait rod was graphite bottom with a 'glass top; blue blending into clear at the top.

[Masshole Mike]

7' Heavy Power baitcaster

On the Bass Pro show he said "Heavy action".  Does this mean heavy power or extra fast action?  Van Dam also said that he used a medium action rod on the Bass Pro show too.  Is that moderate action, medium power?  I hate it when people on TV shows use this type of terminology.  How am I supposed to translate it into an actual setup.  

Maybe the online interview clears this up, but the TV show definately left me scratching my head.  If Clunn is talking heavy power then he must never fish a dropshot, shakey head, small crankbaits, weightless plastics, or any other finesse technique (1/4 oz weights or less).  How would he cast them?

with a spinning setup? he said all he uses for casting setups is a 7' heavy, but did he mention if he uses spinning setups at all? i'm guessing he wouldn't dismiss certain techniques just to say he only fishes a certain setup 100% of the time.

[roadwarrior]

Unless people preface a description with "power rating", they are always taking about "power" not "action". Heavy Action = Heavy Power/ Fast Action, generally. Medium Action = Medium Power/ Fast Action. If they were really talking about "Medium Action" it is described as "Moderate Action".

Power: XH, H, MH, M, ML & L

Action: Extra Fast, Fast, Moderate & Slow

8-)

[low_pro]

After watching that episode, I knew it would make it to the forums...    ;D

[tyrius.]

with a spinning setup?

Sometimes one can miss the obvious even when it is staring them in the face.  I didn't even consider spinning rods.   :-[

[Daniel My Brother]

My problem with this is that I ENJOY using different rods and reels, even if it means my presentation isn't always as consistent as it could be.

I would get no joy making a 2 pound bass ski across the water using a heavy rod and heavy line.

Put that same fish on a light rod and 6# test and you're in for a good time.

[Shadcranker]

Here's my take on Rick.

First of all, he is a bit strange with all of his philospohies of life and nature and how he ties them to bass fishing, but who can argue with his success.

His greatest abilities in my opinion are honing the mental part of the game and doing his own thing (fishing "blind spots" and ignoring dock talk)  finding the magic spots on a given body of water (i.e the "Clunn Hole"), and developing a pattern.

He seems much more interested in reading water, spending time developing a pattern, and fishing than he does in worrying about all the variations of tackle and equipment. To me he is KVD with out all of the micro details of line, rod action, lure color, etc. Maybe that's why Kevin wil take his place as the best ever.

I think he's just simplified a big part of the game to allow him more time to research the lakes and patterns to get in that "zone" he is looking for.

SC

[aggiebassin]

good post SC.  maybe it does simplify it for him.  and KVD will pass him up as the greatest of all time. (might already have)

i read in a magazine (not sure which one) but RC said that he likes to use a stiffer rod so that his crankbait hooks penetrate better than most.  he also said he sets the hook harder than most on treble hook baits.

i don't know, i don't think i would like that....but to each his own.