If Fishing Lures Could Talk

"Old fishermen may pass, but their bait lives on!" I have been lucky to have a couple of lures that my grandfather fished with in the 20s & 30s. Now, my grandfather was not much of a fisherman, but did fish on rare occasion. When I was a kid, the family cleaned out his home after he passed. My father and I found these old Heddon lures in his shop. My father said he remembered these when he was a kid and fished with them on the Duck River. Just think these lures were used during the depression, & WWII.

As you can see, they have seen better days. In fact, someone tried to modify the top lure for some reason. I do wonder what's the story behind this bait, where was it purchased, and what fish were caught. I'm sure if this bait could talk, it would be fascinating.

They are made of wood. The shellac has deteriorated with age and the paint is starting to crack and flake off. The quality of the craftsmanship is excellent. The diving spoon is thick and made from high quality metal, no rust after 80-85 years.

I bet my father or his brother modified this lure when they were young and decided a spinner would be better added to the front. Oh well, I am glad to have these old relics.They are not worth much to anyone else but me. I do want to preserve the story and place them in a better container. So, I decided to print and build an old fashion lure box made of paper.

You just can't tell the story of an old lure unless you know it. That's why I've been working on an old fashion lure box. I think it would be neat to have the story about the lure on the outside of the box. Folks in the future will know a little more about these old lures and the story behind the bait. I've been working on this project for a while, but I'm taking my time in order to make it right. Think how great it would be to get an old prized lure from your grandfather and on the outside of the box, a story about the lure. It would become a prized possession, a family heirloom that would be handed down.  Remember:  "Old fishermen may pass, but their bait lives on!"

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 LeoMaps.com. 

Life is short, get away from the big the screen and get on the big screen.

Lake Maps Vintage Style

A beautiful decor map of your favorite lake, such as Great Sacandaga Lake, Greers Ferry Lake, Lake Tahoe, Lake Winnipesaukee, Table Rock Lake, or Pickwick Lake, will look great hanging in your home, lake house or office. Makes the best 2014 Christmas Gift!

Unlike other maps, there’s a tiny mermaid hidden in the waters which folks love to search for and some say she moves around! You'll love the waterfowl which are hand painted (touched up) on the canvas prints to give that original look and each map is hand signed by Leo. For a personal touch, you can even add a small star to the location of your lake house or special place and add a few words such as "Evan's Lake House, Est. 2014" or be creative. The signatured Ruby Meridian, waterfowl and vintage plane have a story that’s included in the signed Certificate of Authenticity.  Leo Lakes treasured maps will make a cherished gift for that special someone. 

A few recent comments from our Customer's: 

Customer Email 9/18/14: We received the map (Chautauga Lake) and it is gorgeous!!! So glad I stumbled onto your website, what great customer service. Thank you!

Customer Email 9/14/14: Hi Larry, The Gulf of Mexico décor map arrived in good order Friday mid afternoon. I anxiously awaited my son’s breaking free and coming over for the grand unveiling. Our anticipation was almost like Christmas as children. All that can be said is WOW! It exceeds our expectations.  What a wonderful rendering! It will be hung in his home with pride and capture many fond memories of the family’s favorite vacation area….job well done!! 

Customer Email 9/12/14: I just received it (Greers Ferry Lake Map)!  I love it and I know my husband will as well!  Thank you so much!

Customer Email 9/9/14: Larry, just received the map yesterday and love it!!!   Now I will probably have to order one for us too. (Lewis Smith Lake).

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 LeoMaps.com. 

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

"As I look over this lake, The most amazing scenes appears in it wake,

The sun arises just above the shore, Giving grace and beauty to this place that I adore." LKO

What Fish Think?

Just blowing off some creativity with "What fish think."  If fish were human, this is what they would be thinking. Hope you enjoy my cartoons!

Here's a great Christmas Gift for the lake house owner, lake lover, or fisherman. I have over two hundred vintage style lake 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. 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 lake treasured maps by going to LeoMaps.com. 

Remember: Life is short, get away from the big screen and get on a big stream!

Custom Map of the Emerald Coast

I just finished this custom map of the Emerald Coast in Florida. It's 18"x 36" and gallery wrapped. Check out the customer comment!

Customer Email

Hi Larry, 

The Gulf of Mexico décor map arrived in good order Friday mid afternoon. I anxiously awaited my son’s breaking free and coming over for the grand unveiling. Our anticipation was almost like Christmas as children. All that can be said is WOW! It exceeds our expectations.  What a wonderful rendering! It will be hung in his home with pride and capture many fond memories of the family’s favorite vacation area….job well done!! 

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 LeoMaps.com. 

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

Remember: Life is short, get away from the big screen and get on a big stream, or at least enjoy one on your wall.

Blue Monday Heron

On the header of this blog, I feature a Great Blue Heron. Below is the painting that the Heron came from, which I was painted back in 2007.  I've always enjoyed watching the Great Blue Heron and it is one of my favorite birds. As you can see, there's more to this painting than what's shown on top.

What's the story behind the painting? First, I called the painting "Blue Monday Heron" to reflect the mood in the painting. Can you feel the mood... windy, storms on the way, and a fisherman lost his lucky lure? The old Heron is hunkered down and doesn't look none too happy with his feathers being blown around.  

The lure was lost by some fisherman who was casting for that trophy. Actually, that lure was my lucky lure as a  child. I dug it out of an old tackle box and used it as a prop for this painting. The painting was painted 7 years ago and the original has been sold, but it is still one of my favorite painting.  

Here's a picture of the lure, it certainly has seen better days. I don't fish with it anymore, but I might get another painting out of it. I have a 20"x24" canvas print of this painting hanging in my studio. It interesting how a favorite painting seems to warm a room with fond memories.

If you like my painting, then you may want to visit my website. 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 LeoMaps.com. 

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

Remember: Life is short, get away from the big screen and get on a big stream, or at least enjoy one on your wall.

Russian River vintage style map

Often, I have folks order and receive one of my maps only to re-order other maps for friends or family as gifts. This is just what happened not long ago. I had a nice lady order a map of Lake Tahoe. She liked the map so well, she ordered a custom map of the Russian River, which is located in California, for her parents whom have a summer cottage on the banks of the river. 

The Russian River is a beautiful river. It's 110 miles long and is north of San Francisco, running through Sonoma and Mendocino Counties. This area is very fertile and has many wineries along the river, including Kobel Champagne Winery. This map runs from the mouth of the river to about Forestville. 

I always try to add as many names of towns, bends, points, creeks etc... to the maps for interest. In fact, most folks don't even know that there're names for most features along a river or lake that go back to when the area was first settled.  When I complete a map, I look for the most interesting element. On this map of the Russian River, there are many. One such name that stands out the most is Slaughterhouse Creek. Just what took place here? I'm sure there's a story in this name, but I couldn't find any information about it on the net. Anyway, here's what make my maps so unique!

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 like to be found. Folks just love'm, especially the kids. You might even think they move around overtime.

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."

I call my maps Treasured Maps because every treasure has a Ruby and so do my maps, each have a Red Ruby Meridian.

I add a vintage plane flying over my maps to signify an adventure to your treasured lake, river, or bay.

You will find wildlife in all my maps. These signify the natural beauty of your treasured lake, river or bay. I use wildlife that is common to the subject lake, such as Canadian Geese, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagles and others.

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. 

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.

If you would like to see more and read about my treasured maps go to LeoLakes.com. 

Remember: Life is short, get away from the big screen and get on a big stream, or at least enjoy one on the wall.

The Ultimate Tackle Box, Fish Boobs, & Liquid Waders

Occasionally, I draw my own cartoons about lake, river and bay life. Some toons are funny and some not so funny. Well, here I go again with a few more. Sometimes I get into the weeds, as they say, but hopefully they will be entertaining. Enjoy!

I know folks that would buy one of these, "The Ultimate Tackle Box!" I wonder why Bass Pro doesn't offer them? 

If I named this cartoon, I would call it "fish boobs." I'm not sure, but I don't think fish would be attracted to these, but who knows.

Liquid waders sounds like a neat product, until I did this cartoon. Just say NO!

Anyway, enough with cartoons. Check-out my vintage style maps that I paint of lakes, rivers, and bays,  These maps make great gifts for the lake house owner, lake lover, or fisherman. I have over two hundred 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 LeoMaps.com. 


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

Remember: Life is short, get away from the big screen and get on a big stream, or at least enjoy one on your wall.

My unusual neighbor!

Today, I had a few errands to run and I went out to my vehicle. To my surprise, a neighbor came over. I'm not taking about your usual neighbor, you know the one with a wife, two kids and an SUV. This one, slithered by. One thing that you must know, we live in the woods, "The Ten Acre Woods", as I call it. We have many neighbors that drop by often. Yes, it was a snake about 3-1/2 ft to 4 ft long, I think it was a Black Rat Snake and he appeared to be a healthy feller that's been eating a few rats, mice and rabbits.

I'm not frightened of snakes as some folks are, but if a bee comes near, then I scream like a girl and freak-out. You see, I'm allergic to bee stings and swell up like a pumpkin and it's not even Halloween. Anyway, the Black Rat Snake is non-venomous and they are pretty docile unless you corner them.

The neighbor stayed for about ten minutes before slithering off into the bushes. I'm guessing it was lunch time and something juicy was on the menu. 


Check-out my vintage style maps that I paint of lakes, rivers, and bays. These maps make great gifts for the lake house owner, lake lover, or fisherman. I have over two hundred 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 LeoMaps.com. 


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

Remember: Life is short, get away from the big screen and get on a big stream, or at least enjoy one on the wall.