BUZZBAIT


MAN WITH A MISSION. PHOTO: COURTESY LUTHER CIFERS


PARTS OF THE SOLUTION B


As told to Drew Haerer


efore Luther Cifers founded YakAttack, a man- ufacturer of kayak fishing accessories, he was


a kayak angler who needed a navigation light for night fishing. Luckily, he was also an engineer with a background in computer-aided design. After his first invention, the VISICarbon Pro light, sold off the shelves, Cifers continued to invent kayak fishing accessories and build a thriving business. His contributions to kayak angling go beyond the workshop; Cifers hosts and sponsors kayak fish- ing tournaments and supports charities that are involved with the sport. While his company has grown from a two-car garage to a 6,000-square- foot plant, Cifers remains true to his customers and dedicated to manufacturing in the USA.


You are known as the mad scientist of kayak fishing gear. Where does your inspiration come from?


I’ve heard people call me that, but the day to day reality is less impressive. We are always on the lookout for problems that need solving, and that’s where the inspiration comes from. For example, installing a fishfinder has always been a challenge for kayak anglers. So, we invented the CellBlok,


28…KAYAK ANGLER


a self-contained unit that holds the battery, transduc- er and display. Solving the problem is the easy part, knowing which problems to solve is the hard part. Our experience on the water and information from the kayak fishing community helps.


What’s your advice to someone who wants to start a business that caters to kayak anglers?


I have two pieces of advice. First, don’t plan to make any money the first few years. Without growth, the company will never succeed and growth will consume all of the cash you make. In the early days of YakAt- tack, I worked a second job to support my family. Also, define the mission before going into battle. Too many small businesses start with high ideals but get tempted off course while chasing success. We stay true to hard- core kayak anglers so we know our customers and we know our products.


What is the source of YakAttack’s success?


Our biggest resource is definitely our people. My objective is to grow talent from inside. For example, Hunter Rozier started working with our CNC routing equipment after he graduated from high school and he just moved up to training on our design software. He is taking engineering courses that will lead to more opportunities at YakAttack. I dropped out


LUTHER CIFERS OF YAKATTACK IS AN INNOVATOR, INVENTOR, ENTREPRENEUR AND KAYAK ANGLER [PROFI L E ]


of home schooling and started working for a manufacturing company when I was 19. That opportunity eventually sprouted into a career and provided skills that I’ve used to manage a successful company. I’ll never forget that, and providing similar opportunities for employees is one of my highest priorities.


What is your favorite YakAttack acessory and why?


My favorite is always the VISICarbon Pro. I think it’s still one of our best designs and it was the product that made all of the rest possible.


Who would you fish with if you could fish with anyone?


I would love to fish with my grandfather, Luther Cifers Sr. He always fished the quiet riverbanks and I think he would have loved kayak fishing. He was also an innovator. He owned a farm and designed and built an impressive molasses pro- duction facility with no blueprints, no software and a grade-school education. We would be able to relate on so many levels.


and see more photos. DIGITAL EXTRA: Click here to read the full interview


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