Ep. 8: Gary Reyes of Reyes Swimbaits on Custom Baits & Big Calico

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

Gary Reyes is one of the most respected custom bait makers in the SoCal inshore community. Episode 8, recorded live on March 7, 2023, is Gary at his most specific — the fast-wind technique that produced double-digit calico on the first day Daniel tried it, color theory drawn from print and design knowledge, and why weedless single hooks changed everything in the kelp.

In This Episode

• Fast-wind technique — Gary’s go-to for big calico: cast the bait out and wind it back fast, keeping the rod tip at high noon so the bait swings up as it gets closer. The fish chase it and commit at the moment it starts to rise. Daniel tried it the day after hearing about it and hit a double-digit calico and two 4lb sand bass
• Weedless big swimbaits in the kelp — single weedless Owner Beast hooks on 6–8 inch baits allow deep casting into kelp canopy where trebles can’t go. The bite-to-land ratio drops but the size of fish increases significantly
• Color theory from a designer’s perspective — Gary teaches screen printing at SDSU and applies color contrast and refraction logic to bait colors. He pours chunky, high-contrast colors so light refracts off the bait in a specific way. Natural analogs are his starting point; community and dealer demand drive him toward brighter palettes he wouldn’t fish himself
• 3D printed master molds — Gary’s new mold process: design in 3D, print a master, pour silicone for the working mold. More dimensional detail than traditional carved masters and faster iteration for prototyping new shapes
• Bait versatility — Gary doesn’t only fish his own baits. He fishes Sudden Impact, LK Baits, Iceberg, hard baits. His philosophy: every bait has specific applications, and knowing which bait does what is more important than brand loyalty
• Trout patterns for big calico — Gary’s 7–8 inch trout-colored swimbaits have produced some of his biggest calico. The trout pattern in saltwater works because it’s an obvious target to a large predator looking for a high-calorie meal

Beyond the Rod & Reel with Gary Reyes

The fast-wind breakdown is worth putting in its own category. Most calico anglers fish slow — the conventional wisdom is that a deliberate retrieve through structure is where the bites come from. Gary’s version is the opposite: rip it back fast, keep the rod tip up, and let the rising arc of the bait at close range trigger the strike. He described it as getting the fish to chase first and commit when they run out of water. Daniel tried it the next morning and had the best session of the season.

The color conversation added a layer most fishing content doesn’t have. Gary designs color palettes with the same logic he uses in graphic design: contrast ratios, how specific colors absorb and refract light at depth, and what the fish are actually seeing versus what the angler thinks they’re seeing at the surface. His personal palette is narrow — three colors he trusts. The rest of his catalog is for the community, not for him.

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

Note: This episode was originally recorded as part of Is This Mandatory, the show that became Time On The Water. Daniel was fishing and building baits under the name Dahlin Baits at the time — the brand is now [FISH]rx.