An interview with DH Custom Baits.
In this interview we talk to Dane, a custom lure painter, angler, and chiropractor based out of the Dakota’s.
01. How long have you been painting lures, and what made you get started?
I started about 8 years ago because I was bored. I’ve always kind of been a person that kept themself busy with something. This was also a time before having kids and dogs, so my wife and I had a lot of extra time on our hands. The year that I started painting was a very snowy year so I wasn’t able to do as much ice fishing that I wanted. That lead me to YouTube videos of rod building, tackle storage options and eventually, custom tackle painting. This is the first bait I ever painted.
02. What is the first fish you caught on one of your own custom painted lures, what was the pattern?
That first winter, I think I sold the only baits I painted and I didn’t even know what to charge. It wasn’t until spring fishing where I caught a walleye on a Rapala #9 original floater painted in a Hot Tiger pattern. It wasn’t until the following winter where painting really took off. That winter, myself and some new friends made the trip to lake Winnipeg to chase the mythical greenbacks. My friend Norm slapped hooks on a bait that I had painted for his daughter. It was meant to be kind of a joke, then a massive 30” walleye decided to eat it. From then on, “Snooty Patooty” has been a mainstay. I’ve seen pictures of fish caught on that pattern in all corners of the walleye world.
03. What is your favorite blank to paint, and why?
Since the beginning, I’ve always opted to repaint over name brand lures with a known dive curve. The last couple of years has shown a shift to us custom painters with the availability of clear and chrome baits on the rack. I don’t really have a favorite to paint. They all have their little nuances. I enjoy bigger baits because I can put a lot of detail into them.
04. What is your favorite pattern to paint, and why?
If I had to pick one, it’s Natural Perch. There’s so many different details a painter can include. There’s been so many different patterns over the years it is really tough to pick a favorite pattern to paint. Typically, the more time consuming ones are the best looking patterns.
05. What custom lure painters, creators, and/or brands inspire you?
Starting off, I watched a lot of videos from Lure Me In Crankbaits based out of Minnesota. I also exchanged a ton of messages with Mike from Larson’s Quality Baits. It’s exciting to see the different styles painters have to the point it becomes a signature. The one thing I didn’t expect was to be in contact with the head bait developers from the major fishing tackle brands.
06. What are your goals for the next year?
I continue to chase the walleye tournament scene around North and South Dakota. There’s something to be said about the need for competition in one’s life. For me, it’s a driving force to become better at whatever I’m doing. My time is rather limited with two kids and adventures family life takes us on. My dedication to custom painting remains steady. I want to produce the best quality baits available.
07. Does your chiropractic work fit into your fishing lifestyle or business? If so, how?
In the beginning, it bankrolled this little endeavor. Nowadays, it serves as a good drop off location for peoples baits as well as a conversation piece. I’ll never not be surprised by how many people have heard about DH Custom Baits yet remain unaware their chiropractor is the same guy.
08. Where can people buy your lures and/or follow your work?
Follow along with my social media pages (Facebook and Instagram) along with checking out the website www.dhcustombaits.com. I host featured auctions with one-off tackle designs, apparel and bait packages.