Meet Dusty!

Dustin Cole is a woodworker and artist from Bradenton, Florida. Born and raised in Bradenton Beach, Dustin grew up surrounded by the water, boating, and fishing. His connection to the water eventually led to his first career as a charter fisherman.

Art has always been a passion of Dustin’s. He began with graphic design and painting before moving into woodworking, carving, and sculpture. Inspired by the tropical environment of his hometown, he has spent the past 15 years creating wooden marine life sculptures and traveling throughout Florida to showcase his work at art shows.

Dustin’s wooden fishing lures originally started as something he made for himself. After friends and customers began taking notice, he started selling his handmade lures in 2025.

That same year, Dustin teamed up with his cousin, Kevin Ward, to turn lure making into a full-time operation. Kevin grew up in Fort Wayne, Indiana, while spending part of his time in Bradenton before eventually making Bradenton his permanent home. A U.S. Marine veteran, Kevin also brings hands-on craftsmanship and manufacturing experience from working in his family’s foundry, where he gained experience in patternmaking.

Together, Dustin and Kevin now handcraft their wooden fishing lures in Bradenton, Florida, combining Dustin’s background in fishing, art, and woodworking with Kevin’s experience in patternmaking and manufacturing.

Dustin continues to create custom wooden sculptures and travel throughout Florida for art shows during the fall and winter. You can also find Dustin and Kevin at local markets and events selling their handmade fishing lures.

Check out our show schedule to see where we’ll be next!