Jewell Outdoors

Bassmast Elite Edwin Evers to Host Promotional Event

To Hell with Stimulus. Let's go Fishing!

Perhaps the country would be better off, if more people were engaged in outdoor sporting!

Fishing for example generates 45 Billion Dollars in sales, from 40 Million people who fish in the United States each year (based on 2006 figures). That same 45 Billion has an economic impact of 125 Billion! To hell with a stimulus package - let's just get more people out fishing!

This industry creates almost a million jobs. Plus, another 1.2 Billion in conservation money. That said, the fishing industry is the number one money generator for conservation purposes. A free market system, supporting efforts to sustain itself. Now that is the way it should be!

The included file has tons of great detail about the economic impact of fishing in the United States! Read on.

Click here to download:

SIA_2008.pdf (762 KB)

(download)

Click here to download:

SIA_2008.pdf (762 KB)

When will Live Bait Be Available? Get the Update...and get 5% Off!

If you're curious when things like leeches, night crawlers, or European Crawlers might be available, join this list and get the Live Bait Update.  Throughout the year, we'll also send you other great information, about live bait care, new products, success stories, and more!

 Jewell Outdoors will also be granting 5% off to anyone who joins this list before leeches are available for shipping in 2010.  All you have to do is sign up!  Your 5% off coupon will come to you shortly.  

Just Click Here to Sign Up!

First Crawlers of 2010 Have Shipped!

Just yesterday, our first shipment of Canadian Crawlers came in - and made their way right back out. We were able to get just enough in to satisfy those customers that had pre-ordered Crawlers for immediate delivery. Next week, we plan to have more available! So, head on over to www.jewelloutdoors.com/store to place your order today.

This is a good sign! In all the years my family is doing this, March 23rd is the earliest we have ever shipped live bait. In some ways, its risky because the temperatures can get cold, and you risk freezing your bait. However, it is a sign that we have had a warmer spring - and you'll be out on the water catching Walleye and Bass before you know it!

We want to see what you're catching! So please join the Jewell Outdoors Community at http://jewelloutdoors.ning.com or post a pic on one of our facebook pages. The more you share your love for the sport of fishing - the more it makes others realize what they are missing!

Bobbers Down!

JB Lures Now Part of the Line Up

You have no idea how excited I was when our first box of JB Lures product showed up on my door step the other day. I had called Tom, the CEO of JB Lures, and asked him to put together a box of items that go nicely with live bait. Since our current service is so much geared toward live bait, I wanted to focus on things like Crawler and Leech harnesses. Tom at JB Lures did a fantastic job! We are now rocking a line up of one and three hook harnesses, The Ventilator, and More - even some slip bobber stoppers.
For a full line up of what we are now carrying - shoot on over to the online store: www.jewelloutdoors.com/store

The reason I was so excited is that this means, finally, after great yearning to be something more - we are growing. We're no Cabelas or Bass Pro, but we're making a splash in the fishing bait market. And in some ways, we're actually doing it better than some of the big guys. Thanks JB Lures for helping make it happen!
www.jewelloutdoors.com

Really Governor Granholm? Meatout day!? Ridiculous!

via agwired.com

Sometimes our government leaders just need to keep their traps shut. We must realize the impact of our words. And in an already struggling economy, worse in Michigan than many states, their very own governor slaps agriculture producers in the face. This is a dumb use of a legislative proclamation.

So, on March 20th - which was declared Michigan Meatout Day, I urge you to cook a steak. Eat a fish. If nothing else, grill up some hot dogs...and ENJOY!

Just in case you're thinking she needs to be fair to all that she represents - be advised that this proclamation was brought about by an Animal Rights Activist group, intentionally as an attack on National Ag Day!

Leech Traps Going In THIS WEEK!

Just talked with the Head Leech - up in Minnesota. Things are melting mighty fast! So fast right now in fact, that he is putting leech traps in the local golf course pond already this week! This might be the earliest year on record that we have leeches available for sale. We'll just have to see what happens during the back half of March.

Why the golf course pond? Its kind of a funny place to trap leeches - or so one would think. However, for some reason this tiny little body of water seems to be teeming with the little suckers. There are so many in fact, that they clog up the fountain that the course manager puts out. So, the let Dad in to catch the little guys out....not sure if he gets a discount on membership or not!

Until you hear the official word, the contest is not yet over at http://jewelloutdoors.ning.com. Visit the forum on that site for more details. In fact, if you haven't been there yet, we'd love to have your join our little community! We'd love to have you be part of it.

No Leeches to Canada, but perhaps the UK?

Over a decade ago, the Canadian government found a NAFTA loophole, and banned the transport of live leeches from the United States into Canada. This was detrimental to a lot of leech wholesalers, but there wasn't much we could do. Today, even as a retailer, and with the power of the internet's reach, I now have lots of Canadian customers - that I really can't have. Just today, I was on the phone conspiring with a retailer in Canada as to how he could come over the border, pick up leeches, and take them back (still legal for some with the resort license).

However, I have also been getting contacted by fishermen in the UK recently. They pay outrageous amounts of money to fish with leeches over there. I mean, life changing amounts of money if I could sell them in the UK. So today, I drafted a nice little email to the UK Environment Agency asking about the legality of exporting leeches from the US into the UK. We'll see what that produces.

If nothing else, I plan to pursue my quest to raise ribbon/bait leeches in captivity, with the hope that one day we can produce enough to take our little leech freak show on the road to places like Canada, and the UK. Who knows...it could be sooner than you think!

We have such great customers at Jewell Outdoors!

Really - we do! Our customers are the greatest! Not just because they buy our products. Nope, its more than that. These guys and gals really appreciate what we try to do for them. They let us know about it. Even more, they tell others about it. Last year, we didn't spend a lot on traditional types of marketing. Most of our business was from word of mouth. We appreciate that - because it helps us keep costs down.

This year, we launched the Jewell Outdoors Partners Program which actually pays customers for talking about us. It is pretty cool. All they have to do is be generous, and give a friend a 5% off coupon. When an order gets placed, the Partners get a nice little 10% commission, good for in store credit or cash at the end of the month.

Just our way of doing what we can to help out the Great Customers we have at Jewell Outdoors!

How to Keep Leeches Out of Your Casserole - and make sure they stay alive to tell the story.

One of the most common questions I get from customers is, "How do I keep the leeches alive?"  These little suckers can be sensitive to certain changes in their environment, but in reality, they are pretty hearty.  As long as you take care of them, it is no different than having another aquatic pet.  This blog post will depict how to care for your leeches, keep them alive, and make sure they stay out of your casserole)