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Ricky Clunn Shows he still has the "Right Stuff"
BENTONVILLE, Ark.--April 15, 2000--Twenty-six
years ago Rick Clunn, then hailing from Montgomery, Texas, fished the
second professional bass tournament of his career on Beaver Lake in
hopes of winning enough money for the drive home. On Saturday, he
pocketed $200,000 with a five-bass catch weighing 13 pounds, 1 ounce
to win the richest bass tournament in Arkansas history - the $1
million Wal-Mart Open.
"I fished about as flawless as I can at this
stage," said Clunn,
who concentrated his efforts near the union of the White River and War
Eagle. "The lake being low played right into my hands. I basically
used a fall pattern and caught 90 percent of my fish on a crankbait."
As for his triumphant return to Beaver Lake, Clunn said,
"I've got
a whole lot more money and not near as far to go."
Clunn, who is one of the winningest anglers of all time, now
lives
in Ava, Mo.
By winning the lucrative tournament, Clunn automatically
qualifies
for the Wal-Mart FLW Tour Championship presented by CITGO Sept. 13-16
in Shreveport, La. There, he will fish against 49 of the world's top
bass anglers for $250,000 - the richest championship prize in bass
fishing series history.
Second place and $100,000 at the Wal-Mart Open went to Tom
Mann
Jr. of Buford, Ga., for a five-bass catch weighing 10-4 from the Visa
USA boat. Carl Svebek III placed third and collected $50,000 for five
bass weighing 8-11 from the Land O'Lakes boat. Dan Morehead of
Paducah, Ky., finished fourth and earned $35,000 for a five-bass, 7-10
stringer from the Wrangler boat followed by Gary Klein of Weatherford,
Texas, who weighed in five bass that tipped the scales at 7-0 to win
$30,000. Klein fished from the Fujifilm boat.
Mann earned the Energizer "Keeps On Going" award
for the greatest
comeback during the event. He fought back from 46th place after a
five-bass catch weighing 8-14 on day one to make the final round.
Boasting a $4.4 million purse, the 2000 Wal-Mart FLW Tour is
the
most lucrative bass fishing series in history. The fifth stop on the
seven-event tour is May 17-20 on the Mississippi River in Memphis,
Tenn. Coca-Cola will present the tournament.
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