I’m not sure I’ve ever witnessed so many Elite Series anglers come up to the previous week’s winner to offer congratulations as I did at yesterday’s pre-tournament anglers’ meeting. The genuine tributes were made to 72-year-old Rick Clunn after his dramatic come-from-behind victory at Florida’s St. Johns River last Sunday.
Then I happened upon this story about legendary Italian Renaissance man, Michelangelo, maybe most famous for painting the ceiling of Sistine Chapel in Rome. Someone once asked Michelangelo, at age 88, when he was going to retire? He answered, “Whenever I stop learning.”
Clunn said something similar before the start of this Elite Series season, noting, “I learn from everybody. I’ve learned something from being my high school bass fishing team’s captain.”
Clunn serves as the captain of the Ava, Mo., team, which his youngest son, River, is a member.
“The puzzle has always been what intrigued me,” Clunn said.
And he’s still learning, with no end in sight.