The future of fishing is here—and it’s being shaped layer by layer. A Texas fisherman is turning heads in the angling world with a unique 3D printing hack that’s helping him land bass like never before.
Goya Lin, a passionate Texas fisherman, has found success using custom 3D-printed lures—one of which mimics a string of ducklings. This out-of-the-box approach has proven especially effective for catching largemouth bass. But his breakthrough didn’t happen overnight. Lin spent over two years and more than 500 casts refining his design before he found the right combination.
Lin has documented his journey on YouTube, where he shares his progress and inspiration with fellow anglers. In a recent interview with Outdoor Life, he explained, “I will not say I’m an expert, but I do like to try new things.” His background in fly fishing played a big role in his creative thinking.
“In fly fishing, people tie their own flies. I was surprised that in bass fishing, most people just buy their baits from the store,” Lin said. “I thought maybe I could bring that mindset from fly fishing into bass fishing in Texas.”
That idea led him down a new path. After acquiring a 3D printer in 2020, Lin began experimenting with designing his own bass lures using specialized software. What started as a creative outlet soon became a passion project—and a way to connect with others.
“I wanted to capture that excitement of catching a fish on camera,” he said. “I thought I might watch it later down the road to remind myself. I also wanted to connect with my kids. Nowadays, kids don’t talk to their parents a lot, but they do watch a lot of videos.”
One of Lin’s standout creations was actually inspired by an alligator. While fishing one day, he spotted one in the water and had a thought. “Where there are alligators, there are probably baby alligators. Maybe I should make a baby alligator bait,” Lin recalled. Though he didn’t catch the gator, the lure ended up attracting a largemouth bass—and sparked the idea that eventually led to his duckling-style bait.
Now, he continues to improve his lure designs through a steady process of trial and error. “It’s an iterative process,” Lin said. “I just kept improving everything until it came together. It’s still not perfect.”
In addition to enhancing his fishing, Lin’s 3D printing journey has helped him connect with a growing online community. Many of his followers are intrigued by the blend of high-tech tools and old-school fishing instincts.
“People look at the tools and feel intimidated by them, but they should just take the first step,” Lin advised. “There is always a first step. If you try it and like it, you take more steps and get better. The internet is your best friend. If you don’t know how to do something, just do a search. Most of the time, you will find an answer.”
Through innovation and persistence, Lin is proving that the next big thing in bass fishing might not be found in a store—but on a 3D printer at home.
Image/Source: WOS
