Fishing History

I’m Captain Curtis Rissberger. I founded Berger Ops. Fishing® in 2019. Berger Ops. Fishing® is the culmination of my fresh water fishing experience, lure building expertise, passion for environmental conservation, and eagerness to share what I know. I began my fishing experience dropping worms off the end of a dock at a family camp located on Wellesley Island, New York in 1999. Since then, my knowledge of the St. Lawrence River, boating, fishing, and aquatic life in general has been bolstered by countless experiences on the St. Lawrence River with friends, family, and fellow angers who share a similar passion. My hope is to perpetuate these fond memories to future generations through my guided fishing trips and charter service. You can count on Berger Ops. Fishing® to provide industry leading tact, knowledge, fun, and safety on and off the water.

Berger Ops Fishing - Lures and Baits for Musky, Pike, Tarpon, Tuna, Bass, Striper, Marlin

Supporting Anglers

On top of my quest to build some of the toughest custom hard baits in the game, I strive to provide support and education to anglers through sponsorships, scholarships, on water education, captain and guiding services, and following all DEC and EPA laws and regulations to protect wild resources for generations to come.

Why call it Berger Ops. Fishing®?

To make long story short, "Berger", from its German origin, refers to a person who lives in the mountains. "Ops." is an abbreviation for operations. Curtis Riss’berger’, founder and owner of Berger Ops. Fishing®, grew up in the Adirondack Mountains of New York. The name is simple tribute to my passion for the outdoors. (Pictured: Bob Rissberger, Grandfather of Curtis Rissberger)

Berger Ops Fishing Lures Sponsor Bob
Close-up of an orange and black fishing lure hanging on a hook.
Packaged fishing lures displayed on a table.
Fishing lure in a plastic box with Berger OPS Fishing branding.
A hand holding a gold and brown fishing lure with treble hooks.
Purple fishing lure with black stripes hanging on a hook inside a cardboard box.
Close-up of a purple fishing lure with hooks attached, set against a blurred background.
Fishing lure with orange and brown stripes, featuring two treble hooks, placed on a gray surface with LED strip lighting around it.
Metallic cylindrical object with yellow and black pattern clamped in a holding device on a wooden surface.
Close-up of a fishing lure with a metallic gold and brown finish, textured surface, and a hook attachment point.
Airbrush with stand and accessories on a table, in a workshop setting.
Hand holding a yellow and green fishing lure with treble hooks.
Fishing lures in clear packaging on a wooden surface
Colorful fishing lures hanging on hooks
Close-up of a fishing lure with a textured surface resembling a fish scale pattern, held in place by a tool.
A fishing lure with treble hooks and a reflective surface, held in a person's hand.
Hand holding a fishing lure with hooks
Yellow fishing lure with hooks held in a person's hand
Close-up of a person holding a brown and black fishing lure with two treble hooks in a cardboard box.
Assorted fishing lures in plastic packaging from Berger Ops Fishing, including various colors and designs.
Person holding a multicolored fishing lure with treble hooks in their hand.
A yellow and silver fish-shaped fishing lure hanging inside a cardboard box with a purple string.
A hand holding a purple fishing lure with treble hooks.
Fishing lures with tools and rings on a table
Purple and black striped fishing lures with treble hooks lined up on a surface.
A fish-shaped fishing lure with hooks hanging inside a cardboard box.
Orange fishing lure with treble hooks on a light blue cloth.
Fishing lure with orange and white coloration, featuring two treble hooks on a gray background.
Fishing lure with two treble hooks lying on a textured surface.
Purple fishing lure with two treble hooks on a textured surface.
Fishing lure with two treble hooks on gray surface
Two brown mesh trucker hats with "Berger Ops Fishing" embroidered in red and yellow on the front panel.
Close-up of a brown and gold fishing lure with two treble hooks on a gray surface.
A brown and gold fishing lure with treble hooks on a gray textured surface.
Fishing-themed jersey with colorful graphics and text design, displayed on a sofa.
Purple and black fishing lure with treble hooks on blue textured surface.
Box of mesh-back trucker hats with logo
A brown and green fishing lure with two treble hooks and a clear plastic lip on a textured gray background.
Various packaged fishing lures displayed, each with colorful designs and hooks.
Airbrush setup with hoses and stand inside a spray booth.
Close-up of an orange fishing lure held by a helping hand tool with clamps against a blurred background.
Hand holding a colorful fishing lure with treble hooks.
A lifelike fishing lure with a fish design and two treble hooks on a textured surface.
Purple fishing lure hanging inside a cardboard box
Box containing colorful sports jerseys with labels, in plastic packaging.
A hand holding a painted fishing lure hook, with orange and blue colors, inside a cardboard box.
A person holding a hook with an object painted in a brown and blue pattern suspended below it, inside a cardboard box.
A colorful fishing lure with orange and blue patterns hanging in a cardboard box.
Assortment of fishing lures in packaging with brand name Berger Ops. Fishing, displaying various colors and designs.
Hand holding a painted fishing lure in a cardboard spray booth
A colorful fishing lure with treble hooks on a gray surface.
A fishing lure with a green and orange body, featuring two treble hooks, displayed against a textured gray background with LED strip lights bordering the image.
A cardboard box containing neatly arranged clear plastic packages with green labels, possibly packaging for small products.
Assorted fishing lures in packaging on blue surface
Four green and orange fishing lures hanging on hooks against a cardboard background.
Stacked plastic cases with green labels and warning stickers, alongside fishing lures and metal hooks on a blue cardboard surface in a cardboard box.
Person holding a black fishing lure with engraved logo, surrounded by other similar lures in a blue tray.
Metal fishing lures on a blue tray next to a digital scale.
A person holding a transparent plastic box containing a metallic fishing lure. The box has a "Made in U.S.A." sticker with an American flag. The floor in the background is wooden.
Laser engraving process on a metallic surface with sparks.
Shiny metal fishing lures with hooks hanging in a row on a rod.
Shiny metal fishing lure with treble hook on a blue toolbox background.
Metal blades with engraved logos on a blue tray, small tool with red handles nearby.
Metal spoon lures on a blue tray, workshop setting
Two prototype fishing lures, one gold and one silver, with engraved text and treble hooks, on a wooden surface.