Rodney Williams is a lifelong fisherman and a dedicated crafter of custom-tied flies and jigs used as fishing lures. He is the owner of R&S Bait Company in Gray, Tennessee. He learned this skill from his father, Sam T. Williams, who in 1985 designed a custom 3/16 oz. weedless “Arkie” jig. The finished jig consists of silicone rubber, deer hair, wire weed-guard, premium 3/0 black nickel hook, and a painted head. The jig is tied by hand with a premium thread. This bait was specifically made for the smallmouth bass fisherman. The jig has been the Williams’ number one seller from the beginning and continues to be today.

Rodney has a long career in law enforcement.  He retired in August 2014 from East Tennessee State University, where he had worked as a campus police officer, affectionately known as “Sarge,” for nearly 26 years. Prior to that he was with the Washington County sheriff’s department and was in the U.S. Army for three years as a military policeman. He notes, “I could have advanced further in my career if I didn't like to fish so much!” Rodney is married, a father of three with (so far) three grandchildren. “The Lord and my family are first in my life,” he says, “Everything else comes second.”