'Lanier' entered the Cast colorway line up back on August 20th, and has quickly become one of our best selling color options amongst the Echo and Prodigy ranges. There's really good reason for that! It's a staple option with very considered, effective and 'very Cast' subtleties that make it fit in perfectly amongst the array of colors we now offer.
A new take on a classic you might say. It was created by long-time Cast Fam member, Clint Bartlett, so we got with him to break down what makes it such an awesome and versatile color, and also what inspired his direction for this new color option for the Cast Fam to rig up and start throwing around!
Clint Bartlett designed 'Lanier'. Clint's lifetime of fishing story inspired 'Lanier'. Clint's passion for Bass fishing brought 'Lanier' to the Cast line up. We (and Clint) are stoked with how 'Lanier' turned out. We've worked closely together on 'Lanier' since 2024, working through different references, samples, refining ideas, constantly evolving the colorway to the point we were happy with it.
CAST: Tell the Cast Fam about your fishing background — where you grew up fishing and what those early experiences were like?
CLINT: I grew up fishing in diapers with my Dad and Grandpa on Lake Norman in Charlotte, NC. I was always on the boat and remember chasing schooling fish around the lake at 3 years old with my snoopy rod and Kastmaster spoons. Fishing brought us together as a family and really helped me appreciate the nature and environment that is surrounded by fishing. Sunrises and sunsets were signs of the beginning or end of a day spent together.
After my father passed away when I was 10, I lost my fishing buddy and ability to fish lakes. I resorted to pond fishing through my teenage years and then I went to Western Carolina University. At the Club Fair on the first day of College, I saw a bass boat. I went up and introduced myself and learned about what tournament fishing was. I have since been obsessed with the sport of bass fishing, as I restarted my fishing career at the age of 18, consuming as much content/information on the sport as possible.
Video creators like Brandon Palaniuk and Jon B. were major inspirations to me to start creating videos surrounding these fishing adventures I was going through in college. I got a kayak my freshman year and fished local big boat tournaments. I didn't care that I was underequipped, I just wanted the excuse to go out and compete to learn and get better. I finally bought a 1988 model Ranger when I graduated College and started fishing more local tournaments.
Over the years freelancing video production, I was able to sell that boat and buy my 2000 Skeeter ZX202 and really start tournament fishing with the proper equipment in 2021. The obsession has always been there, and the drive to get 1% better every day keeps me chasing the next bite.
What species or fisheries have shaped the way you approach lure choice and color selection?
Lake Norman, Lake Tillery, Lake Glenville, Lake Fontana, and Lake Lanier. Most of these North Carolina and North Georgia fisheries are clear water fisheries with Herring being the primary forage for the Largemouth, Smallmouth, and Spotted Bass. Fishing clear water means natural presentations and trying to match the hatch perfectly for these predominantly sight feeding bass.
Was there a particular moment or memory from your fishing that directly inspired this colorway?
Fishing clear water I have always liked when a bait has plenty of flash. When fighting a fish back to the boat and it pukes up herring, you can see the reflection and shine off that bait as it moves through the water. Adding some flake into the Lanier color gives off that shine and really helps refract light to draw those clear water bites in super deep, clear water.
How did your personal fishing experiences influence the tones, contrasts, or patterns you chose for this color?
These pressured clear water fish are very particular when it comes to the size and color of a minnow presentation. Having some extra flash heightens their senses and matches the hatch to really give off the natural flash of their predominant food a.k.a. Herring.
What was the process like — from your first idea to the final approved version? Any iterations or unexpected changes along the way?
We played around with some different colors of flake and got that dialed in right away to match what I needed and what we believe the Cast Fam needs.
What makes this color stand out compared to others in the line up?
'Lanier' shines like a disco ball! It's bright but natural, and can look like any type of bait fish with some shine to it.
In what conditions or fisheries do you think this color really shines?
Clearwater/highland reservoirs, this is your go-to.
Do you have any tips or techniques for anglers to get the best results when fishing this color?
When that sun is out and you want them to commit, work this bait fast to promote the most flash to call them out of deep water.
If you could sum up this lure color in just a couple of words, what would they be?
Electric.
Disco.
Glitter Rocket.
SHOP THE LANIER RANGE HERE
WATCH THE 'CREATING LANIER' FILM HERE:
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