Friendship.
Trespassing.
Fighting for family.

The three Johnny Creek Baits founders holding their catch

We dreamed this thing up when we were kids. We would hop this guys fence and head down to Johnny Creek. While we never got caught those fish sure did. We wondered what it would take to do this every day. Flash forward a few decades. One of our founders, Mike, his son is diagnosed with a neurocognitive disorder characterized by epilepsy and intellectual disability at the age of four months. Mike goes to work, looks for anything that can help his son. When traditional pharmaceuticals didn’t cut it he and his family gambled on cannabis. And it worked. Mike’s son Kase experienced a decrease in seizures and the family found much welcome increase in quality of life. How does this link to fishing?

Mike up and quit his job in the school system when he found a way to help manufacture the medicine that had been helping Kase so much. Kase Manufacturing was born and Mike began to work closer and closer with hemp and hemp products. When Mike read an article about anglers in India having some wild success with baits that had hemp in them it reignited that thought he’d had so long ago fishing with his friends.

Mike called up those very friends with a pitch, and just like that Thomas and Greg became Co-Founders. Now these three focus solely on making baits that not only fill a gap in the industry but catch some absolute monsters. Fish approved and we have the science to back it. Welcome to the creek, no trespassing needed.

Meet the founders!

Mike Reynolds

Mike Reynolds

Co-Founder

Mike Reynolds is a visionary entrepreneur with a unique blend of expertise in both the cannabis and fishing industries. As a passionate advocate for medicinal cannabis, Mike's journey began when his son, at just eight months old, became the youngest patient to use CBD to treat epilepsy. This personal experience ignited a deep commitment to the development of cannabis laws, leading Mike to leave a career in education to assist in creating a legal framework for cannabis in Stanislaus County. His efforts culminated in the opening of a cannabis manufacturing facility in Ceres, California, where he played a pivotal role in advancing industry standards.

Bass record
07
lbs
Record Day
30
fish
Years Fishing
43
yrs
Thomas Baxter

Thomas Baxter

Co-Founder

Thomas Baxter is proud to be a partner at Johnny Creek. At 41, he’s blessed to be married to a wonderful wife, Candice, and together they’re raising two daughters, Leighann and Kellie. Thomas’ journey to this point hasn’t been without challenges, but those hardships have shaped who he is today. Growing up, he found solace and purpose in the outdoors—camping, hiking, and especially fishing became more than hobbies; they became a lifeline. Alongside his faith and family, fishing is one of his greatest passions, bringing joy, fulfillment, and countless cherished memories over the years.

Bass record
06
lbs
Record Day
22
fish
Years Fishing
36
yrs
Greg Hawn

Greg Hawn

Co-Founder

Greg has always been passionate about the outdoors, especially fishing and hunting. While he dreamt of working in the fishing and hunting industry, the desire to start a family led him to pursue a nursing career instead. As a Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA) in the operating room, Greg found the work-life balance he sought, all while enjoying the outdoors with his wife, Lyndi, and their two sons, Koen and Reed, who share his enthusiasm for adventure. Through it all, Greg has relied on his faith to guide his decisions, trusting that each step in his journey was part of a bigger plan.

Bass record
06
lbs
Record Day
19
fish
Years Fishing
39
yrs