First Cast to First Company: The Story Behind Reel Fast Kustom Bait LLC

My journey in bait-making ignited when I was young. Throughout my early years working at a golf course, I met several mentors, one in particular named Andre. But Andre was more than just a golfer; he was an expert fisherman. My first experience with bass fishing was when Andre gave a red worm by the brand Culprit. I remember thinking, "Why would a fish eat plastic?" However, just a few casts later, as I retrieved steadily, a bass struck the worm right next to the boat and scared the heck out of me.

Traditionally, in my culture, we would go to the backyard and dig up worms, or if we had extra money, we would buy crickets and even live minnows. But I was a bit too sensitive to touch any creature; I just didn't like the feel of worm guts or even sticking a hook through live bait. I still feel this way today, but it isn't as bad. After my first striking encounter with bass, I was hooked on creating and finding ways to out fish others with artificial bait, even to the point of coming up with crazy bait ideas.

That journey continued through the typical phases of a kid's life—high school, college, and life beyond. Driven by my passion and the innovative ideas I had been developing over the years, I took a significant leap forward. Fifteen years after that first thrilling encounter with bass, I realized my dream by launching my own bass fishing company, Reel Fast Kustom Bait LLC, where we craft the kind of innovative lures that not only reflect my journey but also inspire other anglers to explore the joys of fishing with artificial bait.