Bass Wars 2016 season review: Part 1
Dec 27th, 2016 by OutdoorsFIRST
Modified Dec 27th, 2016 at 12:00 AM
To say 2016 was an exciting and interesting year in competitive fishing would be an understatement. Sure, we hear that just about every season, but this really was a good one!
Rick Clunn
His victory on the St. Johns River in Florida kick-started the 2016 Bassmaster Elite Series season as though it was scripted.
The St. Johns was his 15th Elite level win, including four Bassmaster Classics. Another cool nugget is this, Clunn has won at least one Bassmaster event in each of the last five decades. Staying power. Oh yeah, he’s 70. Timeless baby!
Greg Hackney
One of the most feared men in pro fishing. Well, maybe not feared in the sense he’d do bodily harm to someone, but feared because he’ll kick your booty up and down the lake and take all of your tournament entry money by out-fishing you in the most brutal and demoralizing way.
This year, well, let’s just say it was an interesting one for Hackney. Sure, he finished fifth overall in the Angler of the Year (AOY) race and secured a berth in the 2017 Bassmaster Classic. Yep, he won BASSfest on Lake Texoma in Oklahoma and held that big blue Bassmaster trophy high and cashed a check worth 100 grand for his efforts.
Yet, this year is beyond bittersweet for Hackney. He had the AOY title seemingly wrapped up heading into the Cayuga Lake event in New York, with a solid lead over Gerald Swindle. He was fishing brilliantly, until he made a mental error and fished in an off-limits area. Not trying to gain any special advantage, just fishing. It cost him his weight for the day ultimately dropping him to 107th at the event and Swindle finished 10th. Hackney could never get back to the top of the standings. Yep, a few minutes of lapsed judgement and his second AOY was gone.
Check back for Part 2.