FISHING: High Tech Magic

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High Tech Magic

Advanced lure coatings from Mad Scientist Tackle disrupt the way tackle has been painted for decades

FINLAYSON, MN (June 25, 2025) – Mad Scientist Tackle is a founded on the knowledge of a man steeped in the science of optics and the bravery to challenge conventional lure-making.

With decades of experience in the optical and ophthalmological coating industries (at the helm of optics machinery manufacturer Quantum Innovations and RLVNT eyewear), passionate angler Norm Kester had an epiphany several years ago. Why not apply many of the same optical principles to bait coatings that he applied to eyewear?

The results first impressed field testers and then everyday anglers – and his uniquely-coated baits have trumped non-Mad Scientist baits on bass, walleyes, salmon, trout, panfish and saltwater species. Currently, the company offers 700+ lure and coating combinations to meet any fishing situation, to include crankbaits, jerkbaits, forward-facing sonar jigs, topwaters, and more.

What makes the coatings so revolutionary?

Pick up any Mad Scientist Tackle lure, hold it in your hand, and you will literally see the colors change depending on the angle of view. To fish, the colors and changes are even more dramatic, as the coating simultaneously radiates colors in the visible spectrum, UV spectrum, and even infrared. Far beyond old-school prism tape or simple custom paintjobs, Mad Scientist Tackle baits radiate light exactly like the scales of real-life forage.

About APEX Vision Colors: Made For the Way Fish See

All Mad Scientist Tackle baits start off as either nude, pearl, or black base lures that are then customized through a multistage process whereby they end up in an APEX Vision coating: red, blue, green, gold, pink, natural, and cisco-colored, which is designed to mimic pelagic baitfish and radiates UV light farther than any of the company’s other coatings. And for some baits – like select topwaters and Ghost Shad – you can also choose the pattern in shadow or holographic scale application, finetuning the look.

The novel coatings were developed to appeal to the way fish see, creating flashing iridescent colors in visible, UV, and infrared spectrums that attract fish from farther than ever.

Here are recommendations for when to use each APEX Vision color:

APEX +RED: Proven to entice reaction bites, Apex +RED imitates bleeding baitfish so perfectly that predatory fish can’t resist. It’s also the best choice for fishing in the green, algae blooms of late summer.

APEX +BLUE: In stained to dark water, APEX +BLUE outperforms other colors. Thanks to the iridescent flash of the lure, fish see it in stained to murky water conditions with low light.

APEX +GREEN: One of the best colors on any body of water, APEX +GREEN resembles young-of-the-year and other baitfish. It works best in spring and summer in clear and stained water.

APEX +GOLD: Gold is a standard in every angler’s arsenal, but APEX +GOLD has brought fishing to a whole new level. It resembles a school of baitfish/minnows and is a great choice year ‘round in any water color.

APEX +PINK: One of the most popular colors to attract predator fish from a distance. It works well in clear and stained water conditions.

APEX +NATURAL: Resembles crayfish and gives off a more natural presentation, especially when fishing near rocks. It performs well in clear and stained water.

APEX +CISCO: Resembles baitfish like ciscoes/tullibee, shad, and shiners by emitting a silver reflection in sunny conditions and silhouette in darker conditions.

SCIENCE: THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS

The manufacturing process is no small feat.

“All our baits are coated using sophisticated machines designed by company founder, Norm Kester. It’s a complicated, hi-tech process, and the results are remarkable,” said Mad Scientist Tackle/RLVNT Sales Director, Pat Kalmerton.

“They aren’t simply dipped, painted, or sprayed, either. Mad Scientist lures run through several steps employing different machines in the coating process. Along those lines, the science is challenging to explain, but I can tell you that in one step the baits are put in a vacuum-sealed booth that’s like being in outer space where coating elements are atomized and end up on the lure for the next steps in the manufacturing process,” added Kalmerton.

Kalmerton concluded: “Not only is our manufacturing facility capable of offering over 700 distinct lure and color combinations, we are actively partnering with other lure companies to produce select runs of their premium hardbaits with our coatings. And we’re open to more. It’s all very exciting…”

About Mad Scientist Tackle

Born from the technologically advanced loins of RVLNT eyewear, Mad Scientist Tackle was created to help anglers catch more fish. How? We use the science of light to make innovative products. It starts with RESEARCH. We keep our eyes peeled to discover what lures are being used and loved by anglers like you. Secondly, there’s our proprietary COATING. Using our secret lure coating process, we can reflect light in a way that’s natural like real baitfish scales, which fish cannot resist. Yes, our baits are scientifically proven to catch more fish, besides exhaustive and successful field testing. All Mad Scientist lures have been tested by professional anglers in professional tournaments. We have no doubt that after experiencing the madness of our baits on the water, you will also be convinced!

Mad Scientist Tackle is proud to be based in rural America and veteran owned and operated.

CONTACT:

Noel Vick

Traditions Media

noel@traditionsmedia.com