Rick Clunn and the Power of the Pause: Why Livingston Lures Match a Legendary Mindset

Rick Clunn is one of the most influential figures in the history of bass fishing. A four-time Bassmaster Classic champion with more than five decades of competitive experience, Clunn is known not only for winning tournaments, but for redefining how anglers understand bass behavior, timing, and awareness.

In recent episodes of Fish Tales Podcast, Clunn explains why long-term success still comes down to fundamentals. Reading conditions. Understanding predators. And knowing when to slow down. That philosophy is exactly why Livingston Lures fit his approach so naturally.

Who Rick Clunn Is and Why He Matters in Bass Fishing

Rick Clunn began tournament fishing in 1974 during the formative years of professional bass fishing. He competed in an era shaped by pioneers like Bill Dance, Ray Scott, and Roland Martin, anglers who helped establish bass fishing as a legitimate skill-based sport rather than a game of chance.

Clunn separated himself by mastering what he calls fishing in the moment. Early Bassmaster Classics allowed no practice and no local information. Anglers were forced to adapt instantly. While many struggled without pre-tournament intel, Clunn thrived.

That mindset led to one of the most dominant runs in competitive fishing history. He qualified for 28 consecutive Bassmaster Classics and finished first, first, second, third, and fourth in the early years of the event. His success was not built on information. It was built on awareness.

Fishing in the Moment Versus Fishing on Information

Clunn has long believed that over-reliance on information weakens instinct. Rather than depending on pre-practice reports, local advice, or rigid game plans, he focused on real-time conditions.

Weather shifts. Light changes. Water clarity. Fish response.

These variables mattered more than local reports and history. This approach still applies today, even in an era dominated by advanced electronics and forward-facing sonar. Clunn continues to emphasize that technology should confirm decisions, not replace judgment.

Lake Mead and the Reality of Honest Water

Few fisheries are as meaningful to Clunn as Lake Mead. He describes it as one of the most honest lakes in the country. Clear water. Limited cover. No shortcuts.

In 1983, Clunn won the U.S. Open there by flipping a soft plastic in the Grand Canyon arm. Today, Lake Mead sits more than 150 feet below full pool. Many ramps are unusable. Vast areas are inaccessible.

Clunn speaks openly about the environmental pressures facing the lake, noting the contrast between strict regulations and the reality of water depletion. The discussion is not political. It is observational. A reminder that fisheries reflect human priorities and that anglers should always consider their impact on the waters they fish. 

The Power of the Pause and Why Sound Triggers Strikes

At the core of Rick Clunn’s fishing philosophy is a simple truth. Predators target weakness, not speed or action alone.

This belief explains why Livingston Lures align so closely with his approach. Livingston’s EBS technology emits the biological sound of distressed baitfish even when the lure is not moving.

Most lures become inactive on the pause. Livingston lures remain alive.

Clunn repeatedly emphasizes the importance of letting a bait sit. After the cast. After the ripple fades. During the moment most anglers rush to retrieve. That pause is often when bass commit.

How Rick Clunn Uses Livingston Lures

Clunn highlights several Livingston Lures that reflect this pause-driven philosophy.

The Walking Boss stands out as a topwater bait that continues working even when still. In fall conditions, particularly October, Clunn keeps it in his hand all day, not just at dawn or dusk. The sound continues calling fish even on long pauses.

The JerkMaster series excels in cold water by combining sweep-and-pause retrieves with sound that holds fish in the strike zone longer. Clunn describes fish rising from depths of 30 feet or more to attack a bait paused shallow.

Baits like the Slingshot and Freddy B allow anglers to cover water efficiently while still benefiting from EBS sound. The Bullnose wake bait becomes deadly around isolated grass and transitional cover. The opportunities becomes endless with the added dimension of sound. 

The common thread is restraint. These lures reward anglers who allow fish time to react.

The Pattern Within the Pattern

One of Clunn’s most important teachings is recognizing what he calls the pattern within the pattern.

It is not enough to know where fish are. You must understand why they strike when they do. Often the trigger is not speed or aggression, but hesitation.

The pause.
The sound.
The moment of vulnerability.

Livingston Lures amplify that moment by adding a sensory trigger that most baits simply do not provide.

Why Rick Clunn Still Matters Today

Rick Clunn remains relevant because he never stopped thinking. He adapted when television reshaped fishing. He adapted as electronics advanced. He continues adapting today by focusing on intent rather than noise.

He fishes with awareness.

Livingston Lures align with that awareness. They reward patience. They reward restraint. They reward anglers who understand that bass are listening as much as they are watching.

Rick Clunn’s legacy is not built on trophies alone. It is built on understanding how fish think and refusing to fish mechanically.

Livingston Lures are not shortcuts. They are tools for anglers willing to slow down, trust the power in the pause, and let sound trigger the strike.

That is why a legend chooses them.

Learn more at LivingstonLures.com