Thank You FTC

[thefishingline]

I would like to thank the Freeport Tuna Club for having me last night as their featured speaker for the October general meeting. As always it was great to see everyone and of course the food, as always, superb again. No club in this metro area puts out better food than what the FTC consistently rolls out!

My time at the podium last night was a little philosophical and a little melancholy at times as I prepare for the move to Myrtle Beach, SC sometime in early 2014. I hope I gave you some different techniques to think about in your pursuit of striped bass this fall, but I did want to think back a little and review my fishing “career” here in the metro area the last 19 years, which I could not have done without the support of the FTC members and the general public listening and watching every week.

Don’t worry folks The Fishing Line will stay strong on Long Island and the surrounding region, still giving you the most up to the minute reports anywhere through our weekly radio show, weekly newsletter and of course the FREE phone line service at 516-977-2088. Sign up for the free newsletter at the website www.thefishingline.com.

For those not in attendance I spoke in terms of a person’s “fishing stages” we go through, not necessarily as we age, but as we gain experience in fishing. This was brought to me by that wonderful and famous fishing lady Joan Wulff and my “adopted” grandfather and world record holder Stephen Sloan

We start out with the passion for fishing taught to us by family or friends and how many can we catch and never wanting to leave them biting. Next phase is how big are the fish as we pursue trophies, bragging rights, entering derbies and tourneys etc. Then we pass into a phase of just being out on the water or beach, enjoying the scenery, the thrill of the run off (even if you miss), or just clam bellying with friends is enough.

Finally we enter a phase where we want to give back to what has brought us so much joy in this never ending learning curve called fishing. Giving back by joining a fishing club, volunteering for committees or chores at a fishing club, running charity drives and tourneys, grass plantings, beach cleanups whatever.

In my case it has been speaking at fishing clubs, producing educational seminars, creating The Fishing Line Reef in 1999 and continuing to make it one of the largest artificial reefs in the Long Island area over those next 10 years. I did it with my own money, not asking fans or advertisers for any of it just so I could put my name on it. I have been lucky enough to make a so called living in this industry providing the public with fishing reports and giving details of where the fish are, not where they were, and boy have I taken heat for that over the last 19 years.

However, as I have defended myself over the years to those detractors, even they did not come from the womb an expert angler. It takes people…family, friends and yes even strangers on the beach or on the water to educate us, teach us, and show us something new we may not have known…or may just have forgotten

I could have stayed and spoken with you all for hours, but I tried to keep it short being it was a work night and the Giants were on Thursday night football.

I would personally like to thank my best friend in the world Ray Geiger for getting me the spotlight last night and President Bob Pandy and the FTC committee(s) for the official go ahead. Thanks to all you wonderful FTC members for your support over the last 19 years of our radio & TV programs and in the future, and the wonderful comments afterwards last night. I truly enjoyed my time there last night

I’m looking forward to fishing with many of you who offered last night. Jonathan Wade, Barbara Soloman, Peter Monte, Ray Geiger and all the rest…I anxiously await your call or e mail. Just in case though, my cell is 516-435-8382 and E mail is rich@thefishingline.com. For any and all info on The Fishing Line radio, TV, free newsletter or phone lines it is all on my site at www.thefishingline.com.

Again, thank you Freeport Tuna Club. Keep up your good work and hope to see and fish with you on the water this fall, but will see you at Oktoberfest next Thursday!

Sincerely
Rich Johnson