who is the gtreatest 2024
thetr20one reply :
I know Rick Clunn won the Greatest Angler award. I was just wondering how the vote would go down around here!
guest reply :
Hey I can't vote, I do not know enough about tournament fishing.
thetr20one reply :
why do you have to fish tourneys to vote? all these guys have taught a thing or two to everyone that fishes for bass!
guest reply :
OK I have 2 tied for first Bill Dance and Al Linder, but you left him off your list :-/
jrhennecke reply :
As far as tournament fishing I have to go with KVD. He has accomplished what he has against in my opinion tougher compotition than the others.
As far as teaching the sport I would have to agree with Muddy.
thetr20one reply :
Thats why I put the other box up there too. I knew I had to forget at least one or two really great anglers. I am huge fans of the linders! The Linders and Bill Dance by far have taught me the most!!!
Bass XL reply :
KVD 100%.
South FLA reply :
KVD followed closely by Roland Martin, he was the king of the 70s/80s BASS tournaments.
gobig reply :
In my mind its a toss up between Clunn and KVD but I went with KVD because of what he has done in such a short time.
RobbyZ5001 reply :
I think Clunn... he was ahead of his time. Great bass fisherman and smoking hot wife.
Mattlures reply :
All those anglers on your list are great and are in a class of their own, right below Butch Brown and Mike Long. Actualy Mike L is on step up from Butch so all the guys on the list are 2 steps down. But hey they are the greatest at catching small bass.
Catt reply :
With out a doubt Rick Clunn
4 Classic titles says it all
Total Entries: 335
Times in the Money: 235
1st place: 14
2nd place: 13
3rd place: 11
Top 10: 98
Top 20: 152
Top 50: 251
We'll see where KVD is when he reaches 62 
guest reply :
QuoteAll those anglers on your list are great and are in a class of their own, right below Butch Brown and Mike Long. Actualy Mike L is on step up from Butch so all the guys on the list are 2 steps down. But hey they are the greatest at catching small bass.
Please I am not being disrespectful here, but I asked a question a while back that went unanswered. I respect those guys and look forward to their catches, especially one you left out FISH CHRIS. They have learned how to catch big fish in the area they live in. They are way beyond all others fsihing those fisheries and targeting huge bass. But how would they do on a circut like the pros. How would they do boating the biggest fish in differnt fisheries, with all kinds of structures, bodies of water and types of water( Lakes, rivers etc...) vs the Pro?
I think when talking about specialists, expoliting what is where they live the Cali big guys rule. However best Bass anglers, have to go to the tourny guys because they do it consistantly all around the country.
Grey Wolf reply :
QuoteQuoteAll those anglers on your list are great and are in a class of their own, right below Butch Brown and Mike Long. Actualy Mike L is on step up from Butch so all the guys on the list are 2 steps down. But hey they are the greatest at catching small bass.Please I am not being disrespectful here, but I asked a question a while back that went unanswered. I respect those guys and look forward to their catches, especially one you left out FISH CHRIS. They have learned how to catch big fish in the area they live in. They are way beyond all others fsihing those fisheries and targeting huge bass. But how would they do on a circut like the pros. How would they do boating the biggest fish in differnt fisheries, with all kinds of structures, bodies of water and types of water( Lakes, rivers etc...) vs the Pro?
I think when talking about specialists, expoliting what is where they live the Cali big guys rule. However best Bass anglers, have to go to the tourny guys because they do it consistantly all around the country.
x2
ba7ss3in reply :
What he is doing at this time and on the different bodies of water, I can't say enough. He is very consistent.
roadwarrior reply :
QuoteWith out a doubt Rick Clunn4 Classic titles says it all
Total Entries: 335
Times in the Money: 235
1st place: 14
2nd place: 13
3rd place: 11
Top 10: 98
Top 20: 152
Top 50: 251
We'll see where KVD is when he reaches 62
I'm with Catt if you are talking about "Tournament" fisherman. I'm with Matt if you talking "bass" fishermen only. But if the question is "Greatest Angler", it's Al Lindner hands down!
I voted "other".
8-)
Olebiker reply :
QuoteBut if the question is "Greatest Angler", it's Al Lindner hands down!
This is awfully hard for a Southern boy like me to admit, but I agree with RW. Al Lindner is the best.
Back in the early days he fished a lot of BASS tournaments and did really well. He decided that tournament fishing was not for him and went back North to focus on educating anglers.
guest reply :
If we are talking all around angler, at least one that everyone knows it has to be Al Linder. Don't let that Mook Babe Winkelman here you say it, he's convinced it's him
There are guys I fished with in Louisiana , who although unknown, would outfish anyone anywhere.
I bet you Rolo and Catt would fit into this category 8-)
VA BassHound reply :
I would say Roland Matin and this is why:
19 BASS titles (BASS record)
92 Top 10 BASS finishes
19 Top 10 FLW finishes
19 Second Place finishes
132 Top 20 finishes
25 BMCs
BASS Times in money: 184
BASS Total Entries: 278
BASS Total Weight: 7,065-6
BASS Career Winnings: $1,052,367.10
Career Earnings: Over $1.5 million
9 BASS AOY titles (BASS record)
25 BMCs fished
Tin reply :
Bassnbrett 
I don't think you could compare KVD and Clunn at all. Two different time periods when bass fishing was much different imo. Look at the fishing pressure differences and technology differences. In the past 10 years I would have to say KVD though, before that Clunn and Martin.
cajun1977. reply :
im gonna go with roland also...i think clunn is great and yes he was ahead of the field mentally, but the 4 classics dont do it for me, wasnt he only fishing against 16 other anglers in the earlier classics?
Ky_Lake_Dude reply :
Of all time Rick Clunn or Roland Martin. I mean Clunn has 4 classics and MArtin has 9 AOY titles. I believe KVD is going to be the best we have ever and ever will see. I believe KVD will break Clunn's classic record and Martin's 19 tournament win record but I dont think the 9 AOY will ever be touched.
Catt reply :
Compare all of Roland's stats to Rick's & you'll see Clunn hands down
Clunn's classic wins
1976 Classic: 25 entrants, Martin missed the cut
1977 Classic: 26 entrants, Martin 4th closest ever to a win
1984 Classic: 40 entrants, Martin 40th
1990 Classic: 41 entrants, Martin 23rd
Career Total Weight: 9,257 lbs 13 ozs
B.A.S.S Career Winnings: $1,876,794.50
FLW member since 1997
FLW Total Entries: 60
FLW Career earnings: $ 880,000
FLW tournaments won: 3
FLW Top-10 finishes: 20
Career Earnings: $ 2,756,794.5
Martin's FLW Career: $86,300
FLW member since 1996
FLW Total Entries: 26
FLW tournaments won: 0
FLW Top-10 finishes: 4
Mattlures reply :
I just love stirring the pot on the greatest angler debates. To me big fish are more impresive than tournament wins but thats just my opinion. Just cause guys like Clunn or KVD win a bunch of T's does not make them better bass fisherman. It makes them better Tournament fisherman. Between Mike and Butch they have caught more bass over 10lbs than all current touring pros combined. I dont have the #s but I am pretty sure of it. I think Butch is around 1000 and Mike is up there also. Mike also has about 60 bass over 15lbs and holds many lake records. Oh and Muddy to partialy answer your question. Mike fishes the Won bass and a few other circuts in so cal and dominates them. He has won a bunch of team tournaments fishing by himself or with his kid. The only guy who can compete with him is his best friend John Kerr and they fish one circut as partners. Of course they have won AOY like 8 years in a row. Its kind of funny. They often beat 2nd place by 8-10lbs. Either of them could compete on the big stage. John Actualy won his first Major he fished in. The US open. John traveled to another state and fished against a ton of big names and beat them all in his first time out.
As for the master of small fish (tournament anglers) Clunn is the legendary best and KVD is the current king.
Just for the record I do know those Top Tourny guys are monster studs. They deserve the credit they get. I would just like to see a couple of the big Trophy hunters getting their due also.
cart7t reply :
Like him or not, I'm going with Roland.
Bassmaster Classic wins aside, I personally believe the AOY award is more telling of just how good a guy is. Couple that with all of Martins overall wins and his record is stellar.
In his prime, he was tough to beat and consistantly won regardless of where he was fishing. If you put him up againts KVD and Clunn today, all things equal, I'm betting he'd probably win the majority of T's. He was just that good.
Catt reply :
With Rick Clunn mentality if he would have chosen to fish strictly for big bass I think he would have been in the top.
Daiwa reply :
Mike Iaconelli????
guest reply :
Hey Matt: Were all those Lakes in California? My point being this: If you come here and fish the Atalntic you are going to be on the biggest Stripe Bass you have ever seen. They do not groww like this in Southern Impoundments.So the bigger strippers will be caught here.
The biggest Muskies are over in Nortern Europe and Canada, and in some states like Minnesota, if you are in those areas you are going to be able to hone in on the largest Muskies because that is where they live.
I am not questioning thier skill, because if catching the biggest bass was that easy, everyone in California would be able to do it
I am 57, when I was a kid, big bass was all about Florida because that's where they lived. They planted them in the California resivior system, now the biggest bass live in those waters, and in the ponds there.
I do not tournament fish , but let's look at where they have had tournament. Impoundments, The St. Lawrence River, even the Potomac and Susquehana river. They are in Impounments of fresh water to rivers with Brackish water. I have seen pictures of these guys fishing in everything from bluebird skies to steady driving snow.
They fish all kinds of water,structure and climatic differances all over the US. I would think thier pure fishing knowledge and ability, from fishing such diversity would make them better all around bass fisherman, the elite of the Bass fishing world.
I am not disrespecting the Big Bass Clai guys, I am in awe of their ability to consitently catch the largest fish, by choice and ability. That is thier niche, I just feel the Pros are tested are a much harder and diverse playing field.
Catt reply :
Not only did Rick Clunn win 4 Classics but he owns the classic
Most Classics fished: 31
Most consecutive Classics fished: 28 (1974-2001)
Most Classics won: 4
Heaviest total weight in a Classic: 75-9 (1984)
Most top 5 Classic finishes: 11
Most top 10 Classic finishes: 16
Largest margin of victory: 25-8 (1984)
Only back to back champion: 1976 & 1977
Biggest final day comeback: 1990
Most daily big bass award: 4
Most days with heaviest catch: 8
Heaviest daily catch (7-bass limit): 27-5
Heaviest daily catch (10-bass limit): 33-5
Most cumulative weight: 756-3
Where's Roland Martin & KVD?
roadwarrior reply :
It's pretty hard to argue with those numbers...
8-)
Matt Fly reply :
Theres no comparison, tournaments have rules, big bass boys don't.
Lived there for 15 years, seen'em, Butch and others use live bait as well as artificialls.
Differnet rules in tournies. Big bass boys go out when they want, when conditions are best for their results, pros got dates in advance and have no choice if they want to compete.
Mentality is totally different. One is looking for big bite, the other is looking for five bites.
As for how good these guys are, didn't they assemble what they called a respectable field on one of the best lakes in Cali and 10 lbs won it. Well, they had a chance to shine and with results, it looked lack luster. Not even an teener to win it. Thus, not as easy to produce when given a date to do it on. And only one DD total from the best of the best. They are human after all.
When they (big bass guys) have dates and times to produce, we'll see how well they do when earning a check is on-the-line.
To me, there no comparison until they play by the same rules.
You don't compare college football to the pros, its not the same.
By the way, the Linders are knowledgeable, but they have all the days they want to put footage together, and I'm not sure of his pro bassing record was, but its not near a good as KVD, Martin and Clunn.
Again, What they do when the clock isn't ticking don't compare.
Mattlures reply :
I dont totaly disagree with you Matt. To me it is 2 diffent games. Kind of like football and baseball. The thing is Mike Long plays both and domintaes both. Yes I know he is not ARod in Baseball but he is Joe Montana in football. The tournaments he fishes are not the elite series but they are not little club tourny's either and he dominates those.
Yes they did have 1 tournament for the trohpy guys and a few big fish were caught with a 10 being the biggest. However the weather on that day was absolutly brutal. They will have more of them and you will see alot more big fish caught.
Muddy, Mike L fishes So Cal Tounaments but His Partner John Kerr went to Mead in NV and won his first ever pro event against a ton of big names like Martins and Kline and Clunn etc. Trust they could compete on the big tour if they chose to. Actualy John plans to go full on pro soon. Mike does not want to. He has a wife and kids and a good job and he has to put them through college soon. that was his answer when I asked him why he doesnt go big time pro.
Again guys I am partialy joking when I say the tounament guys are the masters at small fish. I understand the game and they play to win it. It is just my opinion that sombody that is the best at both Trophy hunting and is dominating at the semi pro level of tounament fishing is a better bass fisherman the the best tournament guys.
Trust me I have much respect for Clunn, KVD, Roland,etc.
guest reply :
What about LBH, he needs some resprct too
jrhennecke reply :
I don't think we will be able to answer the KVD v. Clunn question until it is all said and done. I think KVD is now and probably will be the greatest of all times. But if we are going to make this deteremination based soley on their numbers then we have a while to go. As far as the big bass guys in this conversation. Apples and Oranges. Two completely different aspects of the sport and I don't think in any manner can be compared. What the big bass guys do is amazing. But they do it under very "controlled" conditions. These Elite Series pro's are forced to deal with whatever conditions that are presented to them at tournament time.
VA BassHound reply :
Roland Martin has 9 AOY titles! I know he hasnt won the clasic, but Dale Earnhart only won the Daytona 500 1 time, but his 7 championships are what made him the best. As for KVD, he may well one day be the best ever, but he still has work to do.
Catt reply :
The Bassmaster Classic is agreed upon by every Pro Angler as the Super Bowl, World Series, or Championship of bass fishing & Roland is 0-25.
A NASCAR championship can be won without winning a race & the Angler of the year can be won without winning a tournament.
I would like to have seen how well KVD would have been with all his high tech equipment like GPS, Side Imaging, and Bio Sonics Systems nothing but Ole School.
Mattlures you have a couple of big bass guys who do well in tournaments but I think many tournament guys who could do well at big bass hunting.
Al Linder B.A.S.S Career Highlights
Classic Titles: 0
Times in the Classic: 3
Times in the Money: 14
Total Entries: 26
1st place: 2
2nd place: 0
3rd place: 0
Top 10: 5
Top 20: 10
Top 50: 18
guest reply :
Hey Catt: I am very unknowlegable to the pro thing. Based on the Question: Greatest Angler; he did not limit it to pro Bass fishing, so thats why I put Linder on my list. Based on the numbers you put up for
Rick Clunn, I don't see how any one can dispute that, and he didn't take steroids to do it neither ;D
Catt reply :
Do y'all believe in odor to be the greatest angler one would have to be either a tournament pro or a big bass hunter?
I agree with Al Linder as a great choice, a good friend Roger Conner has guided many a top pro and says that Ron & Al Linder were way better that any pro he guided. He stated on the morning of day one they were watching every thing Roger was doing. On the afternoon of day one they were coping exactly every thing Roger was doing but on day two they were improving everything Roger had done.
roadwarrior reply :
Catt,
I'm good with Clunn, his stats speak for themselves. The reason I think so highly of the Lindners is their multi-species skills. It seems they are at the top of their game whether they fish for sturgeon, muskie, salmon, smallmouth bass, green trout or any other species!
It's not just their "catchin' skills" either. Finding fish and explaining to
the rest what we should be focusing on is something else. Then they
share their "secrets" with us, or at least some of them!
I guess what I admire is the "whole package" and that's why I answered Al Lindner.
8-)
guest reply :
QuoteDo y'all believe in odor to be the greatest angler one would have to be either a tournament pro or a big bass hunter?I agree with Al Linder as a great choice, a good friend Roger Conner has guided many a top pro and says that Ron & Al Linder were way better that any pro he guided. He stated on the morning of day one they were watching every thing Roger was doing. On the afternoon of day one they were coping exactly every thing Roger was doing but on day two they were improving everything Roger had done.
Hey Catt no i do not believe you have to be a pro. You have multi species knowledge, i bet you caught you share of spotted trout and redfish, not to mention some of those Lake Flounder. Rolo has caught a lot too, I would bet their are a whole slew of "unknown" guys who could catch fish outta a puddle> 8-)
cajun1977. reply :
im still gonna roll with ol roland on this one over clunn, as my personal oponion i am more impressed with the nine aoy titles than the 4 classics(which is also impressive)
Rattlinrogue reply :
Although there are a few with better numbers,I honestly think KVD is the best bass angler to ever wet a hook.
Team9nine reply :
These opinion polls are always so much fun... 8-)
Roland Martin is obviously the best bass angler to never win the Classic, and being able to make that irrefutable statement means the best bass angler title has to go to Clunn. Another interesting thing not mentioned yet is that if you read through all those another site profiles of current pros you'll see Rick Clunn listed as 'Angling Hero' to more pros that any other person.
I also agree that best all around angler has to be Al Lindner. His drive, knowledge and enthusiasm for catching fish is just incredible.
And finally, I think guys are right to say that when all is said and done (at least in most of our lifetimes) KVD will eventually reset the bar.
-T9
edit: LMAO - "another site", now that is funny!! ;D
roadwarrior reply :
Tournament Fishing In The Future
Dateline: Guntersville, Alabama May 1, 2108
DVD, All-World Super-Pro, weighed-in the winning total with a
remarkable five fish limit of 123-11 lbs, including Big Bass and New State
Record, 33-6. The hybrid Kali-Trout-Bass has added a new dynamic to
the world of professional bass fishing. Stronger, tougher, smarter,
that's how the men of the Google/MicroSoft/ EXXON tour describe
them.
GPS positioning has come a long ways from the days of simply locating lakes, depths and temperature. Spot-sighters now pinpoint individual bass, color coded for aggressiveness. With the GamaGoTo Bass-Seeker, Kali-Trout are isolated by the lure upon launch, targeting the upper lip with pin-point accuracy. Automatic retrievers calm the fish to guarantee nearly 100% landing success. Proper handling involves the innovative No-Touch-System pioneered by Lane Industries.
Today's professional anglers have surpassed those forgotten names of yesteryear in every aspect of the sport. Clunn, Dance, Martin, Lindner...what did they contibute to today's trail? None of yesterday's "pros" could hope to compete with the Top Guns of 2108!
It just keeps getting better!
:
Zel... reply :
A overhead shot at blast off of DVD's WaterWarrior Z13 at this years Guntersville Google/MicroSoft/ EXXON Elite Series Championship. His Tri-Powered craft, utilizing solid sails, wind power and solar energy combine to produce top speeds of Mach 2. DVD is currently leading the board, with a top prize of $1,500,000,000, and an all expense paid trip to Europa, Jupiter's once icy moon, which melted into water during the 2074 solar storms. Europa has since become the intergalactic ultimate fishing paradise.
bocraw reply :
I really enjoyed that show when ESPN did it. Good points were made by the panelist in the discussion that you guys have repeated--one of which being, what does greatest angler mean? That is a question we could philosophize on for many moons and it is quite possible that the top ten would not even include a tournament bass fisherman. But as for the question of who is the greatest bass tournament angler of all time? Here is my opinion:
#1 Roland Martin, #2 Rick Clunn, #3 KVD.
Roland Martin was so good in his prime that they had to continually change the rules so that other guys could compete. He was flat out studly and was an innovator in the sport.
Rick Clunn is a close second, but his influence is not shown in the bass fishing culture that exist today like Roland's does.
KVD is without question the most dominate angler on tour today and probably will be the greatest angler if he doesn't hit a slump. If he is able to adapt his fishing style as his body ages and still wins tournaments, then in my book that is the day he will replace Roland as the greatest angler. But he still has a decade or two to go before he even become eligible to pass Clunn and Martin on the Greatest Angler List.
As Tim Tucker said on the ESPN show, it is hard to compare eras in sports. But wouldn't it be cool to see all these guys in their prime going head to head? I think were they competing in the modern no-info era, then the ranks would be KVD, CLUNN, MARTIN. But if they were competing under the old rules, Martin was king and it would be MARTIN, KVD, CLUNN.
My two cents...fun subject to think about.
roadwarrior reply :
Well, KVD and several other current anglers certainly have a technological edge which might get them near the top, but to put KVD in a class with the "All Time Best" is a stretch. You gotta' earn it baby!
The MAN got it goin', but he ain"t got it done.
:
Catt reply :
Roland Martin was so good in his prime that they had to continually change the rules so that other guys could compete.
That aint why they rules were changed but they were changed for Roland
thetr20one reply :
Guys the one- two spots are KVD #1with 55.7%. Rick Clunn #2 with 14.2% of the vote. I personally voted KVD but honestly wish I could change it to Al Linder.
Jeff H reply :
Greatest Bass Angler goes to Rick Clunn (although Denny Brauer is my favorite) but if the question is Greatest Angler.... then, like RW, I pick Al Lindner. His versatility is staggering.
I come from a part of the country where trophy hunters are hardly even recognized. It's good somebody stands up for their craft.
Grey Wolf reply :
Have you ever noticed "WHO'S THE GREATEST EVER POLLS." are usually won by the now generation people who are in the main spot light now.
KVD is great but he isn't the gretest yet , he may be some day.
Jake. reply :
QuoteHave you ever noticed "WHO'S THE GREATEST EVER POLLS." are usually won by the now generation people who are in the main spot light now.KVD is great but he isn't the gretest yet , he may be some day.
Exactly.
It's Clunn..... for now.
fishfordollars reply :
I voted for KVD with reservations. Would have loved to see Clunn and KVD have come on the scene at the same time just to see how they would have compared head to head each in their prime.
What really is shocking to me is that Hank Parker is even on this list.
thetr20one reply :
I voted for KVD because I too thought of match-ups. Kevins power fishing skills and fish finding abilities would have set much higher records to beat from the get go. Remember the pics of the bass nailed to board! Read the new bassmaster and the article on page ten of a ten bass limit that weighed 1 pound 13 ounces!! Kevin fishing those low pressure lakes lakes where earlier events were held with his fishing style IMOH would blow away the competition, with the equipment they were using at the time with the knowledge they possess today. AL LINDER IMHO IS "THE GREATEST ANGLER" BARR NONE.
I really respect Hank Parker he has won 2 classics and got out in time 2 make some real money. Do you really think any touring pro (barr shaw he might be close) pulls in anywhere near the dough of Hank ? No friggin way1
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