With more than 2 decades of design and lure crafting experience, Kelly Barefoot founded Custom Lures Unlimited TM in 2003 as a lure repaint and repair service. By 2006, CLU became his full- time occupation. Since that time, he has crafted tens of thousands of lures, designed for tackle companies in the US, Europe and Asia, world champion pro anglers, and fishermen around the world. Between the years of 2003 til now, he has designed and created dozens of concept lures (Ikon, Ikon M2, Pitbull, Haw River Humpback, Cape Fear Chopper, ect,...) as well as hundreds of color patterns.
He is the inventor of the Tackle Tour Innovation Award winning Zero Gravity Jig. In 2011, CLU purchased Danny Joe's Original Floating Worm company and it's assets. In 2013, he created and launched Catch Outdoors TM, a subsidiary brand operated by accredited US manufacturer Custom Lures Unlimited, LLC. By late 2015, the official transformation from CLU to Catch Outdoors took place. Practically re-inventing his business from all custom bass items to a broader range of tackle designed for multi-species, both fresh and saltwater. Since then, he has developed and released dozens of new items under the Catch brand: Hero Skinz, Zero Gravity AirDrop, Zero Gravity AirQuake, World's Finest Catawba Worm, Mopzilla, Mach- K, Sabre Toad, Spitball Jig, Pain Kilr Jig, Gorilla King Swimbaits. ect,...In 2018, he released perhaps his most versatile, most successful lure to date, the Jack Slap. A tungsten, tail bladed lure that catches an endless variety of species. In 2021 and 2022, the Prism 5x treble and Prism EWG hooks were released. In 2023, the MegaPanFish TM Series of soft plastics were released that caters to crappie and all panfish.

Kelly is married and the father of two. He is an avid angler, hunter, photographer, graphic/product designer, and outdoorsman. He is a lifelong player, coach and baseball fanatic. He holds an International Game Fish Association certificate & is the recipient of the 1st IGFA Freshwater Line Class Award for the State of North Carolina. He continues to push the envelope in lure and tackle design.