Rick Clunn's Rod setups

[Hoytman#1]

Like others have said Rick is a great fisherman, and like all of us he has his own way of doing things. Rick is strictly a power fisherman and he won't break out a spinning outfit unless he really has too. By know means is he like me. I am a junk fisherman, "I am not great at anyone technique, but I try to be good with all techniques" Rick's one road approach probably works great for him but would never fit my style of fishing. Just because some Pro does it that way doesn't mean that we should all do it that way. We all have to march to the beat of our own drummer. I don't want to turn into a Xerox anyway! :

[Catt]

This train of thought is not new many of your Ole School Pros & quite a few Young Guns think the same why. The jest of his comments was more about using the same rods and the same reels but not in the way y'all are taking it. His point is to use all round reels or all low profile reels, all Bionic Blades or all Castaway rods, all Garcia Revo's reels or all Shimano Calcutta's reels; his choice of 7' heavy rods suits him but may not suit you.

That a look at Denny Brauer, Larry Nixon, & many others even KVD; they all use one style of reel or name brand of rod why?

I can assure you it aint just sponsorship!

If y'all had really paid attention Rick eluded to the difference in feel between a round reel vs. a low profile reel and the time required mentally to adjust to the difference in feel.

[burleytog]

If y'all had really paid attention Rick eluded to the difference in feel between a round reel vs. a low profile reel and the time required mentally to adjust to the difference in feel.

Exactly.  Clunn even made that point in his presentation, going so far as to say that it was what worked for HIM.

:-X

[Mike-in-WV]

"Just because some Pro does it that way doesn't mean that we should all do it that way. "

Same thing can be said of people who follow the idea that to catch Bass you must have 10 different rod and reel combos with 10 different lines . None of the rods can cost less than $150.00, reels must not cost less than $100.00, line should cost no less than $30.00 for a 100 yrd. spool, every lure must cost at lest $25.00 , special sun glasses no less than $100.00, Bass boat must cost no less than $25,000 and anchors must be solid gold with copper inlaid rope.

In todays fishing world the manufactures have done a great job of brain washing people into thinking you need all this and they pay Bass Pros big money to convince you of this.

I would be willing to bet that if you gave the pros a Jon boat, one ugly stick rod and one Revo S  reel with #15 test that they would have no trouble placing big Bass in there live well. ;D Mike

[Tpayneful]

I admire Rick Clunn's accomplishments but how many cuts has the guy made in the last 5 years?  I am not going to hammer a nail with a screwdriver.  I think KVD is more in touch with what is successful for a tournament angler currently.  He uses different rods and reels for different techniques.

[itmightbeharry]

Hey all,

In response to the questions concerning Rick Clunn's rod setup, I have found a few interpretive errors in previous responses. First, Rick does use the 704 series Carolina Rig rod for the majority of his fishing. On his site he indicates in the "Art of Angling" column he uses his crankbait rod. This rod was available in a heavy power in the first year of the Rick Clunn Signature Series by Bass Pro Shops. However, since this rod is no longer produced, Rick continues to use the heavy power rod, but the Carloina rig rod. This is something I found from communicating with Rick via "snail" mail. Secondly, for topwaters which require twitching (on his site he says "wrist action"), he uses the 6'6" 664 Topwater rod. For line sizes less than 12 lb. test, he uses one of the M or MH rods. He indicates on his site for those who sit or those who are shorter (Rick is 6'0"), a shorter rod may be preferable.

Here's another thing to consider. The development of Rick using what was just his crankbait rod for most his fishing resulted from Rick fishing crankbaits a majority of the time, and then trying his crankbait rod with jerkbaits and spinnerbaits. If your primary technique is something different, the one-rod for MOST your fishing may still be efficient, but you may want a different rod, specifically, the rod you use for your most used technique. I currently use the MH crankbait rod of his series because I fish more often with spinnerbaits. Additionally, I  prefer the lighter M power 7' rod for Carolina-rigging (interesting, since the rod Rick uses most often is the Carolina rod as stated earlier) because I like to feel the drag of the heavy sinker, which is part of the point of Carolina rig fishing (or what was once the "Do-Nothing" rig). Instead of BPS line, I like P-Line because of the variety of lines they have available and the properties of their lines. Instead of using the lighter rods for lines less than 12lb., to continue the theme of simplifying tackle, you can just use the topwater rod, which is a MH, or like I do, a M power rod for both 8 lb. line and Carolina rigs.

Concerning Iaconelli and VanDam using rods with differing powers, it is correct to believe this is the case because they both do. Rick addresses this in the "art of angling" article when stating before mentioning his system that if you are satisfied with your efficiency in presentation and landing fish, keep doing what you're doing. From Ike and KVD's records, we can conclude they are quite efficient in landing fish. This is also why I have made modifications to Rick's system, such as a different rod for the Carolina and using P-Line instead of BPS.

Finally, in reference to the golf statement, there is one difference we should be aware of. When playing golf, I have seldom viewed a player carrying their club in hand to the place where they hit the ball. Typically, the club is placed in the bag. At this very point, the rhythm Rick discusses in "art of angling" has been broken by the release of the club. However, unlike golf, I rarely see an angler pick up a rod, make one cast, lay the rod down, pick up another, make one cast, and continue this through the entire day. The angler continues to hold a single rod for a long time. Consider this, if you are fishing a jig, flippin' shallow weeds, and you intuitively decide to fish deeper with that jig, instead of changing to a rod which is not a flippin' rod, you could just turn around and cast out deep. Or if you are fishing shallow cover, but realize you are not shallow enough to flip, but can pitch, why not use that same rod, pitch your jig, and then when you are shallow enough, you can start flippin' if that's your preference. The key here is to know your own style, and then simplify your tackle to meet your style and improve presentation, hooking, and landing efficiency.  

[roadwarrior]

Welcome aboard!

The analogy with golf is interesting.

I would wager a large sum of money

that Tiger Woods could beat anyone

not currently on the PGA tour using

nothing but a 7 iron.

For the rest of us, the "right tool" for

the job is probably a better route to take.

8-)

[itmightbeharry]

I agree with the last response. For each individual angler to be at their greatest efficiency, they must first know their own style, and then figure out what works best for them. Rick's system isn't a one size fits all system, but what works best for him because of his style, which is mostly fishing crankbaits.

[SissySticks]

I am pretty new to the board, but am I the only one on here who NO LONGER fishes in tournaments, unless a buddy asks me to fish a buddy event?  I got unbelievably tired of skating 2lb. bass across the surface and fishing ALL DAY on a bad fishing day to MAYBE catch 5.  Maybe I'm weak sauce here, but since I quit tournament fishing, I own 2 MH rods, a spinning and a casting in 6'6", and everything else I have is M action or lighter.  I carry 4 L or UL rods in the boat. I rarely use OVER 12 lb. test (actually, never).  Why?  Because it's a lot more fun and I hook a lot more bass on 6lb. test.  When I was a tournament angler, things were different.  15lb. was my normal line and I used a lot of mh and h rods.  It just got old, and didn't feel very sporting.

I agree with the last response. For each individual angler to be at their greatest efficiency, they must first know their own style, and then figure out what works best for them. Rick's system isn't a one size fits all system, but what works best for him because of his style, which is mostly fishing crankbaits.