The story behind this purchase began in August 2016, when then-27-year-old Harrison, Ark., resident Kevin G. Brightwell, who owns KGB Swimbaits, took a prototype-in-progress to Big Bass Dreams, a premiere event in Los Alamitos, Calif. This event was a bass-fishing film series produced by Oliver Ngy.
Said Brightwell, "I was the only garage-manufacturer (actually, he works from his basement) there. The others were big manufacturing companies."
The KGBullfrog, as his prototype was known, all 13.5 inches and 10.9 ounces of it, created so much buzz that Brightwell couldn't decide who should get the first one.
"Everybody was wanting a frog," he said. "I didn't feel comfortable choosing who would get the first one."
Brightwell wouldn't divulge the name of the buyer, who said he planned to add the frog to his collection and perhaps fish it a couple times a year. Made from plastic resin, it comes with two saltwater treble hooks hanging from its belly. Ultimately, the owner is going to pass the frog down to his son.
In case anyone is wondering how Brightwell happened to settle on making swimbaits, you probably only need to know he lived in California from 2003 to 2010. Originally from Harrison, he moved back there in 2010.
Money was tight, and he was having a hard time making a living cutting firewood. He couldn't afford to buy swimbaits then, so he decided to make his own.
"They got better and better, and people started wanting them," he said.
As a result, he started selling his swimbaits on Facebook and Instagram, and in 2012, started KGB Swimbaits. At the time, he also worked fulltime as a Harrison firefighter.
Following the sale of his original frog, Brightwell had plans to make more of them but noted they would have a regular sale price of at least $150.
If you're interested in seeing samples of what he has available, I recommend that you check out his website at https://kgbswimbaits.com/.
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