Rick Clunn has qualified for 32 Bassmaster Classics and won four of them. But his last win was 30 years ago. And the last time he qualified was in 2009. But the 74-year-old B.A.S.S. legend has proven he’s not done yet, not once but twice on the Elite Series, with wins at the St. Johns River in 2016 and 2019.
At least on Day 1 at Texas Fest, Clunn is making a strong bid for the automatic Classic berth that comes with winning this tournament. The Ava, Mo., resident culled that 1-7 dink in his five-bass limit with a 4-10 at 11:23. He’s atop the leaderboard at 12:30 p.m. with 24-0. Clunn has steadily built his weight throughout the morning, and he noted the afternoon bite had been best for him during practice this week.