BRYCE’S BAITS Reeling In a Dream Linda Sones,
On Bryce’s Instagram page , he decided to run an offer. If you acquired some of his baits and caught a fish, post it to Instagram with his page tagged, he would collect those posts and draw one person’s name, and that person “won” more baits! It seems this young man understands how to market his product, or at least gamify it. In the Spring of 2025, Bryce decided to try hardened baits like Crank Baits and Topwater Baits. This process takes a lot longer. It would take a full day to just make one or two. This led Bryce to try Flies in the summer
What do you say to your 12-year-old when he asks for a GAS MASK and MICROWAVE for his 13th Birthday?? For the Orzoleks, the answer was “Sure”! Why? Because they knew that their son, Bryce, had taken a strong interest in making fishing baits, just like he saw on YouTube. He received these items and Bryce’s Baits, a small fishing lure business, was born. Bryce, a passionate fisherman, started his enterprise by making swimbaits. They swim like a fish, imitating their motion, and are very effective at catching a variety of fish, especially Bass. They come in different types, sizes, colors, and tail structures, making them suitable for various conditions. Bryce studied these soft lures and became so good at it that he received requests for special types and colors. He asked friends to assist him at times to handle the requests that were coming in. But having the molds, his gas mask, microwave, and friends wasn’t enough to get the job done. Pouring the liquid plastic into the molds became problematic and messy. He needed an injector. With the blessing of his parents, the injector was purchased, and he was in mass production. Now, Bryce has a bunch of baits available to others, so he developed a logo and packaged them for others to use. He asked to have them available at a friend’s business, Mountain Marksmen Gun Shop in Mainville. There, shoppers could acquire them and try them out for themselves.
of 2025. Tying flies for fly fishing is truly an art. You can make many flies in a day once you are good at it, and they can be very beautiful. Fly baits mimic fly hatches and insects. They are used in Fly Fishing, which is another art. Mastering the 10-to-2 casting is very difficult for some, including me. Now at 14 years old, Bryce manages Instagram, YouTube , and Facebook pages, showcasing his art. He also attends farmers’ markets and outdoor shows. He will also have a booth at the Bloomsburg Renaissance Jamboree this year. With Bryce not being the only child and not having a driver’s license, he, at times, needs to recruit his grandparents to chauffeur him to his shows. At one of the shows, a Florida company saw his product and bought his entire stock! He also has a person in North Carolina who asked to have some shipped to him. Yes, Bryce will ship. A newer marketing idea Bryce uses is making “Mystery bags”. Let him know what you plan on fishing for, and he’ll get you a mystery bag with something in it for that
type of fishing. These are popular, and I’ve seen other crafters use this idea at craft shows. He will also take special requests so if you are looking for a specific color type, fly, whatever, if he can make it, he will create it. I asked Bryce where he plans on going from here. He stated that he will continue making baits through high school and college. But he isn’t sure after that. This summer, he plans on making jigs (which means he needs to acquire a toaster oven) and spinners, which are my personal favorites. He also thought it would be a good idea to make Fly packages (set of four for specific fish/season), tackle bags/boxes, and promote stocking stuffers. He also is looking at becoming an LLC. Our 2026 Master Angler Passport has started, so if you are looking for some new baits, support this inspiring young man. You can contact him through his social media pages or just give him a call at 570- 441-8386. Fishing season is now open, so get your baits and I’ll see you on the water! ❚
COLUMBIA MONTOUR Quarterly
18
19
April–June • 2026
Powered by FlippingBook