Patrick Sébile–41-year-old lure designer and founder/CEO of Sébile Lures–has created a line of realistic and utilitarian fresh and saltwater lures that are making inroads in the fishing market. An accomplished angler and businessman, Sébile has “fished in 61 countries, [holds] 27 IGFA records, and [has] caught more than 565 species of fish. That background now combines with a talent for making things to produce a range of extraordinary lures.”

John Merwin of Field & Stream interviews Sébile about catching carp, selling his “1 millionth lure,” and the innovation behind the Magic Swimmer (his first marketable creation): “‘I had wanted to create a hard bait that swims like a real fish, so I studied everything from how fish actually swim to the hydrodynamics of a hard body in water,’ he said. ‘Eventually, I was able to make some segmented parts that moved in a true baitfish motion. Importantly, this was much more than just a good- looking shape designed to catch fishermen before catching fish.’”

Anyone who’s ridden in a skiff much will tell you that usually longer is better when it comes to cutting through chop (witness the resurging popularity of canoe-style craft), but many of the same folks will also admit to fantasies of fishing in the smallest boat possible. Small boats like the 16′ 10″ Dolphin SuperSkiff have dominated tournaments over the years because they are nimble to pole and drive and burn minimal amounts of fuel.

Now Hell’s Bay seems willing to push that envelope by building a 12′ 9″ Kevlar craft that poles in puddles and needs only a tiny motor to take you where you want to go. “With a 45 inch beam, the Skate, Hell’s Bay’s smallest craft, is made with tough Kevlar and weighs just 250 lbs. Its draft is a mere 3 ½ inches with engine and six gallons of fuel. Hell’s Bay recommends a 9.9 or 15 hp two stroke tiller-steered outboard for power.”

And yes, you can throw it in the back of a pickup.