Rick Clunn in a Tracker!!

[Bass Dude]

I saw, on another site, that Rick Clunn is running an 18 foot Tracker for the Classic and a couple other events(one is Amistad).  He's running it for the Classic to get into the backwaters.  He's running it in other events to show people that you don't need a $40,000, 20foot bassboat to be competitive.  He thinks that the pros have been giving the wrong impression all these years in making people think they need all that "fancy" equipment to compete.  He also wants to show the other benefits of running a lighter rig, like the fact you don't need a big tow vehicle and the gas mileage will be a lot better on both the boat and tow vehicle.

I think it's a good move.  His name and reputation will really make people think about his message too.

I just want to add that Rick is still THE MAN!!!  He may not be up in the standings like he once was, but I don't think there is a better, pure fisherman out there.

[Mike 12345]

I didn't know about Clunn, but I've read several articles in the last few weeks where several of the Classic pros were considering showing up to the Classic event with aluminum boats due to the kind of water and cover that they are expecting in the Red River.  I'll be interested to see it!

[bighed]

My old Triton aluminum would float in water shallower than the diameter of the tm prop. He' ll get in there where nobody in a glass boat can. I hope the fish are up that shallow for him. Great idea but no different than the guys switching boats for the Elites on Erie's big water. BTW, a loaded Tracker is not really "cheap". A glass boat can be bought for the same money. They are stingy on fuel but won't save much on cost of towing. Worst part of a metal boat for me was fighting the wind. They blow around bad.

[Bass Dude]

Just because I have a little down time here at work!!

A Tracker Pro Team 190 has a base price of $17,000 (not sure what model Rick plans to run), I think even with the motor updgrades and all the other stuff he would use, won't equal the amount of his center console Z9.  I don't think his point is that they are "cheap", but the fact that they are "cheapER"  (not $40,000).  

The wind is hard to deal with in an aluminum, that was my biggest issue when I had an alum. rig too.  I think he's crazy for using it at Amistad, thats some big water that gets pounded by the wind.

[J Francho]

There are different classes of mod-V tin boats, for sure.  A friend of mine fishes a 19' Xpress with a 225 Vmax.  This is not a "cheap" boat.

[Gatorbassman]

I think that's a great idea I can't wait to see that.

I love my 18.5ft Triton Aluminum. It is a great boat and I have made a few upgrades to make it fish like a big boat. The biggest upgrade was the Trolling Motor. It came with a 45lb motor and I bumped it up to a 74lb. I might go up to a 90 before to long. I love fishing in the wind and I'm not going to let my boat get the most of me no matter what it's made of.

[Catt]

This is far from the first time that a tournament Pro has selected to use an alternate boat, while I can't remember the exact tournament but I'll try to find it. The problem lies in the rules unless they have changed once you start the tournament in the aluminum boat and the weather turns bad you are stuck in the smaller boat since you can not change boats mid-tournament. There are strict tournament rules against changing from one boat to another without proper cause.  

While the rumor about wanting to show the others you don't need a fancy boats sounds impressive it's about selecting the proper tool to accomplish the job at hand.

[Bass Dude]

It wasn't a rumor---Rick Clunn said in the interview that is why he wants to run the other rig, to show that you don't need the big rig to compete.  As far as selecting the proper tool, I will leave that up to Rick---I trust his judgement!!

It was Tim Horton that ran a big walleye-boat type Tracker at Erie.  Davy Hite and a couple others ran a jet boat for some tourney once too.

[J Francho]

A lot of the guys that fish Erie tourneys a lot use deep-v so called "walleye" boats.  There were many times out on Lake Ontario that I was glad to have my 16' deep-v than a 20' bass boat.

[mrbassky]

The biggest difference is handling rough water. Aluminum boats beat you to death. That and they are slower for the most part. But if you dont think they are cheaper you are out of your mind. I pulled mine with a car fine. Thats where you save gas using a small vehicle instead of  a big truck. You can fish fine out of aluminum boats if you can handle the rough water. I hate people who turn their noses up at the guy in the aluminum boat at the tournament. :

[drath]

Brian Snowden used a Deep V on Erie last year.  He said his co-angler was very happy to see it.  They both did pretty well if I recall correctly.

-D

[SudoomFisher]

I like mine just because I dont have to worry about scratching it ;D

[bighed]

The biggest difference is handling rough water. Aluminum boats beat you to death. That and they are slower for the most part. But if you dont think they are cheaper you are out of your mind. I pulled mine with a car fine. Thats where you save gas using a small vehicle instead of a big truck. You can fish fine out of aluminum boats if you can handle the rough water. I hate people who turn their noses up at the guy in the aluminum boat at the tournament. :

I had a Triton 186 Mag DC. It had no problem with rough water. It was as smooth as most boats it's size I've been in. Slower? Mine was because it had a 115 4 stroker on it. Ran low 50's. If it had a 150 I'd say it would run with the 18' 150hp glass boats just fine. Cheaper??? Mine was 22K new. Now that was a loaded, top end tin boat in '04 but a modest glass boat of the same size costs about that. I doubt you'll see Rick in cheap Tracker like a panfisher 16 but what ever he's in it will be less that his Z9. So far as towing, maybe a small car would do it ok, I don't know. Never tried it.

[mrbassky]

Its kind of an unwritten rule in some places that you need a fiberglass boat to fish tournaments. I think its actually hurt bass fishing because alot of people get in the mind set you need a big fiberglass boat to do well bass fishing. I know people who got out of fishing all together when the decided to sell their boats and cut back instead of using a small boat occasionally. How smooth aluminum runs depends on the hull but the standard flat bottom is rough. But its not that bad.

[zbass]

Clunn ran an aluminum Tracker in the Elite 50 at Lake Wissota a few years ago. Ran up the river past where everyone else could go. Didn't pan out for him though.

[Bassn Blvd]

My boat is almost 3 yrs old and paid 19,700 with tax ,tag etc.

The only problem using this in tournaments is lack of speed. This boat is rated to 135hp max.

[GLADES]

Bassin, that is a nice tracker you have there.

[senile1]

For getting into stump filled backwater areas a small aluminum boat is the ticket and, from what I've read, there are a few pros who think the Red River Classic will be won in one of these areas.  

For the sake of debate, I used to own a 15 and a half foot fiberglass boat with a 70 horse motor and I could take it anywhere an aluminum boat would go.  

[bass wrangler569]

For getting into stump filled backwater areas a small aluminum boat is the ticket and, from what I've read, there are a few pros who think the Red River Classic will be won in one of these areas.

For the sake of debate, I used to own a 15 and a half foot fiberglass boat with a 70 horse motor and I could take it anywhere an aluminum boat would go.

Until you pop a hole in it. I've seen plenty of guys run right over big rocks in aluminum boats and keep going, I'm not advocating that but can tell you one thing, if you did the same thing with a glass boat it would put an end to your day really quick.

[senile1]

For getting into stump filled backwater areas a small aluminum boat is the ticket and, from what I've read, there are a few pros who think the Red River Classic will be won in one of these areas.

For the sake of debate, I used to own a 15 and a half foot fiberglass boat with a 70 horse motor and I could take it anywhere an aluminum boat would go.

Until you pop a hole in it. I've seen plenty of guys run right over big rocks in aluminum boats and keep going, I'm not advocating that but can tell you one thing, if you did the same thing with a glass boat it would put an end to your day really quick.

True, but the chances of me popping a hole in it are slim. I fish many lakes with stumps just under the surface, some of which can't be seen. When you're in an area like that you're not going to drive fast enough to pop a hole in the boat whether its aluminum or fiberglass. Why would anyone drive through an area like that at a fast speed in any boat? That's a good way to take a dangerous spill. In the lakes I fish, once you pull out of the boating lane it's time to slow down. That's why it has never made a difference for me. The only time it could make a difference would be if there were an isolated stump next to a boating lane but in all my years of fishing I've never hit one of these though I know of a couple of guys who have.

[Catt]

Aint to many rock on the Red River, a stump or two yes but no rocks

I have a 1996 Stratos 258 (15' 8) with a 70 hp Johnson that has spent it's entire live on Toledo Bend with out a single crack or even a nick in the gel coat. If you don't want to hit stumps stay off of most Texas Lakes!

[Glenn]

Its kind of an unwritten rule in some places that you need a fiberglass boat to fish tournaments. I think its actually hurt bass fishing because alot of people get in the mind set you need a big fiberglass boat to do well bass fishing. I know people who got out of fishing all together when the decided to sell their boats and cut back instead of using a small boat occasionally. How smooth aluminum runs depends on the hull but the standard flat bottom is rough. But its not that bad.

You're absolutely right.  I asked Clunn about his use of the Tracker this year, and his response backs up your statement:

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-videos/Rick-Clunn-tin-boat.html