Meet the Team
Stephen Hamilton
Stephen is the driving force behind the Bandits. When he’s not pouring lures in the shop, he’s out on the water putting clients on redfish and speckled trout. His deep knowledge of inshore fishing fuels every lure design.
Hunter Hamilton
Hunter, Stephen’s wife, brings the lures to life with her incredible paintwork. Each lure is hand-painted with detail and precision, making them irresistible to both fish and anglers.
Patrick Morris
Patrick is the behind-the-scenes mastermind. From designing and bending wire components to keeping the books balanced, his skills keep the business sharp and the lures running strong.
Ava Morris
Ava, Patrick’s daughter, captures the essence of Backwater Bandits through the lens. Her photography tells the story behind the baits—the craftsmanship, the family, and the passion for chasing saltwater legends.
Our Story
Backwater Bandits Lure Company was born in the salty creeks of coastal North Carolina—where cattails line the banks, oyster shells crunch under the hull, and the fish fight dirty. Stephen Hamilton and Patrick Morris weren’t out to build a brand. They were just two buddies chasing speckled trout and redfish through the marsh, tired of flashy store-bought lures that didn’t deliver. So they did what real anglers do—they got their hands dirty.
They started crafting lures from scratch—experimenting with shapes, dialing in colors, and testing each one and the same waters they fished every week. The first bait to prove itself was a pearl-colored prototype—subtle, clean, and full of flash in the water. Stephen tied it on during an early morning trip to East Lake. First cast, that pearl bait got smoked by a hungry speckled trout. That strike wasn’t just a win—it was the spark. They named the lure the BudderCup™, and Backwater Bandits was born.
Since that day, every lure has been hand made with purpose and tested in the same coastal waters that inspired them. No gimmicks. No shortcuts. Just proven baits for inshore anglers who know the grind.
Backwater Bandits Lure Co.
Hand Made. Field-Proven. Built for the Bite.