'The fish tore them up': MS teen creates hand-painted fishing lures

Brian Broom, Mississippi Clarion Ledger
·4 min read

A Mississippi teenager with a love of fishing combined that passion with his enjoyment of painting and the outcome was hand-painted fishing lures that are not only catching fish, they're catching customers.

"I've been fishing my whole life, basically," said Peyton Copeland, 14, of Barlow. "I like fishing for bass.

"I just enjoy it. It's just being in the outdoors."

At an early age, Copeland decided to take his love of fishing to another level.

"When I was little, I used to watch YouTube a lot," Copeland said. "There was a YouTuber named Marling Baits.

"I watched him a lot. I got inspired to make my own wood lures. It looked like it was fun and a good idea. I like making stuff and painting."

Copeland carved the lure bodies from wood and outfitted them with hooks and custom paint designs. The baits caught fish, but it was a long process to produce them. Then Copeland discovered he could buy molded lure bodies that could serve as the canvas for his painting.

"It's a lot easier and less time consuming," Copeland said.

Peyton Copeland of Barlow combined his love of fishing and enjoyment of painting to create unique, hand-painted lures for bass fishing.
Peyton Copeland of Barlow combined his love of fishing and enjoyment of painting to create unique, hand-painted lures for bass fishing.

'She would have starved to death': MS wildlife department saves abandoned bear cub

Teen turns unique fishing lures into a business

Copeland used the baits to catch fish in his grandfather's pond and began perfecting his craft. He made baits for friends, too. Last year, it became a business; Copeland's Lures.

"My dad, he's really the main supporter," Copeland said. "He said, 'Since you're so good at it, you should start selling them and make your own lure company.'"

At 13 years old, he did. Copeland began selling them on his Facebook page and offers several types such as swim baits and crank baits as well as topwater frog and duck patterns. Prices range from $10 to $20.

The fact that they're painted by hand makes each one unique. Copeland said that's a part of the appeal for his customers.

"I think they're more creative and stand out from other lures," Copeland said. "They're more creative than other brands."

He said they're more realistic than some on the market, too.

"On my bluegill, I try to give them a natural look," Copeland said. "I normally try to use natural colors."

Of course, there's some deviation from scales and natural colors.

"I've been working on some with a skull pattern on them," Copeland said.

Peyton Copeland, 14, of Barlow poses by a display case of his hand-painted fishing lures he sells under the brand Copeland's Lures.
Peyton Copeland, 14, of Barlow poses by a display case of his hand-painted fishing lures he sells under the brand Copeland's Lures.

More: Here are 10 bucket list trips you should take in Mississippi this year

Custom fish baits produce bites

Jarred Scott of Madison said he likes the baits because not only are they something he can't find elsewhere, he can have them painted to his preference.

"The fish love them," Scott said. "I live on Lake Lorman in Madison and that's about the only thing they'll bite.

"The fish tore them up. I've bought 10 to 20 baits from him. I like the colors and patterns because they're not something you'll see in Bass Pro. He paints any color I want and any pattern. He gives you what you ask for."

Harris Nix of Brookhaven has also been using them.

"I've probably bought six or seven crank baits from him," Nix said. "They're top-notch, honestly.

"I've used them throughout the summer and fall and they worked. They've got good movement in the water and the paints on them hold up really well."

Copeland's Lures are hand-painted by 14-year-old Peyton Copeland of Barlow and sell for $10 to $20.
Copeland's Lures are hand-painted by 14-year-old Peyton Copeland of Barlow and sell for $10 to $20.

Lure-maker wants to keep the small in small business

In addition to online sales, Copeland recently got his lures in a brick and mortar store, The Heirloom in Crystal Springs. Jennifer Willett, who works there, said shoppers see the lures and ask questions which gives her an opportunity to talk about the young artist and entrepreneur.

"What we like is we get to tell a story," Willett said. "We tell them Peyton is a 14-year-old artist from the area.

"He does a great job. One of the reasons we carry them is because he's a young man with a vision."

Willett said the lures also give the store an opportunity to offer something that can't be found elsewhere.

"I bought one for my dad's birthday," Willett said. "It's special. He can't go just anywhere in Florida and get that."

Copeland said he hopes to grow the business to the point his lures are offered in a few more stores, but only on a local level. He said it's currently a small, home-based business and he doesn't want that to change.

"I'd like to keep it more of a hobby," Copeland said. "It's really too much to do if it was a full-blown business."

Do you have a story idea? Contact Brian Broom at 601-961-7225 or bbroom@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: MS teen combines painting and fishing to create custom lure company