We had the good fortune of connecting with Sergey Kotlyarov and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sergey, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
As many of us, I had a hobby that I had been passionate about – fishing, which is a common thing among men and women of all ages in the USA. The only thing that put my hobby apart from the vast majority of the US anglers is the fish specie I was after – carp. This type of fish doesn’t attract to much attention in America and sometimes considered a second-tier specie, to say the least. However in Europe and some other parts of the world not only do people catch carp for food but also organize tournaments and championships, so carp is considered a trophy fish! It’s no wonder considering that the weight of that fish can reach up to 50-60 lbs and even more – real freshwater monsters.
After testing the “European-style” rigs , baits, and tactics in American waters and having a lot of fun pulling those big fish from the depths of local lakes and ponds, I decided that the anglers, who are as passionate about carp as I am, or willing to switch to carp fishing, deserve to use some of the best bait that was thoroughly tested for many years in Europe.
It was just a technicality to find the right product, arrange the delivery and set up a local packaging facility in Plano, Texas. The business was born.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
We sell carp bait. Simple. However, it is a niche product and the majority of people on our planet will not know what to do with it and what benefits it provides. Even among fishing community in the US our baits are relatively exotic. When we started our company there were other firms offering similar products but what puts us apart is two things: quality and vision.
We believe that American anglers deserve the best products. That’s why we work really hard with our suppliers to ensure the adherence to the highest standards, be it boilies (carp bait), containers, stickers, or anything else. Feedback from our customers suggests that they appreciate the characteristics of the premium product we offer and they expect that any new product that we bring will deliver the best results.
Another important distinction in our operation is that we view the carp fishing as a leisure activity, which contrasts with the current European vision where carp is mostly treated as a trophy fish. We want to democratize the carp fishing and demonstrate that it can be a lot of fun for the entire family! Our customers don’t need any fancy or expensive equipment, and the key to success is a quality bait, which is only a couple clicks away.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I am biased. Go fishing. Around DFW there are tons of fishing spots, Lewisville Lake, Grapevine Lake, Lavon Lake, White Rock Lake, and myriad of local pond and creeks. Whether you like carp and buffalo fishing or “more traditional” bass and bluegill, you won’t be disappointed.
To learn more about Texas history and traditions the best place would be the Fort Worth Stock Yards with it’s famous rodeo. Even better, you can take a historic train from the Grapevine railroad station and feel if it was 200 years ago. Another lovely place in Fort Worth is Water Gardens where everyone find things to appreciate.
Sports fans will find many sports facilities and stadiums around the area, including famous home fields of Cowboys, Stars, Mavericks, FC Dallas, Texas Rangers, and others.
For foods, you cannot skip legendary BBQ joints in the metroplex, Terry Black’s, Hard Eight and other local restaurants. You will not be disappointed!
Thanks to century-long Mexican influence you can find a Tex-Mex spot in every corner of the area, with the great selection of Margaritas (I suggest trying a Beer-rita), tacos, burritos and many more.
For rather casual experience go to the Truckyard in the Colony and stop by at the Grandscape center.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Two things were essential in starting the business – my wife’s support and YouTube.
First, my spouse is not only a muse for all my ideas and startups but it also so happened that she is an experienced tax accountant who is also acting as a financial executive of the business. Many business decisions are taken after a thorough mutual discussion.
Second, with the explosive growth of e-commerce in general, and Amazon specifically, it was a no-brainer to use that massive engine to list our products and make them available to the curious shoppers. One YouTube channel played a vital role in shaping things up – Travis Marziani. He explains complex things with simple terms and visual examples, so it’s easy to learn new things especially in the are I had never touched before as a seller.

Website: https://www.baitnerd.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bait_nerd/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/baitnerd

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@baitnerd

Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@baitnerd?lang=en

Image Credits
Bait Nerd and happy clients

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