"I've sold 2,000 since April," he said. "I've been working three or four hours a day on them."

Showers is a guard at the Lewisburg Federal Penitentiary. He works the night shift so he has time to make the baits during the day.

He makes them in a workshop in the basement of his Hepburn Street home, bending the wires himself. Everything is hand made, and he can supply the baits in 27 colors and with 107 blade combinations. His wife prints the labels on a home computer.

"I can't believe how this has taken off in the past year," he marvelled. "People take them to Canada, out west, everywhere. They say the fish love them."

In addition to making the baits, Showers is also a licensed fishing guide, taking people to hot spots on the West Branch and the North Branch.

"I've fished the river from Three Mile Island all the way to Lock Haven," he said. "I know exactly what to throw. I really enjoy taking people out and watching them catch fish."

He described a recent day, when he took an elderly man and his grandson out on the river.

"That 12-year-old had a ball, and so did his grandad. They had a contest going to see who could catch the most fish. Just seeing that made my day," he said.

He also fishes competitively, taking part in fishing tournaments on the SRT circuit. He won The Daily Item's NIE Tournament two years ago.

The Kickin' Bass Baits are available at the Blue Heron in Milton, Young's in Northumberland and at Southside Bait and Tackle in Sunbury, as well as on line at www.kickinbassbaits.com. Showers also attends a few sports and fishing shows to sell his products.