Rodney,

Are you serious???? I have never heard anyone talk about how great they
are more than you. What a disappointment it would be to meet at a
neutral site and watch you struggle to find fish, let alone catch them.

I have to re-read the article on the top 25 fisherman of all time
(In-Fisherman from a couple years ago) because I don't recall any of them
thanking you for your contributions to the fishing industry or their
success. I know I have stumbled across Rich Zaleski's name a few times,
but never Rodney Long. I have read quite a few fishing books, and you
would think somewhere in the annals of fishing lore I would find some
mention of your contributions Rodney, or at least how your mere presence
among people you fish with have changed their lives for the better.

Anyone who says I can catch fish , I just can't find them needs to
re-evaluate their place in the fishing world. Well, at least people that
sit and beat their chest about how great they are. You might have had a
couple inventions that have gotten you some recognition and maybe a ride
along with a few bass pros, but it doesn't make you superior to anyone
here.

I don't care how big your wallet is, or how well connected you are, none
of that matters. Get off your pedestal, come down to earth and try being
a little modest. You have to remember, a majority of the fisherman are
not pros, and if you want to sell something to the majority maybe you
should try and relate to them just a little bit.

If I have to hear about how you outfished a pro from the back of their
boat with your inventions I am going to puke. I read all the periodicals
and books I can from this industry. I watch all the videos I can get my
hands on , and I had no idea who you were until I joined this newsgroup
and had to read your constant ramblings about how great you are. You
could ask, who the hell am I. Rodney, I am nobody, I am not better than
you, I am not better than Warren, or anybody else. I am just a guy who
loves to fish, and has done it for over 15 years.

Then again, if you keep telling yourself you are great, maybe one day you
will be. Not that this means anything to you, but the people I respect
don't have to tell me how great they are, I already know by their actions
and by their attitude.

I have this image of you Rodney, and all I keep seeing is a Oil painting
of you above your mantle with you pointing to yourself with both thumbs
and spot lights shining on the picture so that the people that walk into
your house have to notice it right away, and then sitting on your mantle
are all your inventions with an LED counter telling how many of each item
is sold.

Now that I have come this far, and had a chance to reflect on what I have
written so far I am thinking I should give up fishing. Hell if a billion
dollar industry can be put under by the Rodney Long Machine and his
inventions then I don't want to be part of it. I mean, you have said
yourself people are using your inventions and beating people like Warren.
I used to think it was the fisherman that caught the fish, and not the
lure or hook, but now I know the truth. Why should any of us even try if
we are not going to use your inventions. I apologize for everything I
wrote, you are the greatest, Soon you will be able to replace that Oil
painting with the new one you have created for yourself with Al Linder,
Ray Scott, Denny Brauer, Rick Clunn, Doug Hannon, Warren Wolk, Hell throw
in anyone that has ever picked up a rod and reel all bowing at your feet,
and you stand above them in a white robe , with your arms out and a halo
looking over all your children, we are weak Rodney, but you are strong. I
can't compete, so if anybody would like a Ranger 354v I am just going to
give it away, as well as 15 rod/reel combos that I was so looking forward
to using this year in tournaments. I figure, Rodney probably wouldn't
bother to sell me his inventions now because I have disgraced him , and I
really don't deserve to have th privilege of tying on one of his
inventions.

I am sorry Rodney, please do not have the fishing industry black list me.
I know how well connected you are, and how far your influence spreads. If
Forrest Wood showed up at my house tonight to take back my boat I wouldn't
be surprised.

Chris


On Mon, 24 Jan 2005 20:32:53 -0600, Rodney wrote:

Charles B. Summers wrote:
Yeerrrrr funny Josh! LOL

I think the Rodmaker/Redding adventure went over too easy. Let's do it this
way... I'll take the first day with RL, and whatever is left of him I'll
throw over to Warren.

If you guys think you can out fish all the other pros I have beat in the
same boat with me, (which is everyone that has went with me, or I with
them), you need to be fishing for the big money, like they do.