Rick Clunn's Rod setups 2024
Cory N reply :
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 reply :
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 reply :
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 reply :
QuoteWhy?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 reply :
QuoteIs Rick Clunn just that good?
Yes...yes he is.
jrhennecke reply :
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 reply :
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 reply :
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 reply :
Clunn is a great fisherman but this is like having one golf club for all your shots.
flechero reply :
QuoteMaybe 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 reply :
QuoteQuoteMaybe 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 reply :
QuoteClunn 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 reply :
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 reply :
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 reply :
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-)
Cory N reply :
QuoteYep, 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. reply :
Quote7' 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 reply :
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 reply :
QuoteQuote7' Heavy Power baitcasterOn 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 reply :
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 reply :
After watching that episode, I knew it would make it to the forums... ;D
tyrius. reply :
Quotewith 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 reply :
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 reply :
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 reply :
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.
Hoytman#1 reply :
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 reply :
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 reply :
QuoteIf 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 reply :
"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 reply :
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 reply :
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 reply :
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 reply :
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 reply :
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.
QuoteI 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.
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