Business Spotlight: River Run Outfitters

“They don’t know any strangers,” says Peter Maningas, an emergency room doctor at Skaggs Community Health Center and one of the Parkers’ newest clients. “We’ve gone out with Carolyn three times. She is willing, even if they’re not a client, to step up and talk to them, to offer them tips and advice to get them going.”

The Parkers already loved fishing when they became high school sweethearts in Kansas City. Carolyn’s father enjoyed fly-fishing, and she remembers fishing on the White River before Table Rock Dam was built. Stan’s love of fly-fishing began at Roaring River in 1957.

“When we first started coming down here, we did other fishing – spinning, bait fishing and fly-rod fishing with jigs,” Stan says. “Then we went into straight fly-fishing.”

He says the couple fished so much that eventually they were guiding their friends. They began to charge for their services in 1997.

After both retired in 1999 – Stan as a deputy sheriff and Carolyn as a purchasing manager for Bayer Corp. – the Parkers moved to Branson to open River Run Outfitters downtown on the Taneycomo lakefront. For the last four years, they have operated the business from 2626 State Highway 165, a half-mile north of Table Rock Dam.

River Run offers guides and guide services as well as “everything associated with fly-fishing,” Carolyn says.

While outdoorsmen can fly-fish on Table Rock Lake for crappie, blue gill and several bass varieties, River Run limits its guide services to trout fishing on Lake Taneycomo. She said the rainbow and brown trout that her customers catch are always thrown back. “We only catch and release,” she says.

The company provided about 750 guided trips in 2006. Guided trips come fully-equipped and full-day trips include lunch. The fishermen either wade or use Western-style drift boats specially designed to sit in 4-to-6 inches of water. The cost, depending on a half-day or full-day trip, ranges from $150 to $245 for one person and $225 to $315 for two people.

Carolyn says River Run gets much of its business through referrals from lake resorts, restaurants, customers, clinics and the Web site of The Orvis Co., which endorses River Run. Sunderland, Vt.-based Orvis Co. Inc. is world-renowned for its fly-fishing gear. River Run received the 2006 Orvis Endorsed Outfitter of the Year award early this year.

Customer Bob Powell, of Houston, discovered the Parkers at an Orvis store near his Texas home.

“I went with Stan last year (to fly-fish) and loved it,” Powell says. “They have real knowledge of the river.”

Powell has brought his college-age son, Jonathan, back to Branson this summer to learn how to fly-fish as well.

The Maningas, of Hollister, became acquainted with River Run through friends, and they attended one of Carolyn’s clinics. For Ellen Maningas, fly-fishing was something she could do with her husband.

“I’ve always enjoyed fishing,” she says. “I think it’s a sport or hobby couples can enjoy.”

According to Carolyn, interest in fly-fishing among women is growing.

As a result, River Run is targeting more of its services to women, including doubling the number of women’s clinics to six and adding a second woman guide, its seventh overall. The company also offers gear and apparel for men and women.

During the slower months, the Parkers travel around the country to attend and conduct fly-fishing clinics for other Orvis stores and fishing clubs.

And what do they really like to do when they have a day off together?

“We go fishing,” Carolyn says.

River Run Outfitters

Owner: Stan and Carolyn Parker

Founded: May 1999

Address: 2626 State Highway 165, Branson, MO 65616

Phone: (417) 332-0460

Fax: (417) 332-1935

Web: www.riverrunoutfitters.com

E-mail: shop@riverrunoutfitters.com

Services: Full-line fly-fishing shop, guide service for both wade trips or Western-style drift boats, fly-fishing/ casting lessons and fly-tying classes

2006 Revenues: $365,000

Employees: 3[[In-content Ad]]