New York Mills teen turns old lead into local fishing lures

Greysen Saewert is building Backwoods Tackle the old-fashioned way in New York Mills: from home, with local buyers, and with a product that fits Otter Tail County’s fishing culture. The teenager has turned old lead into locally made lures and baits, then moved them through online sales, Mills Country Market and event booths, a small-business path that looks more like a working shop than a hobby table.

That matters in a county where water and angling shape everyday life. Otter Tail County says it has 1,048 lakes, more than any other county in the United States, and that kind of landscape keeps tackle, bait and boat traffic tied closely to the local economy. Saewert’s business lands squarely in that world, serving anglers who already shop locally and show up at community events looking for gear that feels made for the lakes region.

The timing also gives the business a wider context. Minnesota wildlife and pollution officials have been urging anglers toward non-toxic tackle because lead can poison wildlife, especially loons. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency says the national estimate is that 25% of adult common loon deaths are caused by lead poisoning after birds ingest lead fishing tackle. State materials point anglers toward alternatives such as bismuth, tin, stainless steel, tungsten, ceramic, recycled glass and natural granite.

New York Mills has long had a practical, build-it-here identity that fits that kind of entrepreneurial story. The city was platted in 1883, got its first sidewalks in 1904, paved Front Street in 1928 and brought in city water and sewer in the 1930s through WPA and PWA projects. Today, that same hometown spirit shows up in places like Mills Country Market and in events that draw people together around local commerce.

Fishing is also part of the city’s public face. Lund says it has been building boats in New York Mills for 77 years, and the 12th annual Fish House Festival is scheduled for Friday, July 10, 2026. With Lund Boats, the New York Mills Regional Cultural Center, the New York Mills Civic & Commerce Association and Main Avenue all part of the town’s identity, Backwoods Tackle is entering a community that already understands outdoor manufacturing and seasonal business.

Saewert’s operation is still small, but it already shows the outline of something bigger: a young entrepreneur learning how to make, market and sell a product people in the lakes country actually use. In New York Mills, that can be the first step toward a recognizable Otter Tail County brand.