Interesting

Rob Cummings · Post by **Rob Cummings** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 3:29 pm

Amazing, simply amazing!

http://www.westernbass.com/forum/viewto ... =42100&f=2

Kelly Ripa · Post by **Kelly Ripa** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 4:14 pm

Yup. I saw that picture a while ago. Your right Rob.

N.A.R · Post by **N.A.R** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 4:15 pm

I was wondering how long it was going to take to come over to the South Side....

Kelly Ripa · Post by **Kelly Ripa** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 4:43 pm

To debate this really. After the fingers are done flying and db'l. flying it means little in the scheme of things what the collective we think about this. Maybe just watch this time instead?

Naw didn't think so.

Remember what the Dormouse said. Feed your head!

Cmarkfish · Post by **Cmarkfish** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 6:56 am

WOW

CHIEF

Rick G · Post by **Rick G** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 8:21 am

Just another example of a big company ripping off a smaller one. Sad state of affairs the Tackle business has become. Rick G.

some guy · Post by **some guy** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 8:46 am

Amen Rick G. It happens way too much.

scottsweet · Post by **scottsweet** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 9:56 am

What is unfortunate is that Bill is associated with this and possibly responsible. One sure way to change public opinion and respect real fast - I know mine has if this is true.

Perhaps Bill will chime in...

Ron T. · Post by **Ron T.** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 8:21 pm

I have held and fished the blue gill bait from Spro and looks good to me . I have not held the Matt bluegill to compare . Seems as lots of you somehow have held them both , not ! Until both baits are in my hands to compare I have tried not to make any comments pro or con . To bad the rest of you are so eager to convict . How many have actually held both baits to make this conviction ? Just curious . How about Matt , have you made a comparison with the baits in hand or from the photo. Not trying to pick a bitch fest or take sides , just wondering .

some guy · Post by **some guy** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 6:03 am

Hey Ron, I dont feel like going through the archives, but isnt that what started all this? That Matt saw the bait at ICAST?

I saw the pictures provided on this forum and I have fished Matt's bait for years. I am not a copyright expert by any means, but both of the baits look pretty much identical.

The major Corps like to rip off the little man with good ideas to make a buck, they now the smaller corps do not have the capital to fight back.

I wonder how many people Bill called to come on here and try and save face..

Im putting the over/under at 30.

lunker punker · Post by **lunker punker** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 8:23 am

Glad to see that there are savy anglers out there that can read between the lines and not buy into the hype.

Rob Cummings · Post by **Rob Cummings** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 7:49 pm

What does holding the two baits really have anything to do with it? How many people take all the baits on the shelf out of the package and hold them to see which one they want? Doubt it. The regular tackle buying person is going to buy what they already have, what they heard about/ was recommended or just looks better to them in the package. Nobody said..in this whole thing...that they feel the same. The LOOK the same.

What A LOT of people take for granted is the blood, sweat, time and money that goes into making a big bait that works and has potential. You guys say spinnerbaits, cranks etc. are all the same and knock-offs of each other. Yep they are..and they don't take nearly the time, work or investment that it takes to put swimbaits on the market. If it looks like a copy..even if its weighted or swims a little different..its still a copy. Its not just a bait thats ripped off, its the sentimental value of the person who brought it from a scartched out piece of wood to a fish catching machine. You might as well break into my house and steal it right off my living room table. I look at some of the baits I've made that way..damn hard to even let Dave mold by babies, thinking that someone else some day will rip it off and desecrate our hard work. A little extreme and out there?? Maybe to a lot of people..but to the people with the passion to do this themselves and stick to it to see their baits go big and be successful...I guarandamtee ya they understand that.

As for the Bill groupies, they're easy to spot and I guess if you're from here and you've been around it your whole life you just might not know any better. Other people see right through it. After getting into this business a little bit I have had the honor to have some lengthy conversations with some of the biggest names in the business...not the self-promoted, I love me types...the REAL mofo's of swimbaiting. I won't alienate them on here by saying their names, but I will say I take their word in person WAY more than something a person types on here trying to keep it lookin good for their sponsors. Once again, some people are just chronic liars..its not their fault, its almost a sickness. They tell themselves the same junk for so long that they actually believe it and forget there is a reality outside their little worlds.

I learned a lot at the last HBC at Clearlake and once again had the honor to talk to some of the biggest names there. One thing that happened that sticks in my mind and we talked about on the way home was meeting and talking to Jeremy from Black Dog. As he was looking at our GillZilla Bluegill he said it was a unique bait and nothing like his or another one on the market. For something like that to be said from someone already established in the scene, it was an ultimate compliment. If we made a bait and then felt it was too much like one that someone else already has out there..we'll fish with it..but it's not going on the market. Some of you guys are saying business is business and its just making money. Well, some people are doing it off other people's hard work and some of us are trying to do the best we can with some honor, hard work and perceverance, while doing rite by the customer.

(Jeremy, I can delete what I repeated from when we met at Clearlake in the above paragraph if you want me to or don't want me to put your name in there)

oakview · Post by **oakview** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 7:52 pm

Just have a moment here. For the record B.S. gave me some dildo looking chuncks of wood that had a notch tail like an AC plug and a closed mouth carved face with a castic rubber tail. A straight jointed lure of two peices. He asked me to weight it and paint them for him. I told him I couldn't waste my time on these lures. He also told me his fire captain carved the lures. I felt sorry for him and sent him a thirteen inch tool, along with many other baits. When i gave him other tools he asked for about thirty of them. I told him he is a little bit to far out there. And our relationship started to fade. But it was to late, my tool was already in his book. All he did was taunt Mike Long and Jason Scott along with everyone else with the bait. he sent the baits to China for Spro to build. I haven't been around much cause I have been working 15 hours a day,11 months, 7 days a week! I have not stopped making baits!! Every bait i make is sold before I make it, but I am not very fast. I have 25 new baits but don't know what to do with them. Should I go to China? Why else would I be trying to save all this money? ! Wouldn't it be cool if a little guy took down Bill and spro?! Watch for my new bait coming out this week! I don't know if I can live with myself if I go to China... I just wonder how Bill can look his wife in the face, and tell her that he loves her.

P.S. I will be posting pictures of the chuncks of wood that B.S sent me.

JERRY RAGO! ; ]

Got this from another website

oakview · Post by **oakview** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 7:53 pm

Jerry and Matt

All I can say is you have my respect...and you both make some sick baits...keep it in the usa...

There aren't many lure companies left in the usa, and it has been over a year since I spent my money on a lure that feeds someone in another country.

This is a cut-throat industry...there are to many examples to list...I just wish some in the industry had alittle more integrity.

D.

Brian Linehan · Post by **Brian Linehan** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 8:04 pm

People need to let this one die. Who really cares at this point?

oakview · Post by **oakview** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 8:09 pm

Brian,
Good call...

But when it comes down to the money invested to make a bait and take all the loans needed to get it to the market...I think its a good topic...does it fix what is wrong with the industry...NO but at least a few are aware of what they are buying...

D.

Rob Cummings · Post by **Rob Cummings** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 8:09 pm

The people that don't care are the ones not directly affected by this kind of crap in the business or the people satisfied with paying a few bucks less on the knock-off.

Some people do care, A LOT. Not everyone is always going to agree.

DougH · Post by **DougH** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 10:49 am

Brian Linehan wrote:People need to let this one die. Who really cares at this point?

Some of us "lurkers" care a LOT about this thread. This goes deep into a lot of issues, and a lot of money is at stake for a few folks.

It's interesting to hopefully discover the truth about how some things have happened. It's not always a pretty world out there...

Kevin · Post by **Kevin** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 11:03 am

You're right Doug. Alot of $$ is at stake for A FEW GUYS. This is between Rago, Bill, and Matt. I come on this site to enjoy myself rather than read about some drama between a few individuals.
So even if you got the truth, what next? Where does it go from here? Darkman said it best when he referred to this deal as grown men acting like babies. There are way more important issues going on in the world right now. We have boys/girls dying in Iraq/Afghanistan as I type this and people are losing their cool over a stupid bluegill. Lets put this thing to rest once and for all please!!!!!!!!!!

Byron · Post by **Byron** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 11:09 am

Close it !!! This site is turning to sh*t with all the crying.

SoCalBassAssassin · Post by **SoCalBassAssassin** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 2:17 pm

DougH wrote:
Brian Linehan wrote:People need to let this one die. Who really cares at this point?
Some of us "lurkers" care a LOT about this thread. This goes deep into a lot of issues, and a lot of money is at stake for a few folks.

It's interesting to hopefully discover the truth about how some things have happened. It's not always a pretty world out there...

Very true words, Brian. However I don't think most of the posters here get the reality of the whole thing. Is it so important to bash someone you have all been friends with in the apst over this? I personally don't know Matt or Bill, so I am sort of in a neutral position watching the posts. I am interrested in finding out what is true, and what must be exagerated, but I don't have a vested interest in this issue,. It seems like Matt & Bill are the 2 people that actually have time and money invested in this issue, so they should take care of this either in court, or in the parking lot.

everyone throwing their loyalties in for both sides is fine, but it in reality is all BS. A wise man once said "opinions are like a$$ holes. everyone has one and they are all full of s**t." I appreciate all the passion everyone here has displayed, but in my humble opinion (ha ha ha ) I must agree with Doug's last line. "It's not always a pretty world out there". And that's just the cold hard facts of business, and the free enterprise that we in America enjoy so blindly.

If Bill did (and I ma not siding either way) steal Matts lure nad capitalize on that I am sure that his Karma will get even with him 10 fold. And if he didn't what do you think that will do for the Karma of all of us here convicting him? just a thought.

I'll say it again. God Bless America! Where else can I write something like this and actually have others read it?

Saul

Kevin · Post by **Kevin** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 2:21 pm

Applause!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fishing Joe · Post by **Fishing Joe** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 2:58 pm

DAMN SHAME!!!

Brian Linehan · Post by **Brian Linehan** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 4:55 pm

It's ok to be gay.

some guy · Post by **some guy** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 8:36 pm

another TOMBOY groupie.

lunker punker · Post by **lunker punker** » Fri Aug 01, 2008 7:56 am

It was a pleasure to meet the orso guys at the HBC. Awesome baits with style and originality. They had some lures I cant speak of that were flat out awesome. Im not talkin about gill zilla or the split tail either! Although those 2 are badass as well!

some guy · Post by **some guy** » Fri Aug 01, 2008 8:20 am

Is there more pictures of the GILL_ZILLA i think i just fell in love.

Rob Cummings · Post by **Rob Cummings** » Fri Aug 01, 2008 12:39 pm

Thanks for the kind words!

We're working on getting more and better pics..too much to do..way too little time to do it..but it will get done!

oakview · Post by **oakview** » Fri Aug 01, 2008 6:01 pm

Yeah the HBC was a blast...it was nice to finally meet the rest of the swimbait nuts...ANd the guys behind the some of the baits on the market.

I hope to get pictures up soon...just trying to catch up and at the same time getting ready for Amistad...HBC3...and the Bass-a-thon the weekend after...

You going to Bass-a-thon Jermey...

D.

lunker punker · Post by **lunker punker** » Fri Aug 01, 2008 6:08 pm

I dont know yet. Too much work to do right now. Hopefully Ill be ready by then if we get invited. Dont wanna show up with the same old stuff.

2@low8 · Post by **2@low8** » Sat Aug 02, 2008 9:25 pm

Rob, give up. Bill is the greatest swimbait fisherman of all time. He invented swimbait fishing, invented swimbaits, caught more fish on swimbaits and is the reason bass eat swimbaits. If you want proof just ask him.

Gerryjig · Post by **Gerryjig** » Sun Aug 03, 2008 7:48 am

although the bait has the "exact" appearance......it IS different. So is the business world of luremaking and that will NEVER change, BOTH bluegill baits look great, but at the same time they have their different approach. My GOD, what is up with all the whining? Like it / buy it or not, just cut it out already, no wonder I never come around these parts like I used to......have fun, I know I will

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Jerry is alive and said the following to clear thing up

Jerry Rago and Mattlures

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