The roots of Redeye Lures go back a long way - back to fishing with my dad, long before I ever thought about building lures.

One of the most defining moments came in 1995 on a float trip down the Aniak River in western Alaska. That trip marked my first real experience with single-hook catch-and-release spin fishing. At the time, we didn’t have specialty gear for it, so we made do with what we had. We took Mepps and Blue Fox spinners and cut two of the three shanks off the treble hooks just to stay legal and keep fishing. It wasn’t fancy, it was practical. That trip planted a seed.

Later trips pushed things even further. My dad started taking a simple 3-inch grub jig and attaching it to a Hildebrandt harness to target king salmon. We were learning by doing, modifying, experimenting, and paying attention to how fish actually reacted.

Fishing was always part of who we were. My dad’s family comes from Fleetwood, North Carolina, along the banks of the South Fork of the New River in Ashe County. He grew up fishing those waters and carried that love with him his entire life: trout, bass, panfish, you name it. That passion was passed straight down to me.

Over his lifetime, Dad and I were fortunate enough to fish together across the Northern Hemisphere, creating memories that still shape the way I approach fishing today. Those experiences taught me that good fishing isn’t about fancy gear, it’s about understanding the water, the fish, and how your bait moves through both.

Years later, after moving back from Texas, I encountered single-hook catch-and-release again when North Carolina implemented its Delayed Harvest season. This time, I had years of hard-earned lessons behind me. I started developing single-hook artificial lures specifically for small to medium mountain streams.

What I discovered surprised me, but it also confirmed what experience had already taught me: trout, smallmouth, redeye bass, sun perch, chubs, they all responded to the same core patterns. Presentation mattered more than flash. Movement mattered more than bulk. And a properly designed single-hook lure could be just as effective - if not more - than traditional multi-hook baits.

That realization is what ultimately led to Redeye Lures.

Every lure I build today is influenced by those early days; fishing beside my dad, modifying store-bought gear, learning what works through trial and error, and respecting the waters we fish. These lures aren’t made for mass production. They’re made for anglers who fish the same creeks, rivers, and backwaters I do.

This isn’t just a business. It’s a continuation of a lifetime spent chasing fish the right way.