Gene Larew Lures announced this week that it has completed an expansion project that increases its manufacturing capability by at least 70%.

The company has struggled recently to meet demand for its Bobby Garland panfish products, says a statement from the Tulsa manufacturer.

But the addition of four new soft plastic injection machines will provide welcome relief for customers, especially for retailers catering for crappie anglers.

“By simple maths, adding four machines to the six we already have is an increase of about 70%. But from a true production standpoint the resulting boost is a lot greater than that,” said Larew owner Chris Lindenberg.

“Now we can run multiple molds of our highly popular Garland Baby Shad baits without having to compromise production of other lure styles, sizes and colours, which are the kinds of tough decisions we’ve had to make in recent times.”

Lindenberg acquired Gene Larew in 2006 and added the Bobby Garland crappie brand the following year, bringing the two soft plastic pioneers together under one roof along Route 66 on the Oklahoma City’s north-east side.