Bait Up: American-Made Live Bait Containers Built for Real Fishermen

Part of the America250: Built Here. Built Better. series — celebrating the American makers, manufacturers, and entrepreneurs behind every FLI Products innovation.

Every serious angler knows the frustration. You've got the right spot, the right rod, the right line — and then your bait container fails you. The lid sticks. The bait escapes. The container tips. The fish wins.

Bait Up was designed to fix that. And it was designed and manufactured right here in the United States.

Built by Anglers. Built in America.

Bait Up is a premium live bait container featuring a floating design and dual-lid quick-access system — available in 20oz and 35oz sizes to match the way you fish. Whether you're working a dock, a boat, an ice hole, or a riverbank, Bait Up keeps your live bait alive, accessible, and secure.

It's manufactured by Darter Plastics, one of FLI Products' most trusted American manufacturing partners. Darter brings precision plastic injection molding expertise to every product in their lineup, and Bait Up is a showcase of what American manufacturing does best: solve a real problem with a well-engineered, durable solution that holds up season after season.

No overseas quality variability. No 90-day lead times. No wondering whether this batch will perform like the last one. Just a product built right, built consistently, and built in the USA.

What Makes Bait Up Different

Floating design — keeps bait alive and oxygenated in the water, not baking in the sun on a hot deck
Dual-lid quick access — grab bait fast without fumbling, without losing your catch, without tipping the container
Two sizes: 20oz and 35oz — right-sized for the way you fish, whether you're a light-tackle panfish angler or a serious walleye hunter
American-made durability — precision-molded plastics that don't crack, warp, or degrade after a season of hard use

Tom Whitaker has fished his whole life — from farm ponds to open water — and he's seen every bait container design imaginable. His take on Bait Up is straightforward:

"Most bait containers are an afterthought. Bait Up is clearly designed by someone who actually fishes. The floating lid system alone is worth it — your bait stays alive longer, and you spend less time messing with the container and more time fishing." — Tom Whitaker, FLI Products Advisor

American Fishing. American Manufacturing.

Fishing is one of America's most enduring traditions. More than 50 million Americans fish each year — from ice fishing in Minnesota to bass fishing in Tennessee to surf fishing on the Carolina coast. It's a pastime that crosses every demographic, every region, and every income level.

And yet the gear that supports that tradition is increasingly sourced overseas — with all the quality variability, supply chain uncertainty, and tariff exposure that comes with it.

Bait Up is a different choice. It's a product made by American workers, for American anglers, with the kind of quality control that only domestic manufacturing delivers. When FLI Products partnered with Darter Plastics to bring Bait Up to market, we made a deliberate decision to keep this product — and the jobs it supports — right here in the United States.

In America's 250th year, that decision matters more than ever.

FLI Products and the Walmart Open Call

Bait Up is part of FLI Products' commitment to the Walmart Open Call program — Walmart's annual event connecting American-made products with Walmart buyers for potential shelf placement. The program reflects Walmart's own investment in domestic sourcing, and products like Bait Up represent exactly what Open Call is designed to surface: practical, retail-ready, American-made innovations with proven consumer demand.

Learn more about the Walmart Open Call program at corporate.walmart.com.

Follow the conversation: #WalmartOpenCall #MadeInUSA #America250 #BaitUp

Heard on Made in America

FLI Products is a recurring guest on Made in America with Rita Compton and Michael King — hosted by Rita Compton, known as America's Inventor Lady. Kevin Cody of FLI Products has appeared on multiple episodes sharing the story behind products like Bait Up and the FLI Products mission.

Listen here: Made in America Podcast

Where to Buy Bait Up

Bait Up is available at the retailers you already trust:

Walmart (online only)
Amazon
Lowe's
Tractor Supply
Target
Wayfair
Zoro
Best Buy
And directly at fliproducts.com

Part of a Bigger Story

Bait Up is one of 18 American-made products in the FLI Products portfolio. Explore the full America250 series:

Shop Bait Up — Made in USA →

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Bait Up made?

Bait Up is made in the United States by Darter Plastics, a trusted American plastic injection molding manufacturer and FLI Products partner.

What sizes does Bait Up come in?

Bait Up is available in 20oz and 35oz sizes to suit different fishing styles and bait quantities.

How does the Bait Up floating design work?

Bait Up floats in the water to keep live bait oxygenated and alive longer. The dual-lid quick-access system lets you grab bait fast without fumbling or tipping the container.

Is Bait Up available at Walmart?

Yes. Bait Up is available online at Walmart.com, as well as at Amazon, Tractor Supply, and other major retailers.

Why buy American-made fishing gear?

American-made fishing gear like Bait Up offers consistent quality, faster replenishment, no tariff exposure, and supports American manufacturing jobs and communities.

Who is Tom Whitaker?

Tom Whitaker is a retired manufacturing professional, lifelong angler, and FLI Products advisor with 40 years of practical outdoor experience. Learn more at fliproducts.com/pages/learn-from-tom.

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