The Love Of Bow Fishing
Adam Walter wanted to share his love
of bowfishing.
That’s why during an economics class
a few years ago at Yankton High School
he came up with a mock business plan to
create his own bowfishing guide service.
It was a natural progression for the
business-minded Walter.
“In high school, that’s what we did after
baseball practice. We would go shoot fish,”
says Walter, now a student at South Dakota
State University.
That mock business plan has
blossomed into exactly what he planned:
His own guide service.
Walter launched Red Arrow
Bowfishing earlier this year and recently
completed his first summer as a guide in
his hometown and along the Missouri
River. Utilizing social media and ‘word
of mouth’ approach to marketing his
business, Walter was booked for 25 guided
trips this summer.
“That’s quite a bit more than I hoped
for,” he says. “For my first summer, I didn’t
know how many trips I would be able to
do.”
It was, Walter says, a busy summer of providing customers with an
opportunity to participate in what is becoming one of this area’s fastestgrowing outdoor activities.
Bowfishing, as the name suggests, combines the sports of archery
and fishing, which is why it has become increasingly popular. In
South Dakota and Nebraska, specifically, the popularity of a summer
(June 1-30) paddlefish season on the Missouri River routinely attracts
anglers from all over the region.
And those are the visitors guide services like Walter’s hope to
attract.
Red Arrow Bowfishing, for example, offers two kinds of allinclusive trips: A paddlefish trip in June, and a ‘rough fish’ trip (carp,
gar, etc.). Walter’s knowledge of the Missouri River helps, he says,
provides customers with a successful adventure.
“I don’t know the entire river down to Sioux City, but I feel like I
know enough about where to fish,” Walter says.
Although he doesn’t get to shoot as much on his own (maybe 3-4
times a summer), Walter says he finds pleasure in watching his clients
shoot fish.
“I find a lot more enjoyment now in watching people take their first
fish,” Walter says.
When he is alone, Walter — like many experienced anglers — will
approach his trips differently. Rather than search for the ‘big one,’ a
guide like Walter will take people to areas where there are groups of
fish.
“That’s the big thing,” Walter says. “If people can see fish, they’re
happy. I can’t make them hit it, but I can get them in a good position.”
It’s during those outings on the water where anglers can also aid in
helping curb the expanding population of invasive species.
The Bowfishing Association of American
(BAA) tries to help, according to its
website, “reduce the spread of invasive fish
species around the country.” And some
states even encourage bowfishermen to
target those kinds of fish.
A good majority of the time, though, a
guide service will take out people new to
the sport of bowfishing, Walter says.
“I get a lot of people who come down for
camping and see a poster somewhere,”
he says. “This year, I ran into a ton of
people in the middle of June who were on
vacation, camping, and wanted to go out at
the same time.”
Also this summer, Walter took four
golfers participating in the Hillcrest
Invitational Pro-Am out for a bowfishing
trip.
With so much river water available to
anglers, guide services have become
quite popular. And one down in Wynot,
Nebraska, is run by a record-holder.
Marlyn Wiebelhaus, who owns
Wiebelhaus Guiding (which offers
guided bowfishing and turkey hunting
trips), boasts seven BAA certified state records in Nebraska and
three in South Dakota. And through each state’s Division of Wildlife,
Wiebelhaus owns six records in South Dakota and three in Nebraska.
Owning such a business isn’t easy, as Walter says he discovered in
his first year.
“There are a lot of hoops you have to jump through,” he says. “But
I’ve learned that you can never expect the amount of expenses you’ll
have, but you just have to go with the flow.
“It’s all part of the business.”
vBy Jeremy Hoeck
1981. A lawyer, a tax accountant and a
financial advisor walk into a bar. Seriously.
That was the start of a well-coordinated plan
that’s still paying off in 2017.
Managing wealth is no joke. And advice coordination is essential as
wealth grows, and grows more complex. From thoughtfully planning
for a long retirement to addressing unique needs, a Raymond James
financial advisor can pull the pieces together to orchestrate a properly
synched approach. LIFE WELL PLANNED.
Bob Willcockson
Investment Representative
225 Cedar Street, Yankton
(605)665-4950
First Dakota Brokerage Services, Inc. A subsidiary of
First Dakota National Bank.
Securities offered through
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Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC, and are not insured by any financial
institution insurance, the FDIC/NCUA or any other government agency, are not deposits or obligations of the financial institution, are not guaranteed by the financial institution, and are subject to risks including the possible loss of principal. Raymond
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