A superlative Fly

Today, I looked back six years ago to see what I was posting. It's kind of interesting to look back a see how my posts have grown or digressed. I found this post that's about the "Great Blue Heron Fly Company". A fictitious, but  humorous company. 

Date:1/15/2012

What is the best fly to fish with? This question has been asked by every fly fisherman since the first fly was wet by water. Well, the answer is the freshest fly of course. The Great Blue Heron Fly Company definitely have the freshest flies. You just don't get any fresher. Check it out. 

Great Blue Heron Fly Company...The freshest flies, plucked today, flies tomorrow...

We grow our own feathers and pluck them too, OUCH. We tie our own flies, so you don't have to. Better feathers, better Flies! It's not about the tie, it's about the fly! Plucked today, flies tomorrow. A superlative Fly. Buy one, get one for the same price. Here's our advertisement.

Since fishing is a little slower in the winter time a little bait humor goes a long way. Hope you enjoyed and remember, Get away from the big screen and get on a big stream. Adventure Outdoors!

Well, that's pretty much what I was posting six years ago. I don't put nearly as much work in my post now, but I am going through a bobber stage. That is, if you have been reading my posts, you will understand. 

Paddle over to my website for some interesting stuff...…...

I have hundreds of maps on my website that can be purchased right from the site, or I can do custom and personalized vintage style lake maps, too. Lake maps will add beauty to your Lake House Decor! Find out more interesting facts about my treasured maps by going to Leolakes.com

Annual Christmas Fishing Poem

It's time for my annual Christmas fishing Poem. A few years ago near Christmas time, I went to one of my favorite lakes to fish and kayak. This particular lake was stocked with "Rainbow Trout" the day before. My goal was to catch a few. Here's a poem that lets you know, just how well the fishing trip went.

Not a fish was stirring not even a carp!

T’was the night after the "rainbows" had been stocked in the lake, I went fishing to see what I might take,

The flys were hung in the tackle box with care, in hopes that a big rainbow would soon be near.

As I paddled out on the lake, there arose such a clatter, I sprang up in my kayak to see what was the matter.

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, a just fallen tree near a old whitetail deer.

I found not a fish was stirring, not even a carp, so I paddled my Kayak back to the park.

When I arrived home, fun was had by all, as my wife had just arrived from the mall.

That pretty much sums up my fishing trip. Apparently the trout, being new to the lake, had pissed off everyone and nothing was biting.

Visit my website to see more. I have over two hundred lake, river and bay maps on my website that can be purchased right from the site, or I can do custom and personalized lake, river or bay maps, too. If you would like to see more and read about my treasured maps go to LeoLakes.com. 

As you can see, my maps make a great gift. To see more of my work, click here www.LeoLakes.com. 

Remember, get away from the big screen and get on a big stream!

In need of a Christmas gift for the lake lover? Think about it, if someone you know have a lake house, what's better than having a beautiful decor style lake map hanging in the great room! I just finished this beautiful 2'x4' vintage style lake map of Big Bear Lake. I have other lake maps available too. 

I've been doing lake, river and bay maps for approximately six years. Over the years, I have experimented with different elements of map art in order to provide the best and most unique map on the market. Folks will be drawn to the map like a crackling fire on a cold winter night.  I try very hard to make my maps special by adding interest to the maps.

You will find no road names, county, or state lines on my maps. I have found that folks enjoy traveling the roads with their eyes, while trying to get their bearing. I call this the "Leo Lakes gaze." 
You can add a star or symbol with a few words to mark that special place, it maybe the location of the lake house, the spot where you caught that trophy fish or some grand view. This will make a very special gift for the lake lover. I hide a few fish and even a tiny mermaid in the waters of my lakes. Yep, but they're very shy and don't want to be found. Folks just love'm, especially the kids. You might even think they move around overtime.

Did you know that you can always tell if its morning or evening on a Leo Lakes map? Just look at the shadows cast by the wildlife, is the shadow on the east or west? If it's on the west, then it’s morning time. Oh yeah, I have had folks tell me that they change through the day, but don't believe them.

Also, each framed map or map over 16x32, comes with a certificate of authenticity, lake poem, and interesting facts abut the map.

I have hundreds of maps on my website that can be purchased right from the site, or I can do custom and personalizes vintage style lake maps, too. I have maps, such as Lake Bob Sandlin Vintage Style map, Lake Logan Martin Vintage Style Map, Center Hill Lake vintage style map, Lake Texoma vintage style map, Gaston Lake, Choctawhatchee Bay vintage style map, Toledo Bend Lake Vintage style map, Raystown Lake vintage style map. Lake maps will add beauty to your Lake House Decor! Find out more interesting facts about my treasured maps by going to LeoMaps.com. 

A unique gift for the lake lover.

A unique gift for the lake lover. Warm up the holidays with this vintage style map of the Florida Keys. The map is printed on canvas and the waterfowl are highlighted after printing. Each map is signed and numbered and if you look closely, you may find the tiny mermaid swimming in the waters. 

Each map comes with a certificate, poem, and map facts. These maps make a great Christmas gift for the water lover.

Paddle over to my website, LeoLakes.com. I paint beautiful lake, river and bay decor maps. Folks are discovering that these decor maps are wonderfully unique gifts that become family heirlooms. I call my maps, treasured maps because most folks have that special body of water that they treasure. My treasured maps make a great Christmas gifts for the fisherman, lake lover, or Lake house. 

Lake Lover Gift Idea

Need a Christmas Gift idea for a "Lake Lover"? Why not a beautiful canvas decor map of the lake that they love!  They are sure to enjoy a nice map of the lake or river where they have a lake house, A star can even be added to show the location.  

My maps make great Christmas gifts and will bring back memories of those trips to that favorite lake. Don't forget to look for the hidden mermaid in the lake waters and other interesting things......

Check-out these other comments from our customers.

The map arrived right on time and it was a sensational hit.  Thanks so much, this was exactly what I was looking for and was even better than anticipated. Nate

I just received the map, it looks beautiful! Thank you for helping me put together such a spectacular gift and I will definitely keep you in mind for future gift ideas. Have a wonderful Sunday!

Arrived safe and sound this afternoon and looks great!  I can't wait to give it to my parents for xmas for their new lake house.  Thank you!

I must be doing something right! I'm finally getting my ten minutes of fame, sort of. Interestingly, I got a call from, now get this.......a major studio in California. They are filming a new tv series for mid-season. They want to use one of my big lake maps as a prop in the series. It won't come out for a few months, but I'm hoping that it will be prominently displayed in the series. I will have more news about this later...... 

Paddle over to website to see my Lake, River, and Bay Maps. I have hundreds of maps on my website that can be purchased right from the site, or I can do custom and personalizes vintage style lake maps, too. Lake maps will add beauty to your Lake House Decor! Find out more interesting facts about my treasured maps by going to LeoLakes.com. 

My nutty fishing cartoons...

My nutty fishing cartoons...My mind went outrageous this time. I mean, my mind wandered over into selfies and bobbers. When that happens it splatters on to the Baitrageous Blog. Check it out........If Bobbers Made Selfies! 

Oh yeah... I do maps, lake, river and bay maps. Believe or not for the last eight years. Over the years, I have experimented with different elements of map art in order to provide the best and most unique map on the market. Folks will be drawn to the map like a crackling fire on a cold winter night.  I try very hard to make my maps special by adding interest to the maps. LeoLakes.com

Also, each framed map or map over 16x32, comes with a certificate of authenticity, lake poem, and interesting facts abut the map. 

I have hundreds of maps on my website that can be purchased right from the site, or I can do custom and personalized vintage style lake maps, too. Lake maps will add beauty to your Lake House Decor! Find out more interesting facts about my treasured maps by going to LeoLakes.c

Custom Lake Decor Maps

Just finished these two custom maps, Lake Keowee located in South Carolina and Gull Lake in Minnesota. I do lots of custom maps for folks that want to have a map of their beloved lake. 

ITake a look at my website, LeoLakes.com to find other maps that I have already completed. I call my maps "treasured maps" because most folks have that special body of water that they treasure. 

These maps make great gifts for the lake house owner, lake lover, or fisherman. I have over three hundred maps on my website. 

 If you would like to see more and read about my treasured maps go to LeoLakes.com. There's a hidden mermaid in every maps!

Check us out at click here: LeoLakes.com

Fish Trophy idea

Interestingly, I often get comments about the fish in the waters of all my maps. Folks love to tell me about fishing and love the jumping fish that I show on my maps. Also, they say the children really enjoy hunting for the tiny mermaid and are thrilled when they spot her in the waters. Oh yeah, some folks tell me that mermaid and fish move, but I'm not sure that I believe that. However, if you look closely you may find her and the fish jumping around. 

Most folks add a star to a special place on the lake such as a lake house or where they caught that "Trophy Fish". Check-out below, a customer wanted to add the place, weight and fish type of a trophy that he caught.

I've been doing lake, river and bay maps for approximately eight years. Over the years, I have experimented with different elements of map art in order to provide the best and most unique map on the market. Folks will be drawn to the map like a crackling fire on a cold winter night.  I try very hard to make my maps special by adding interest to the maps. LeoLakes.com

Also, each framed map or map over 16x32, comes with a certificate of authenticity, lake poem, and interesting facts abut the map. 

I have hundreds of maps on my website that can be purchased right from the site, or I can do custom and personalized vintage style lake maps, too. Lake maps will add beauty to your Lake House Decor! Find out more interesting facts about my treasured maps by going to LeoLakes.com. 

A very good fisherman....

I was in Florida last week on Lemon Bay near Venice Fl. Lemon Bay is just getting over red tide, which is a terrible algae bloom. Many fish were killed along with waterfowl. While looking out over the bay, you could still get a whiff of red tide in the air, smells sort of moldy-ish. Luckily, the fish and waterfowl are starting to come back.    

Amazingly, I came across this Osprey fishing in the bay. Ospreys are magnificent birds that are very good at fishing. This Osprey was circling over head looking for schools of fish. Thank goodness I had my 810 Nikon Camera. In fact, I discovered something about this Osprey that's a little sad......more about that later!   

He must have spotted a nice school of fish, because he dove straight into the water at a high rate of speed. I'm sure the fish didn't know what hit him and was probably knocked out by the impact. 

The osprey was successful. If you look closely, you can see the fish hanging from his talons, the fish is always facing forward.

I watched the Osprey as he struggled to get out of the water with his catch. He finally reach a comfortable altitude, his wing beat slowed and he started to search for a place to have lunch. I followed him, hoping that he would land somewhere near. He did, on top of a light pole not over 50 feet from my location. I took many photos of this wonderful bird having fresh fish. I noticed that he was well equipped at eating fish, talons clamping down on the fish, while that powerful beak was used to rip into the fish flesh.    

It took the Osprey about 30 minutes to finish eating. He flew off as the fish dropped to the ground. Interesting, he headed back to the bay as I watched, wondering what he was doing. He flew low over the bay and dipped his beak and talons into the water a few times. He was obviously, washing up after the meal.    

When I returned from the trip, I reviewed the photos that I had taken. Unfortunately, I discovered a sad injury to the Osprey. If you look, you can see fishing line hanging down from the Osprey's wing, about 12-16 inches long. It appears that a hook has become embedded in his wing. He probably got hung while diving into the water. As I remember, it didn't seem to bother him because I took many photos of this same Osprey over a five day period. He caught fish each day. I could tell it was him by the fishing line hanging down from viewing other photos from different days. Ospreys are very good fishermen....even while being injured. Ospreys are awesome!!! 

I do custom and personalized lake, river, island or bay decor maps. They make a great gift for the lake lover. If you would like to see if we have your body of water, go to LeoLakes.com. 

Custom Lake Maps

Oops, The eagle flew off the map........That can happen with a Leo Lakes Treasured Map! Need a Lake Lover Christmas Gift idea? Why not a beautiful canvas decor map of the lake that they love!  If they own a lake house, lake cottage, or lake cabin, then they are sure to enjoy a nice map of the lake that has the location of their lake house located on the map. 

"Folks are drawn to a Leo Lakes Map like a crackling fire on a cold winter night!" 

My maps make a great Christmas gift for the lake house.  You can add a star to your lake house location. Also, don't forget to look for the hidden mermaid in the waters of your favorite waters!

Check-out these other comments from our customers.

The map arrived right on time and it was a sensational hit.  Thanks so much, this was exactly what I was looking for and was even better than anticipated. Nate

I just received the map, it looks beautiful! Thank you for helping me put together such a spectacular gift and I will definitely keep you in mind for future gift ideas. Have a wonderful Sunday!

Arrived safe and sound this afternoon and looks great!  I can't wait to give it to my parents for xmas for their new lake house.  Thank you!

Paddle over to website to see my Lake, River, and Bay Maps. I have hundreds of maps on my website that can be purchased right from the site, or I can do custom and personalizes vintage style lake maps, too. Lake maps will add beauty to your Lake House Decor! Find out more interesting facts about my treasured maps by going to LeoLakes.com. 

LeoLakes.com

Baitrageous Bait Humor.....

Okay, I went overboard this time on the baitrageous cartoons. This is the most that I have put on the blog all at once. I must admit it, I love bobbers! Anyway, enjoy....

Need a gift for the fisherman? Best gift for the fishermen, and beautiful decor map of his or her favorite place to fish! I have over two hundred lake, river and bay maps on my website that can be purchased right from the site, or I can do custom and personalizes lake, river or bay maps, too. I have maps of Lake Winnipesaukee, Table Rock Lake, Greers Ferry, Lake Lanier, Gaston Lake, Choctawhatchee Bay, Toledo Bend, Raystown, and many others. Oh yeah, I hide a tiny mermaid in the waters of all my maps that folks love to search for. Find out more interesting facts about my treasured maps by going to LeoLakes.com. 

Oh yeah, this is part of my studio!

Bee Attack...

A few years ago, I decided to do a little kayaking on a lake near my home. As normal, I loaded up the kayak on top of my SUV and headed out on a beautiful early spring morning. The SUV hadn't been driven in a few days and when I looked down at the gas gauge, I found that it was almost empty. I made it to the nearby gas station with ease and pulled next to a gas pump. 

Interesting, I did not know that this was going to be a life or death situation. I hopped out of the vehicle that I call Abe. Oh yeah, I name my vehicles.  Why is it named Abe? Well, my daughter named it Abe, after Abraham Lincoln because it's the color of a shiny new penny. I've had seven vehicles in my life, Old Blue, Red, Comanche, Runner, Goldilocks, Sliver Bullet and Abe. Anyway, back to the life and death situation. I slide my card in the card reader and selected the type of gas, while lifting the gas nozzle and opening the gas door on Abe.  

All that I heard was Buzz, buzz, buzz, buzzzzzzzzzzz…… and all of a sudden, big, ugly, yellow jackets were zooming out from behind the gas door. Angry and looking to sting something like me. I quickly realized what was happening. My big problem, I'm highly allergic to bee stings. The only questions that I have, how many stings will I get and can I make it to the hospital before my throat closes? I dropped the gas nozzle and started evasive maneuvers, bobbing and weaving like Muhamad Ali, no rope-a-dope here!

Dang, I made it about 30 feet away with no stings, wasps were flying everywhere. I began to scheme on how in the world am I going to get my vehicle back. I worried about others who might get stung.  

Near by, from behind a rusty old pickup truck, an white haired farmer that resembled Santa Claus sort of, but dressed in overalls, was watching. He looked over at me and smiled, while walking over to my SUV. He approached the gas door and reached in with his bare hand and grabbed the wasp nest tossing it to the ground. Wasps were flying all around him. He stepped on the wasp nest with his boot and started smashing yellow jackets against my SVU. Suddenly, almost all wasps where dead with no one being stung. He waved at me and got in his truck and drove off before I got a chance to thank him. Lucky me, no trip to the hospital and still on schedule for the lake.

Check out my Maps. They can be customized and personalized. I try to make the maps as much "a piece of art" as they are a map. In fact, my large maps (16x32 and over) are numbered and come with a Certificate of Authenticity, which also includes a letter that details some other neat things about the map, such as the 'tiny hidden mermaid." Interestingly, I have sold almost 2000 thousand maps ranging in size from 10in x 20in  to 4ft x 8ft. Believe it or not, I have kept the purchase information (Who, When, Map, etc..) for all those purchases. Check-out my website LeoLakes.com. The best Christmas Gift for the Lake House.

Check-it out Leolakes.com