News and Annoucements (Captain's Blog)
15 June 2008
Happy Father's Day
Please help me thank the Point Defiance Boathouse for bringing the Captain hoochies in! "The Point" or "Boathouse" personnel are well known for their expertise in salmon fishing and awesome selection of tackle in the Tacoma area. Additionally, due to the Boathouse's on the water location, it has been a major "first stop" for many anglers heading out for a day's fishing in the Point Defiance area for numerous years. Help support the "Boathouse" and purchase a few of the Captain's hoochies!
03 June 2008
For those anglers up north.... Kaitlyn and I delivered a whopping 240-hoochies to the Burlington Sportsmans Warehouse yesterday! This was no small task as we have had to complete many of your orders to boot! Not to mention the drive alone was a pain as record rainfall hit the I-5 corridor and it took us 5-hours to drop ship our order! So... just how dedicated is Captain Downriggin's to completing orders? I can tell you I spent 5-hours in the passenger's seat tying hoochies- LOL!
Speaking of dedication... Although I tie throughout the day, please recognize Kaitlyn for working a full-time job and then coming home to a living room full of hoochies for packaging/labeling. She is truly the backbone of our endeavor! Not once have I ever heard her complain and yet we're able to fulfill our commitments in a timely manner.
Business has been overwhelming and words cannot express how much we appreciate your business and support! I find myself already having to re-organized our business goals for the third time this year. Unfortunately, these growing pains require a change in the way we do business... What changes are forthcoming? (1) I will be tying strictly on black hooks with other combinations of colors considered "true" custom tying... Why? This allows me the extra time to concentrate production with overstock on hand and gives the customer the best possible corrosion resistant hooks. (2) Sure Set Leaders will no longer be available "per each." Rather, they will be available in a convenient 5-pack at a great price.
01 June 2008
Kaitlyn and I are pumping out as many orders as possible! We realize there are a few customers that are patiently waiting for the package to arrive, but we have had a tremendous amount of new business from all four corners of the globe this year. As with any expanding business, there's always growing pains. We promise to get it to you a fast as humanly possibly as we have extended our hours from 6AM to Midnight.
One of my Pro staffers, Jeff Tuttle, was out for the evening tide helping me finalize the test fishing of the "Appletini." Well... I think we no longer need to test this hoochie out as "we" have landed a good many fish since January on this hottie.
I hope to get the "Target Series" posted on the site within the next two weeks.. the Appletini will be posted!
Here's Jeff's limit from the deep South Sound
26 May 2008
My vacation didn't quite go as planned- WAY TOO MANY ORDERS to fill! So I knocked out as many as I could this past weekend. However, I did manage a little down time this last weekend and got the new packaging completed. Many of the orders are going out tomorrow with this new labeling... We hope that you like it. Looks like I am going to have to take vacation come October
We also had to make another supply run on Friday. I cannot believe how fast we are going through the hooks and hoochie skirts. I am waiting on supplies from B2 Squid and these skirts will be available on the 2nd of June.
The Lacey Sportsmans Warehouse is completely stocked! Kaitlyn and I made the delivery this past Friday... Get them while they last!
Fishing in Marine Area 13 has shifted to "hit and miss." There's seems to be a lack of fish in the northern part of the marine area, e.g., Green Point, Fosdick, Fox Point and Gibson, but there's fish further south around Lyle Point and the "Staircase." Marine Area 11 opens this coming weekend!
For the folks up north, the Burlington store will have a complete shipment on June 3rd. The plan is to be there at 1PM to stock the shelves.
11 May 2008
Since the beginning of May I have received a lot of orders. Although I am averaging 18-hour days the numerous orders have put me roughly 7-10 days out on shipping. Additionally, I have to maintain fully stocked shelves at the retailers too! Please be patient as I tackle this mountain! As always, please feel free to call me if there are any questions.
Both the Silverdale and Federal Way Sportsmans Warehouse are fully stocked! I'll be at Burlington and Lacey this Thursday to "spruce up" the inventory.
Lastly, I will be on vacation 21 - 28 May 2008. Orders received during this time period will be shipped in order received after I return. Thanks for your patience.
04 May 2008
Great turn out for the seminars this weekend! A huge "thank you" goes out to all that attended- there's always another one coming! Another "thank you" to Sportsmans Warehouse for continually inviting me to do the presentation. My only hope is everyone left with valuable information they can use on the water!
We've had a little computer hiccup with the website through Paypal. They (Paypal) were fully aware of the situation, and hopefully, we not going to have continuing issues. Seems some folks were getting redirected to another site. On my end, I have been receiving only half orders without addresses through email notification. Let me know if you are having any issues so I can direct immediate attention to these providers. Additionally, I have heard of some minor "server" issues (slow loading) with my internet (website) host. This is "somewhat" common as hosts will do frequent "back ups," as explained to me. Above all, please feel free to call me!
I needed a day off... Although there's a ton of orders coming in, I needed a little time for relaxing and giving the hands a little "recoup" time. I was fortunate to get out and do some test fishing for springers in MA13 (home waters) this last Friday. It was a tough time time trying to find the bait and fish. Luckily, I was rewarded with a small 7# blackmouth that fell victim to an "Appletini" hoochie (soon to hit the website) off a black flasher. If you're fishing around Fox Island, which is normally pretty good fishing this time of year, there is a lack of fish and bait- at least my day on the water. They're coming.... hang on for another week or so! On a side note, a few customers are fishing deeper south around Lyle Point and doing extremely well! The "Staircase" (flood tide) and Devil's Head (ebb tide) are pumping out fish in great numbers. I am being told of limits by noon for anglers exercising patience waiting for fish to move into these areas on the tide and there are very few boats on the water! The fish are heavily laden with sand lance and a hoochie is your ticket to procductivity! An old saying still holds true today... "When the Scotchbroom is in bloom, it is time to fish south..."
Give me a call if you need a CURRENT fish report. I continually get "on the water" reports from Pro Staffers and customers out fishing... and I'll do my best to get you into "real time" productive areas- not reports that are a week late!
25 April 2008
We're fully stocked up! I made my big supply run yesterday... We have all the skirts in stock to build your favorite hoochie including everyone's favorite- the Blackmouth Candy.
A new hoochie will be making it's debut this weekend- Judge, Jury, Executioner. If you only knew how hard it was to keep this guy a secret! The hoochie is made up of a clear UV skirt and UV B2 Squid. It gets it's color from the spacer insert... Totally translucent! We are so excited about the debut, we'll be offering the Judge, Jury, Executioner as our May special early at an introductory price of $4.50ea.
Don't forget the April photo contest. We've received some pretty awesome photos and the winner will be announced May 1st. It's simple... just send us a photo (or photos) of your fish caught on a Captain Downriggin's hoochie, tell us a little bit about it, and you'll have a shot at winning 10-hoochies. You pick 'em!
23 April 2008
Greetings anglers... Kaitlyn and I have been very busy this past two weeks with adding the UV Bomb to the website, retail shelves, and completing your orders. I am happy to announce we finally stocked the shelves of the Lacey Sportsmans Warehouse for you South Sound folks. Unfortunately they only had room for half shipment; however, the Captain Downriggin Special, both glow and UV, as well as the UV Bomb, and several of the Target Series hoochies were stocked. Specifically: '81 Vette, Melon Felon, Camera Flash, Plum Bug, and Creel Count. I hope to have these available to our internet customers within a week or so. Please expect to see the complete UV series available at Lacey soon.
My seminar scheduled for the 26th of April at Sportsmans Warehouse has been shifted to May 4th - Noon to 3PM. Our original date coincided with opening day of the trout season and "we" felt it best to shift the date. If you can't make the May 4th date, try and make the May 3rd seminar at the Lacey store.
Speaking of seminars, I giving an 1-hour presentation for Puget Sound Anglers, Save Our Fish Chapter, in Auburn on the 25th of June 2008 - 7PM. Questions can be directed to Duane Horton (206) 819-9839. Their website: http://www.pugetsoundanglers.org/chapters/saveourfish.htm
For you Alaskan anglers inquirying about delivery to the Sportsmans up north.. I am due to meet with the regional manager this Friday and should have answers shortly. In the meantime, the response from you anglers up north has been tremendous! I certainly appreciate all the kind words about our awesome product, but more importantly, we thank you for your business! Hope to see some great fish pictures from you this summer!
Fish pictures? Don't forget our monthly photo contest! Submit those fish caught on Captain Downriggin's hoochies to be eligible. Each month one winner will receive 10-hoochies of their choice.
Lastly, a huge thank you goes to Kaitlyn Baer. Kaitlyn has been a huge help in streamlining the myriad of daily business routines around the home which has shaved off a tremendous amount of time allowing me to focus on product and product delivery. If you've noticed accelerated shipping times and dates, she's been responsible for it. We have went from a 3-5 day shipping time frame to 2-days maximum, and in many instances- same day shipping! If you would like to thank her, she can be reached at:
Kaitlyn_Baer@Comcast.net
08 April 2008
I am very excited to announce the arrival of a new hoochie skirt.... Unfortunately I presently sworn to secrecy in the interim, but I will tell you this hoochie skirt is going to be phenomenal for pink and sockeye runs. An addition to pinks and sockeye, I know koke and steelhead anglers are going to be excited too!. These little guys are going to be a must have item in your arsenal! Captain Downriggin's will be one of less than a handful of people to have this skirt available next year! The good captain will also be adding custom sockeye leaders to the website in anticipation of another great season. These are the standard 2-hook sockeye tie however, there is always a twist with me.
I have received a ton of emails asking when the UV Bomb will be available on the website. Well.... I'll have it available by the end of the week (4/11). If you are no familiar with this hoochie, it was our number one fish catcher last year during the testing phase. Limited quality was available to the public and a lot of pressure was put me to get this hoochie rolling. It is here! An introductory special offer will be ran on the website.
Spring/Summer Salmon Fishing Seminar
I will be conducting a 3-hour presentation on catching Puget Sound spring and summer (returning) salmon at the Federal Way Sportsman's Warehouse on 26 April 2008 from Noon to 3PM. I'll touch briefly on the characteristics of these fish, modifying tackle, trolling techniques, black box, derby winning secrets, and of course, the best spots to catch these fish (you may be quite surprised to hear these spots). This is a comprehensive seminar packed with a lot of information however, we take timely breaks. Bring note taking material as I put out a ton of solid and proven information. There are chairs for 80-people and they go fast so get there early and secure a seat. Sportsman's is very generous with the tackle give-aways too!
April Photo Contest
Our first photo contest! Do you have a picture of a fish caught on a Captain Downriggin's hoochie? If so, submit it! There's no purchase necessary to enter. One winner will be chosen every month and will receive 10-Captain Downriggin's hoochies of their choice! For the month of April any photo dated back to our inception (Oct 2004) will qualify. Entries submitted after the 30 April 2008 will not qualify for the April contest.
Spring Blackmouth fishing is here! Pro Staffer Mike C. and his dad with two nice South Sound keepers taken this Saturday (3/22) in Marine Area 13 on a CDR Special 35-inches behind an 11-inch Hotspot flasher. Not bad for an hour and a half's fishing in the afternoon! Mike's fish was the thickest 9-pounder I have ever seen! Sure tasted great on a cedar plank for Easter too! (Thanks Mike!) Dad's weighed in a little over 6-pounds.
