W2 recently caught up with Lee Taylor, 53, of Montgomery County, Pennslyvania, owner of Bait Crafters Bait Co.
Taylor has amassed quite a holding of bait companies including Stinky Balls, Daddy Mac Lures, Zee Baits Co., Third Eye, Slab Savage and most recently, the regionally popular Fitt Lures.
W2 asked Taylor, who refers to himself with the title of “Chief Stink” how he got into the bait business.
“I acquired a formulation for a biodegradable non plastic that turned into a scent transfer/release agent. This sounded too serious and scientific, so we took a major risk by forming it into balls and calling it Stinky Balls to help make anglers’ existing lures better. Six
years later, the financial side is questionable, but personally I am full with all of the giggles, laughter and fun that I am able to bring to a world that is filled with problems and stress because after all… fishing is what we do for fun to take us away from life’s struggles, so why not laugh and have fun?”
We decided to go back even further and ask the Chief Stink what made him interested in owning bait companies?
“If a 20-year-old me would be asked this question 100% of me would have said not even a 1% chance, would I be interested in bait companies, no way! Life has its way of opening and closing doors, though. This is a journey over destination reason as to why I am here. I want to build on 50+ plus years of good and bad decisions and see where it takes me. I trust and believe in myself more than ever and never want to feel comfortable, as I enjoy pushing big boulders up bigger hills. Now, with this economy and rising costs of everything, this has led to the state of the fishing industry in a downward spin to some, and that may be my biggest challenge yet?”
We also asked Taylor why he you choose to acquire and/or create the companies he currently owns?
“My father and father-in-law died of cancer within a year of each other and this was obviously impactful on me and my family. The brand I created was first started as an opportunity to leave a legacy, and although that hasn’t changed, it’s taken on so many changes, and one is to be a part of something so entirely different from the world I knew. It’s about the challenge and ultimately the joy that our products bring to anglers and new fisherman.”
So how does Taylor come up with new bait ideas?
“New most likely means color variations rather than new baits. We now have 500 plus profiles that are now new to us, however we do have something totally new that looks like a hot seller.”
Taylor is referring to the Vig Rig, a combination of the new Vig and the existing Javelin bait he makes that can be fished Ned style, Texas style, on a Toyko rig and a Niko rig.
“We wanted to create a ‘universal system’ for multiple species that integrates our existing lineup and leave us room for more, Taylor told W2, “Many anglers use trailers on Chatterbaits, hair jigs, etc., but a soft plastic with a soft plastic trailer is rare air… and that’s where we spent seven months and multiple redesigns to get it right.”
The Vig rig (short for vigorous as in “live vigorously”) allows anglers to pair their favorite worm with the Vig to create a unique offering in matched colors like blue bay, rotten banana, rainbow trout, Susquehanna craw, green pumpkin purple smoke, old Smokie, PBJ, rusty craw, bass bacon, mudd and pearl. The Vig itself is like a very thick-walled, short tube. You insert your trailer of choice into it and then decide how you want to fish it. You can swim it, pitch it, jig it, shake it, stroll and mope it.
Taylor’s pro staff has been using The Fitt Javelin 3.25 and 4.5 with the Vig and an “aspirin” Ned head this winter with good results on ice free waters for largemouth bass.
Guide C.C. McCotter said he caught a two-pound bass on his first cast with the Vig after getting nothing in the same area using a jerkbait.
“As soon as I opened the box of baits and watched the how-to-rig video by Gorsuch I knew this bait was going to be money. The bass inhale it, not unlike a tube, so you really have to be ready as soon as it hits the water and begins to fall.”
Susquehanna River smallmouth Guide Chris Gorsuch is also on the Fitt Pro Team and he created the video McCotter refers to showing how to rig the Vig with the Javelin.
Gorsuch thinks the bait will be excellent rigged Niko style for smallmouth, too.
“Our relationships with guides and pro staff anglers is important. I’m not on the water but behind the scenes, so I’m entirely dependent on blunt feedback,” Taylor noted.
So, what’s it like being a small bait business owner?
“Ha! I was a small bait business owner, now I’m not so small, so it’s too early to tell what parts I like, but I’m confident that if I keep my integrity up and chin down, anglers and fisherman will see I’m driven by the need to create happiness and continue to stay behind the scene.”
We wondered if Taylor was creating, molding and pouring all his baits in house, too.
“With the exception of Daddy Mac and some lead jigs, we hand make everything in house.”
Of course, we asked Taylor what he does in his spare time.
“I have six brands to manage, what spare time?”
