The boat
IKON BOAT
Billy's iKon bass boat — the modern tribute to the original Hydra-Sports bass boats of the 1970s, built by HCB Yachts with the Legend and Victory series.
One name on the box
THE HANDS
BEHIND THE BAITS
Every bait in this shop was designed and built by one angler — Billy Skinner. This is who's making yours.
HANDMADE // ONE MAKER // SMALL RUNS // NO FACTORY // HANDMADE // ONE MAKER // SMALL RUNS // NO FACTORY // HANDMADE // ONE MAKER // SMALL RUNS // NO FACTORY // HANDMADE // ONE MAKER // SMALL RUNS // NO FACTORY // HANDMADE // ONE MAKER // SMALL RUNS // NO FACTORY // HANDMADE // ONE MAKER // SMALL RUNS // NO FACTORY // HANDMADE // ONE MAKER // SMALL RUNS // NO FACTORY // HANDMADE // ONE MAKER // SMALL RUNS // NO FACTORY //
THE MAKER SHEET
- Maker
- Billy Skinner — designs and builds every bait
- Method
- Handmade, Small runs, not a factory line.
- Hooks
- BKK available — check each bait for rigging
- Proving ground
- Real water, before the shelf
- Shipping
- Anywhere in the U.S. and internationally
On his own boat
WHAT BILLY USES
The tackle
BKK HOOKS
BKK hooks, with the OCD tackle box keeping the lineup together.
Skinner Rod · 7′8″
THE MEDIUM HEAVY
Medium heavy. Moderate-fast action. One of the two Skinner rods in Billy’s lineup.
Skinner Rod · 7′8″
THE HEAVY
Heavy. Moderate-fast action. The other half of the Skinner rod lineup.
THE ANGLER
Out of Yuma, Arizona, Billy Skinner has won countless tournaments across the western United States
Most of that comes down to thinking outside the box. When the fish wouldn't cooperate, he didn't wait for someone else to solve it. He designed and built his own lures to give himself the edge, and that habit is the reason this shop exists.
Tournaments are only half of it. Billy has guided for years, hosted outdoor television, taught techniques to other anglers, and used every bit of that to design the specialized bass lures in this shop. His career was never just about catching fish — it's teaching, product development, and keeping fishing entertaining.
Off the water: Billy loves to camp, hunt and spend time with his family.
MEET BRUCE THE BASS
Bruce the Bass is the legendary, lure-loving mascot of Skinner Baits
According to folklore, Bruce was born beneath a shady dock on the Colorado River with a remarkably sharp eye for color, vibration, and action. While other young bass chased anything that moved, Bruce studied every lure carefully — and developed impeccable taste.
His big break came when he encountered a Skinner Bait in the wild and was so impressed that he followed it all the way back to the boat. Rather than becoming dinner, Bruce negotiated a mascot contract that included unlimited minnows and final approval on every new bait design.
Today, Bruce serves as the company's Chief Fish Officer. He appears on promotional materials, offers enthusiastic "fin-thumbs-up" product endorsements, and reminds anglers to fish hard, tell bigger stories, and never leave home without a Skinner bait.
His motto is simple: "If Bruce thinks it's right, the other fish will bite."
NOW GO PUT ONE TO WORK
Small runs, and they don't sit around waiting for you.