Copyright cherokeephoenix
SHADY GROVE – A pair of longtime friends and fishing buddies from Shady Grove have been reeling in customers since 2017 with made-from-scratch lures, including the fan-favorite, “Punisher.” “We make small, plastic fishing bait for bass and crappie,” said Tanner Christie, co-founder of Spooled Up Fishing Co. “We always fished store-bought stuff and wanted something a little bit different. I couldn’t buy it, so I had to build it.” Using for the most part custom equipment, Christie, 28, and Dylan Ellis, 26, both Cherokee Nation citizens, make their unique products from start to finish with liquid plastic, specially made molds and packaging. They attract customers from a company website and social media but also have products in local gas stations and tackle shops. “We do really good with word of mouth around here,” said Christie, an electrician by trade. The anglers were initially inspired to create their own lures after a fishing trip. “We stopped at a restaurant and I drew the “Punisher” up on a napkin when we were waiting on our food,” Christie said. “I asked him, ‘Hey, do you think we can make baits?’ He said, “I don’t know. What would we make?’ So, I sat there and drew it up.” As it turns out, Christie’s first design is also their biggest seller for bass fishermen. Like many of their lures, it’s thicker than most comparable commercial products to better hold a hook, Christie said. “All of our stuff is custom to us,” he added, also noting they now have more than 30 different lure designs. “Since we’re making it here, we can keep it fairly cheap compared to people shipping it in from places. Time’s my most expensive thing.” After starting their business, Christie and Ellis eventually began tournament fishing with their custom lures. “We didn’t want to follow somebody throwing the same thing they did,” Christie said. “We started winning on it. We were like this might just work out.” Christie’s great-grandfather, David Neugin, helped foster his creativity and industrial nature. Known for his bow-making skills, Neugin was dubbed a Cherokee National Treasure in 1994. “When I was younger, he would kind of tinker with lures and stuff,” Christie said. “So, he kind of showed me how to do that.” For more information about Spooled Up Fishing Co., visit spooledupfishing.com or facebook.com/spooledupfishingco/.
