Ep. 121: Paul Smith of Pizz Swimbaits on Swimbait Design & the SoCal Bait Scene

Guest: Paul Smith (Pizz Swimbaits)

Hosts: Daniel Dahlin ([FISH]rx), El Charly, Luke Dean (Bait Slingers / Artemis Charters)

Paul Smith of Pizz Swimbaits joined Episode 121, recorded live on March 17, 2026, and talked swimbait design the way a builder talks about it, not a reviewer. How the bait concepts evolved from trout patterns in SoCal lakes, how he manages 306 subscribers getting first access to drops, and what it means to run a full-time swimbait operation after a career-ending injury.

In This Episode

• How Pizz Swimbaits drops work: Instagram subscribers get discount codes and first access, one bait per customer at the booth and online
• Why trout-painted swimbaits dominated the early 2010s SoCal scene: matching what the bass were actually eating at stocked lakes
• Swimbait design evolution: starting with shad, gill, and trout profiles and chasing what the fishery actually needed
• Paul’s subscriber model: 306 paid subscribers, two free baits per month, and how Instagram messed up his anniversary giveaway tracking
• Burgers & Baits at Tackle Express April 11th: Paul confirmed as a guest
• Tackle Meet at Dirt Dog coming next Friday: second event at that venue, families welcome
• New [FISH]rx drop incoming: Fighting Spotty hat and Purple Sticky Punch collab with Viking Heads on baitslingers.net Thursday

From the Sheriff’s Department to Full-Time Bait Maker

Paul’s origin story is one of the more grounded ones in the SoCal bait scene. He was with the sheriff’s department, got injured on duty in 2017, and wasn’t fully medically retired until 2021 with COVID delaying everything. The swimbait operation started filling that gap and just kept growing. “I make time not only to fish but to be there for everybody that needs me,” he said, two kids in school, taking them in the morning, picking them up, and working the shop from 8:30 to 2:30. Full-time swimbait making looks a lot like any other full-time job.

Why Trout Patterns Dominated the Early SoCal Scene

The trout pattern history was a useful bit of context. Back when Castaic was getting regular trout stocks, bass were actively feeding on them, which is why almost every swimbait worth fishing in that era was trout-painted. Paul was building around what he actually saw in the water. That same instinct, start with what the fish are eating, then build the bait, runs through everything he talked about. It’s the same thing Daniel does when he names colors after what they’re imitating.

Why This Episode Matters

This episode is useful because it adds real context to how the Southern California swimbait scene developed: not just what baits were popular, but why they were built that way in the first place. It also gives a grounded look at how a small bait company actually operates when demand, production limits, and reputation all matter at the same time.

If you care about lure design, SoCal fishing history, or the builder side of the bait scene, this is one of the more useful episodes in the catalog. For related technique context on how these ideas show up in actual fishing conditions, the SoCal structure fishing guide and soft plastic color guide are both relevant follow-ups.

Watch the full episode on the Time On The Water YouTube channel. New episodes every Tuesday at 6 PM.