Local News: Reeling in Success: Local entrepreneur making waves in lure

Jan 14, 2024

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook community may not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of an international fishing lure-building business. But that didn’t stop area native Kyle Rowe, who has been making waves as the man behind Yeah Buddy Bait Co.

Rowe has gained recognition through his authentic approach to lure building, and plenty of business has come with it. In fact, this year alone, he’s received over 50 orders, proving that his lures have a wide appeal. His customers hail everywhere, including several in Canada, many across the United States, and even Australia. He says he’s sold to everyday fishermen along with YouTubers and tournament fishermen.

For Rowe, the recognition he receives for his work is both gratifying and humbling. “It’s incredibly humbling to me when somebody looks at something that I make and they declare it as art and spend money on it,” Rowe shared, touched by the support he has received. “I still have a hard time wrapping my head around that.”

When it comes to his day-to-day routine, Rowe’s passion for his craft shines through. “Depending on the day of the week, I may be cutting or sanding lures in the shop or inside painting them,” Rowe explains. His Tuesdays are typically dedicated to applying a final automotive clear coat to the lures, ensuring their durability and quality. The final products boast a fusion of realistic and classic paint jobs, captivating both the angler’s eye and the fish’s attention. While most of his orders involve painting blanks, Rowe also creates custom-made lures using poplar wood and PVC board. Every lure is meticulously handcrafted and painted.

The vast majority of Rowe’s orders are custom-made, and he attempts to take their exact specifications into account to create unique lures. He says customers can request lures with pretty much every aspect completely customized. With custom orders typically requiring anywhere from 10 days to a month to complete, Rowe’s attention to detail and commitment to customer satisfaction is evident.

The Yeah Buddy Bait Co. website, yeahbuddybaitco.square.site, has a few of Rowe’s most popular creations, but he emphasizes that the display there is merely a fraction of his range of abilities, as he brings a personal touch to just about every order.

Beyond his lure craftsmanship, Rowe has ventured into several different entrepreneurial endeavors. His Mac Daddy’s original spices, crafted to accommodate his wife’s sensitivity to commercial seasonings, have gained a following among barbecue enthusiasts, finding their way into the kitchens of restaurants, barbecue teams, and passionate home cooks, and have transitioned into bulk orders rather than individual ones.

Rowe’s passion for cigars also sparked the creation of his personalized cigar journal, which is shared among fellow aficionados. Additionally, his skills in graphic design offer a creative outlet for small businesses seeking captivating packaging, advertisements, t-shirts, or YouTube banners.

To get in touch with Kyle Rowe and explore his reactions, interested individuals can access his digital business card by scanning this QR code:

Posting a comment requires free registration: