About Pearce
Pearce Phillips is the proud founder and owner of Buster Boyd Baits. Each and every design is individually handcrafted by Pearce. His love of craftsmanship, fishing, and the outdoors opened the door to start making wooden works of art. Aside from outdoor activities, Pearce is a high school student as well as being a dedicated wrestler who recently garnered All-American honors atop of being a multiple time state champion. In his free time, you can often find Pearce fishing his home waters of Lake Wylie or enjoying the day outside with his family.
The Process of a Lure
From Blocks to Baits
Each American-made lure starts as an idea. A simple sketch is made as a template, and then the fun begins. Each lure starts as a block of wood. Poplar is used as a standard for the lures because of its durability. Blocks are shaped into a rough shape using an array of tools. The rough shapes receive intricate details like gills, fins, and scales that are tediously hand-carved into the lure. Each lure is sealed to ensure longevity and prevent water damage. Afterwards, terminal tackle (wires and weights) are added. They are sealed again, then receive a beautiful, meticulously airbrushed paint scheme. After drying, they will be sealed a final time with epoxy and receive a rock-hard, glossy finish that will protect them from toothy fish and general wear. Hooks and other small details are attached after drying. Lastly, each and every lure is hand tested and tuned. All in all, one lure can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. You can expect each lure to be the highest and finest quality possible.
History
Lake Wylie & Buster Boyd Baits
Prior to what is known as Lake Wylie today, Native Americans from the Catawba tribe flourished the area and relied upon the river for their survival. Europeans began to settle in the area in the 18th century. During the period of industrialization in the early 1900's, a man by the name of Dr. Walker Gill Wylie saw potential for a dam that would produce electricity and jobs. After years of financial hardships, Dr. Wylie completed building the dam. He named the new lake "Catawba Lake" after the Native Americans who lived there. The name would later be changed in the Sixties by Duke Power Company to "Lake Wylie" in his honor.
In 1923, a bridge was built connecting the Carolinas over the lake after lobbying efforts by a politician named William Boyd, known by many as "Buster." Since then, the bridge has been rebuilt twice in 1961 and again in 1999. It serves to many as a daily part of commuting to many and is a true gem of the Carolinas.
