1simplemann

the kitchen sink! Seriously though I would bring anything you think you might possibly need as far as tackle goes then talk it over with your angler beforehand so you can eliminate or possibly add tackle.

I'm an admitted fan of Rick Clunn. so when someone posts a comment asking whether he is "tarnishing" his reputation by still competing AFTER he has just won the 1st Elite event of the year it makes me wonder if someone is trolling. Put the shoe on the other foot and see how it looked. Someone with all the facts wouldn't make such a comment. Sorry to offend. I'm not sure where all this whimpyness,whineyness and perceived trash talk is. All I said was that he's 70 years old and still competitive. He may not win all the time but he is a factor IMO. I would love to be competitive at 70. So I say GO Rick! Have a nice day. Tight lines to you!

Seriously??? The dude is 70 yrs old and he's still out there fishing the Elite Series. Competitively! Trolling?

You know how many Hummingbird FF's & strike King 10 XD's just got sold? LOL I bet a ton. I just may go out and buy some 10xd's myself. God knows I need more tackle!

To answer your question. NO! 96lbs in 4 days, heaviest bag 2 days, heaviest fish 2 days. He WILL win again! Maybe even this year. There is ZERO chance his sponsors will drop him.

This video explains a lot. Last year we found a spawning bay on April 25 just off the main river. We must have hit it just right because we caught some big girls in there early and they got smaller until it just shut off completely. Today was the 1st chance I got to fish it this year. I knew I was a little late in the year but the place was still full off aggressive males. It was almost too easy. I left after 60 but I was wondering where the big females were. Now I know. They've already left which is what I suspected. The water warmed up a little earlier this year so their timing was a little earlier. i just couldn't make down in there when I wanted to.

As a kid, 35 yrs ago. Couldn't tell you much about it now. I haven't thought about Laurel Lake in a long,long time. Mostly just swam there off the dock.

I think I have it figured now. They're adding Wheeler's pts based off todays standings.

I watched Randall Tharp on Sunday. They said he was gonna be leading AOY after him winning at Norfolk/Bull Shoals. I checked the standing on BASS. They have Hack leading w/ 386 pts and Tharp in 5th w/ 353 pts. The way I read the scoring system, the winner gets 99 pts and 99th place gets 1 pt. So does the guy in 108th get zero? After 3 events(St Johns, Winyah Bay, Norfolk/Bull Shoals) wouldn't the max pts possible be 297? I can't figure out out how they got those numbers. Can anyone shed some light?

That's basically how I felt. Both guys must have pre-fished it or they wouldn't have been there on day 1. From the pics I saw, they were a little too close for comfort on day 2 but neither guy was giving in either. Both must have felt they had found found something worth competing for. You also bring up a good point. BD was close to the cut so he had something to fish for and not completely give way to Carl. I was just wondering what proper ettiquette actually was. I can see getting a little cranky if you had the area all to yourself on day 1,were leading and on day 2 someone moves into your area hurting your chances of winning. If it went down as they say it did, then i don't see the problem. That's just competitive fishing.

Just putting out a feeler. I just got back from SWFL. 2 week family vacation. Anyway I hadn't kept up with the Elite Series till this AM. Apparently some people are upset that Boyd Duckett fished close to Carl Jocumson and/or that he even fished in the same area. Jocumson was leading after day 1, Boyd was 63rd. They fished the SAME area on both days. Boyd got there 1st on day 2. Some feel that Boyd should have backed off and let Carl have it since he was leading. I will say that they should have given each other some space and not fished right on top of each other. I personally don't think Boyd did anything wrong. He was there 1st on day 2 and he's trying to win just as much as the other guy. He was there on day one and got his but kicked. On day 2 the roles reversed and Boyd outfished Carl. It's competitive fishing. I may have had a problem if say Boyd or Carl didn't fish there at all on day 1. It looks like to me they both found the same area and stuck to their game plan. Let the best man win. So what does the crowd think?

Rocky river banks that have overhanging cliffs.

tubes and cranks are working for us right now. We caught about 25 yesterday. 2 3/4 tubes 1/4 oz, KVD 1.5 in red crawl worked well for my partner, I was using a Salmo hornet in Dace color.

Thanks, I just happen to walking into a Bass Pro Shop next week.

Glenn, Where can I find jig heads with the wire that you show in your video? Tubes work very well here on the Missouri but it get very mossy in the summer. I think those type jig head will work well when It gets almost impossible to throw a standard open hook jig head.

The question was asked. "Is this pro fading?" It was answered by none other than KVD himself. He was 27 lb 15oz down with zero fish, in dead last w/ 15 min left in the 1st period. He proceeded to find the fish, come back, and win the MLF Summit Cup by 20lbs. I think that answers the question perfectly. Congrats KVD.

I've used the the Battle I, Decent reel. Some had line lay issues and wind knot issues. The new version is supposedly better. Good reel for the money. Lot's good reels out there in that price range.

Livemusic, Sounds like your flipping in heavy cover. If you are, try going without the leader. Straight braid. That heavy knot is making your knot too big. If your not fishing heavy cover then try downsizing the braid. I generally fish 15lb braid which actually breaks close to 30lb. Depending on where and what I'm fishing for I use anywhere from 8 lb to 30 lb fluro leader tied with Alberto knot or improved albright. They cast just fine through my spinning gear. the smaller the better though. Typically I'm throwing 10lb or 20 lb. I can tie the FG but it takes me too long on the water so i use a slightly bigger but simpler knot to tie.

You really can't go wrong w/ a 6'6" or 6'9" ML St. Croix! Especially w/ senkos.

what's your budget? I know a guy in Minnesota. 13-14$ an inch if I recall. He's going to be doing my 30" walleye. some of the best work I've ever seen. Fibertech Reproductions.

How could you not like this guy? He's been a class act his whole career. Congrats Rick!

Flyfisher, I'm not sure what you think I said. I never said Rick Clunn was irrelevant. I agree he has been relevant a long time. He was my hero when I start bass fishing in HS. I'm rooting for him today. I also think you missed interpreted me saying that by moving the Classic dates that would make KVD more relevant. I can see where you think I might have been saying that. IU wasn't. What I was trying to say was to give a possible reason for lack success lately at the Classic. The guy can catch fish and lots of them. I do think the attention he receives from spectator boats hurts him just like it hurts anyone who is leading an event especially the Classic. Read the last 2 lines that you quoted me on. I don't think he's missed a beat. I don't think his competition thinks he's missed a beat either and like I said before IMO he's a factor on any fishery at anytime. Peace out. I'm out of here. Time to get on the water. Smallies are biting! Tight lines Rob in Montana PS Go Rick Clunn!

5 Dollar, I don't don't know if you were referring to me or not. I assume not. You asked a question. Is he fading? I don't think so. Is he fading at the Classic or in general? Winter/ early spring fishing requires slow fishing. It could be that it's just not his style. He's admits he's a power fisherman covering lot's of water. I'm not saying that's the reason but it could be a factor. To get to the Classic you have to be good. Really good. You can't win them all. I think in his hey day he was so far ahead of the other guys. They just caught up to him. As far as the Classic goes, that might be the easiest to win. the Elite schedule is jammed full guys that can catch fish. Anyone of them could win if they get on the fish. Twice as many competitors chew up alot of water. If you do the numbers it's even harder on the regular schedule IMO. Also one factor that I think hurts him is the spectators boats. He draws a big crowd. He finds an area and they burn it as soon as he leaves. He has to have alot of water or he's gonna run out of fish. He isn't fading, He just has a target on his back from the other competitors and the fans.

Go Rick! He was my hero as a kid.

Gulf, I just saw this thread. I agree w/ you . KVD's all washed up.LOL Only finished 31st at St. Johns. Some other has been named Clunn is leading(Which is cool! BTW). The concept that these guys are washed up is silly. These guys are the best in the world. They've forgotten more about fishing than most guys will ever know. Move the Classic back to the fall or summer and KVD will be relevant. Put it on Kentucky Lake and he will be feared. Certain fisheries are just more suited to certain guys style. It's for certain that the guys he's competing against don't think he's washed up. He's a factor on any fishery at any time IMO.