Bubonic the Lure Painter, no Sexy Shad Versions Here
Bubonic: Beyond the Mainstream
Redux by Derrek
Stewart 12/4/25
The Urban
Dictionary defines ‘Sick’ as being cool, crazy, insane… Bubonic takes the
meaning to another level. Predation is the only cure for these Sick baits.
What is Bubonic, or should I say who is Bubonic?
Bubonic, a lure
painter, hailing from the Live Free or Die State, New Hampshire. Live Free or
Die is arguably the best-known state motto. It speaks to an absolute
independence historically found in American dogmatic philosophy. New
Hampshire’s state motto stands apart from most milder mottos found in other
states. As I listened to the artist known as Bubonic describe his design
ideology, it’s fitting that he comes from New Hampshire.
Infected Trout
Bubonic started
painting lures because, as he began bass fishing, he quickly grew discontent
with the mainstream rehashed versions of Sexy Shad. Bubonic believed he could
do things differently and offer anglers what they couldn’t obtain from
conventional tackle companies.
Swim Deadly Phantom Tizzy Gizzy
Bubonic is much
more than a lure painter. He has been doing illustration art since childhood.
Bubonic’s drive to grow as an artist translated into picking up an airbrush.
Next thing he knew, he was painting anything and everything.
Bubonic places custom eyes into his work.
If you surf the
artwork images of Bubonic on Facebook, you’ll see a lot of crankbait work. But
surprisingly, his favorite type of fishing is not with a crankbait. He is a
self-described Swimbait and Jig guy. Give him a box full of both lure types,
and he’ll go to work.
He gathers lure eyes from all over the world.
Bubonic has a
unique, recognizable style. He describes his motivation as wanting to break
free from the regular, the box that most people mentally place themselves in.
He goes on to explain that there are thousands of lure painters, and he noticed
early on a common trait, structured art with precise stenciled lines on a perch
or the shell of a crayfish, the good ole fashioned “Comb” syndrome, as he calls
it.
Bubonic describes the details of the eyes as an art form.
With a background
in illustration, Bubonic just took a different road and focused his energy on
how to make his airbrush act like a pen, a tattoo gun. Wanting to be able to
handle every aspect of the design with his airbrush, he would draw lines on a
sheet of paper, tracing them hundreds of times. Each time they’d get thinner,
to the point where he could draw a line with his airbrush, and you couldn’t
tell if it was a pen or paint. Bubonic knew he could garner industry
recognition, but only through freehand illustration.
Bubonic says the eye work can make or break a bait. Swim Deadly
Chimaera Perch
Why does Bubonic
paint lures? He is not motivated to paint lures because he wants them for
himself; motivation comes from demand, people want them. Bubonic’s satisfaction
with his artwork comes from his fans. He loves seeing their catches, hearing
their stories, and listening to them tell how they won an event with something
he painted. Describing his organic following on social media, Bubonic explains
that he has never advertised and doesn’t plan to, either. His admirers want to
see what he has coming next. Anybody who’s part of the “Bubonic Nation” wants
to be there, and that is the way he likes it! As he puts it, “ Bubonic is one
Plague the Fishing World needs to see and help spread”!
It’s been a
pleasure to speak with Bubonic and capture his story. I can’t help but notice
several of his mantras that parallel the mindset of above-average angling. If
you would like to contact Bubonic for bait inquiries or paint requests of
almost any kind, you can reach him on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Buboniccustoms/?fref=ts or email bubonicinfest@gmail.com
Author’s Note:
As a lure painter, Bubonic customizes many lures; however, the SPRO 4-inch shad
swimbait caught my eye for many reasons. One of which is the attention he gives
to the SPRO 4-inch Shad swimbaits. This detail stood out to me because, as you
review the timeline of the SPRO swimbait line, the 4-inch Shad, undeservingly,
doesn’t garner much interest these days. As you can see from this gallery, that
is not the case for Bubonic.
