Terri Clark's Band Suggests Therapy for Her Fishing Obsession
The country music star admits her passion for fishing has reached a level where her bandmates joke about her needing professional help.
Country music star Terri Clark has a fishing habit so pronounced that her bandmates have jokingly suggested she seek therapy. Clark shared in an interview that her passion for angling has led her to practice fishing knots even on her tour bus, prompting her band's concern.
Clark attributes her intensified interest to social media algorithms on Instagram, which frequently present her with videos teaching new fishing knots. This has led her to try them out, much to the amusement and slight alarm of her band.
The Grand Ole Opry member is set to participate in The Champions Celebrity Pro-Am on Old Hickory Lake near Nashville. She will be paired with a professional bass angler for the event, which follows a championship competition with a $3.25 million purse.
Clark, who has honed her fishing skills on Lake Erie, expressed anticipation for the Pro-Am, viewing it as an opportunity to learn from top professionals. "I'm going to be taking a master class in bass fishing, which will be super fun," she said. She is particularly interested in learning about advanced fishing electronics, such as the Humminbird MEGA Live 2 system she owns but has not yet installed on her boat.
Despite her current focus on bass fishing, Clark remains dedicated to pursuing a musky, specifically one over 50 inches. A recent trip to Lake Erie was hampered by unfavorable weather and unseasonably warm temperatures that seemed to affect the fish's behavior. "I'm gonna get one though. I'm gonna get one," she stated, considering a potential trip to Tennessee's Caney Fork River for muskies.
Lake Erie offers Clark diverse fishing opportunities, including bass, northern pike, and walleye. In 2022, she caught a notable 16-pound northern pike, which she later released after having a replica made. She also recounted the satisfaction of helping comedian Kathleen Madigan catch her personal-best bass, a five-and-a-half-pounder, during a summer outing.
Clark described her approach to fishing as intense, admitting to sometimes forgoing basic needs like drinking water due to deep concentration. Her dedication has led to close encounters with fish and minor injuries. Even while touring, she seeks opportunities to fish on days off, though she avoids fishing on show days to prevent any delays that could affect her performance schedule.
Beyond the thrill of catching fish, Clark finds solace and connection in nature. She described a particularly moving experience watching the sunrise over Lake Erie, finding a sense of profound peace. She also expressed a desire to see more women and young girls embrace fishing as a hobby.
Her future aspirations include headlining at Colorado's Red Rocks Amphitheatre and achieving her goal of catching a 50-plus-inch musky. Clark noted that choosing between these two dreams would be a difficult decision.