Lures and Makers: Reidy's by Dave Magner

I've been involved with the recreational fishing industry for the last couple of decades and in that time, I've been lucky enough to meet some people who have had a profound impact on the way we fish and the lures we use. Some are well known while others just go about their business quietly. But the one thing they all have in common: they all design and make great lures.

Because not every angler has the opportunity to meet the people behind the lures, I thought it would be a good idea to put together a profile of some of the lure makers I've met over the years, to give you a glimpse of what makes them tick. And I would like to start with one of Australian lure making's quiet achievers: Jeff 'Gentleman' Reid, of Reidy's Lures fame.

My association with Reidy's lures goes back to last century. I first met Jeff and his lovely wife, Cheryl, when I moved to the Northern Territory in the 1990s. At that stage, Jeff and Cheryl had just relocated to the Top End themselves and they were setting up their lure making factory and tourist facilities at Wishart Siding on the outskirts of Darwin. Relocating their already successful business from Mirani (about 30km west of Mackay in Queensland) to the Top End was a tough decision for Jeff and Cheryl. But the move proved to be just another successful step in the Reidy's Lures story, which began way back in the early 80s.