Claypool is famous for his wacky sense of humor and overall eccentric personality. He is also known for his cannabis use, and is quoted as saying, "Please don't throw your shit at me... unless that shit resembles a bag of marijuana." Although his love for marijuana was public knowledge, it is alleged he had grown tired of smoking it for a brief period between 2003 and 2004. He is quoted saying "wine over weed" by an unidentified source during an unaired taping of "Fly Fishing the World" in late 2004.