History
Hi I’m Curtis Rissberger, I started Berger Ops. Fishing® as a lure building hobby in 2019. With the help and support of my friends and family, Berger Ops. Fishing® become a small business in 2020. As many lure builders do, I got started in the lure building business by painting pre-made plastic lure blanks. However painting someone else’s lures wasn’t really what I wanted. So in 2023, after a multi year hiatus as I finished a doctoral degree in physical therapy I began developing my own lure designs. My goal was to develop a STUPIDLY STRONG lure capable of being not only productive, but also abused by both anglers, and large (salt and fresh water) predator fish. In 2025 the first version of the SUS Blade™ was developed and tested. The SUS Blade™ I is a whole new take on a popular lure design called a blade bait. However there is more technology in the SUS Blade™ than meets the eye… Check out the fabrication tab to see more detail.
Mission
Berger Ops. Fishing® is a company on a mission to create and sell a few of America’s toughest fishing lures. As as result, I expect my baits to be used and abused by both anglers and the monsters they chase. Crank ‘em, yank ‘em, smash ‘em, bash ‘em, I expect the lures I build to stand up to the brutal demands of both salt and fresh water fishing. To top that, I consistently prioritize the use of American made and environmentally friendly materials, finishing methods, and components when building my baits. My focus is to create and sell baits that will stand up to the natural power of the largest and most aggressive species of fish. When you finally set the hook on the monster you’ve been chasing, you can trust Berger Ops. Fishing® baits to hold up to the fight of a lifetime!
Supporting Anglers
On top of my quest to build some of the toughest custom hard baits in the game, I strive to provide support and education to anglers through sponsorships, scholarships, on water education, captain and guiding services, and following all DEC and EPA laws and regulations to protect wild resources for generations to come.
Why call it Berger Ops. Fishing®?
To make long story short, "Berger", from its German origin, refers to a person who lives in the mountains. "Ops." is an abbreviation for operations. Curtis Rissberger, founder and owner of Berger Ops. Fishing®, grew up and learned to fish in the many small lakes and rivers located in the Adirondack Mountains of New York. (Pictured: Bob Rissberger, Grandfather of Curtis Rissberger)
