Behind the Bait: How Evan Rechelbacher turned a fishing problem into a purpose.
, 3 min reading time
Behind the Bait
Every lure has a story...and we're here for it.
Meet Evan Rechelbacher: The Angler who asked, "What if?"
Every great lure has a story. Sometimes that story begins in a tackle shop and sometimes it begins on the water.
For Evan Rechelbacher, founder of Zero Trace Baits, it began with a question that most anglers have probably noticed but few have tried to answer.
What happens to all of the soft plastic baits we leave behind?
A life long angler, Evan spent countless hours chasing fish of all species, and enjoying the peace on the water. Over time, he made note of soft plastics left behind around the waters he fished, but it wasn't until a trip to the boundary waters that it hit him.. he was a part of the problem.
Rather than accepting it as "just a part of fishing" he wondered 'what if there was another, better way?'
Turning an Idea into an Obsession
While studying at the University of St. Thomas, Evan transformed that question into his senior capstone project.
The assignment wasn't just to invent something new, it was to solve a problem.
The project quickly became much more than just a grade.
In his family's barn in the Twin Cities area, Evan experimented with different natural ingredients, testing formulas, making mistakes, and starting over and over again. Prototype after prototype failed to meet his expectations but he kept refining.
By the time he had a product he believed in, he had created more than 100 different prototypes.
Innovation with Purpose
For Evan, he wasn't trying to innovate just to create a different bait.
He was setting out to prove that anglers shouldn't have to chose between performance and caring about the waters they fish and love.
The biodegradable soft baits he has created over time and testing are made from food-grade ingredients (gelatin, glycerin, and corn syrup), along with natural thickeners and fish-attracting scents. The goal was to create a bait that performs while reducing the long-term impact of discarded plastics.
As Evan put it:
"There' s a gap in the fishing world and the environmental side. And they should be linked"
That mindset is what drives Evan and his team at Zero Trace Baits.
More than just a bait company
When we hear founder stories like Evan's, we're reminded that the best ideas rarely come from boardrooms.
They come from garages.
Barns.
Basements.
Small workshops.
And from anglers like Evan that have spent enough time on the water to notice the problems - and care enough to solve them.
Evan's story is a reminder how much innovation can come from a simple, curious, persistent, "What if"
At My Local Tackle Shop, our mission isn't just to connect anglers with great tackle. It's to introduce you to the independent makers, innovators, and entrepreneurs who are shaping the future of fishing - one lure at a time.
Every Lure has a store...and we're here for it.
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Know a lure maker with a story worth telling?
We're searching across America-one bait company at a time-to share the people, passion, and purpose behind independent fishing suppliers, and we'd love your help in finding and sharing their stories.