Spring Fishing on Lake Tenkiller, OK

It was a great weather weekend, almost hot in the wind protected coves. However with water temperatures at 54-55 degrees, the air turned into air conditioning when cruising the lake. The cool water was keeping the bigger bass from moving up shallower. Was still able to catch a few on Saturday and Sunday. Some good size smallmouth and largemouth.  Next years birthday trip will be to a lake not quite so deep. That is not my area of expertise. Check out the pictures. Also please check out the website at www.lureluster.com if you have not seen it. You can buy the packages on line!

Local entrepreneur offers way to dress up old lures and baits

Braxton Close holds a few lures dressed up with his Lure Luster stickers in his home office Friday. KELLY BOSTIAN/Tulsa World

By KELLY BOSTIAN Outdoors
Published: 3/11/2012 3:07 AM
Last Modified: 3/11/2012 6:16 AM

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Braxton Close has some heavy lifting to do in the extra bedroom in his Broken Arrow rental home, and it's not just at the workout bench that shares the small room with the desk that is, for now, operation central for BassinBrax Innovations and his Lure Luster sticker kit business.

The 40-year-old entrepreneur is another in a long line of Tulsa-area anglers who have gone commercial with basement, bedroom and garage-based lure businesses. Close thinks he may be onto something with his shiny sticker offering.

"Even though most lures are more decorated now, a lot still need some shine, flash or a little color, and that's the thought process," he said. "You can't put stickers on things in the manufacturing process in a cost-effective way."

But giving anglers the chance to add a little flash after-the-fact makes lots of sense, according to Close.

"Whether you're a novice or an expert, you can use the product and the idea is to customize or enhance lures or to fix up lures," he said.

It might cost $5 to $8 or more dollars to replace a scarred, faded crankbait or a spinner bait that has lost its sparkle. But for $4.99, a packet of Lure Luster stickers provides enough flash and stick to dress up 20 lures, Close said.

The idea goes back several years to knowledge Close gained when he worked for National Label Manufacturing Company, which provides adhesive labels for everything from shipping crates to bottles of maple syrup. "It's that knowledge of the label industry and working with a clear poly-based material and permanent adhesive," he said.

In 2008, he was a top-12 finalist in the Tulsa Entrepreneurs Spirit Awards. He also scored an endorsement from "America's Favorite Fisherman," Jimmy Houston.

It's been just in the past year that he has focused on the project, promoting it to larger national retailers and local and regional distributors, but he's nowhere near quitting his day job as an inside sales rep for Delta Steel.

Putting some capital into a marketing plan is his next hurdle. A tough aspect in the retail industry is that stores don't want to buy something that people aren't asking for, but people can't ask for something they've never seen.

Most recently he set up a sales booth at the Green Country's Midsouth Hunting and Tackle Show in Bixby to make some direct sales. "Most people liked it or were intrigued," he said.

Bulk sheets of reflective material are available for sale, but Close said no one else makes a kit with pre-cut shapes meant to fit the sides or backs of crankbaits or fit neatly on a Colorado spinner blade. The kit also includes a selection of lure eyes. Clean the lure, give the sticker 15 minutes of curing time and it should stay on a good long while.

"On some of the plastics it may not stick as well, especially if it's not a smooth surface, but on the painted or glossy items or the spoons and spinners it works great and has a service temperature from below zero to over 100 degrees."

A bass fisherman since he graduated from high school, Close said he just likes adding a little flash or color to his lures, especially if he can put a little red on a spinner or buzzbait blade. "I just like the idea of adding a little flash," he said.

If you want to learn more, visit tulsaworld.com/lureluster

Original Print Headline: Splash of color

By KELLY BOSTIAN Outdoors

Not a whole lot to report right now. Working hard on getting product out there to retail. Cabela's may be moving forward. Looking toward sprint fishing. Can't wait to get out there and prove how www.lureluster.com can help me catch fish in tough conditions!