and you’re consistently cashing a check in most tournaments, move on. Don’t move on before you’re consistently cashing or else you’re just a donator, but if you’re getting a check a good amount of time, get out there.
When would you recommend an angler fishing pro/ ams as a backseater move to the front of the boat?
As a non-boater, if you are adding one to three fish at every tournament to what is weighed then you’re ready to be competitive from the pointy-end.
Any advice for a tournament fisherman?
Concentration.. a guy who has total concentration and focus will never miss a bite. You think about that, next time you miss a bite; where was your mind at when you missed that bite? For the backseater, you should be even more focused because you’re fishing for a harder fish; it is a less aggressive fish.
Who do you feel is the greatest tournament fisherman?
Ricky Clunn said it best of everybody I’ve ever listened to, “The cream always rises to the top.” Ricky Clunn did it when we were all self-taught. We didn’t have people to ask or to learn from. This new generation of fisherman has all the articles, books, ads… all the stuff that we’ve told them about. There was only a few of us fishing and guys like us had to figure it out by ourselves, guys like Rick. That is the reason why in my eyes, Ricky Clunn is the best fisherman ever.
How did the “Father of Flippin” get his start?
I started fishin’ when I was 19. At 35-years-old, after 16-years of fishing I went pro. I had only learned two baits, a jig and a crankbait. It was the 500-series Bomber and a homemade jig, the original tule dippin’ jig.
What do you think has kept you on top of your game all these years?
Bass fishing is like gambling and there is nothing I would rather gamble on than myself, because I control a certain amount of the risk. You always have the element luck. There may be 100 guys fishing the Delta, you’ve got 20 that can win but on any given day there may be 80 that can get lucky. If the deer got up and the elephant laid down, then it’s his day.
Being around tournaments, I have heard many times… I didn’t cash a check but I beat Dee Thomas or I only got 17-lbs but I got more than Dee; how do you feel about being an industry benchmark?
There used to be a “Beat Dee Thomas Award”. That is where that kind of prize got started from. I used to give away a rod for finishing higher than me and I would hear about that forever from guys. They always be saying, “Remember that day 100 years ago that I beat you”. If you’re going to be on top and you’re going to be there awhile, you’ve got to be able to handle it gracefully. If you’re going to hand it out, you’ve got to be able to take and I have handed out my share.
Is there anyone that sticks out in your mind as your biggest competition?
I don’t fish against fishermen, I fish against the fish.
ISSUE 2 June 2011
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