A beautiful lake goes bad!

Two years ago, My fishing buddy and I, kayak fished Greenbrier Lake, a small lake near my home near Nashville TN. As you can see from the photo's, it was a beautiful lake with water lilies along the edge.

The water lilies seemed to add to the beauty and fishing fun because you could just imagine a big bass waiting to blast out of the water, except we only caught small perch. 

There was some milfoil, but not too much. Wow, you won't believe what happened in a two year period. We made a return visit to this lake just a few weeks ago and was shocked to find that the lake was completely unfishable, if that's a word.

Check-it out! Who needs a kayak when you can almost walk across the lake. It's obvious that there's too much nutrient rich run off from the surrounding area. When I walked up to the lakes edge, I smelled a septic odor. No doubt, there's a lot of biological activity going on here and it's not fish.

We didn't even remove our kayaks from our vehicles. Who would fish in these waters? It's amazing how fast a fairly large body of water can fill up with algae. Two years ago, there were a family of beavers, a great blue heron and many ducks.

Today, we didn't see very much wildlife, except for these ducks. It looked like one of the ducks had to play Coast Guard Cutter to make a path through the muck! 

I hope this lake makes a comeback because it was such a beautiful lake! However, the little research that I've done on a milfoil problem this large indicates that it will require help and likely take a long time to recover. What a shame.  

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

How to improve your bait presentation!

Want to catch gigantic fish? Three words, Bait Training School! 

I hope you enjoyed the cartoons, check-out my vintage style maps of your favorite lake, river, or bay!

5 More Lakes to Visit this Summer

As summer draws to a close, here are five lakes to visit to cap off your summer. With recreational activities such as golfing and fishing, these lakes have plenty to offer. Also, we've included pictures of vintage style lake maps that are available at Leolakes.com

Greers Ferry Lake

Greers Ferry Lake is located in Northern Arkansas in the Ozark Mountain foothills. With its sparkling, clear water, Greers Ferry is rated as one of the most pristine lakes in the nation. There are eight marinas around the lake that supply rentals of ski boats, house boats, and more and with the fish supply supplemented by the Arkansas Game and Fishing Commission, Greers Ferry is a great place for anglers. There is an island within the lake called Sugar Loaf Mountain with a summit that is five hundred feet above the lake; a trail on the island offers beautiful mountain views of the lake. With shopping in communities close by, a trail to hike on, and great fishing, Greers Ferry offers activities for everyone. 

Sources: http://www.arkansas.com/outdoors/water-activities/lakes-rivers/lake.aspx?id=7

Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe is located within both Nevada and California in between Reno and Sacramento. With accolades such as being rated America’s Best Lake by USA Today and number one ski and travel destination by various sources, Lake Tahoe is clearly popular. Lake Tahoe offers classic lake activities such as boating and fishing but it also has unique offerings such as casinos and concerts. With free concerts almost every night and casinos on the Nevada side of the lake, Lake Tahoe has something for everyone. If you have the good fortune of visiting Lake Tahoe in the winter, you can participate in activities such as skiing and snowboarding. 

Sources: http://www.gotahoenorth.com/things/downhill-skiing-and-snowboarding/
http://www.visitinglaketahoe.com/

Mille Lacs

Mille Lacs is a lake located in Minnesota. During the summer, this area is warm and sunny; with a variety of fish such as northern pike, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, black crappie, and tullibee, Mille Lacs is Minnesota’s most popular lake for fishing. The Mille Lac Soo Line Trail is perfect for runners and bikers with its 11 miles of train tracks converted to paved and gravel trail. If you are looking for an off-road adventure, the area around Mille Lacs has more than 300 miles of ATV trails. Mille Lacs is the ideal lake to visit if you are an active person looking for an adventure!
Fun Fact: Mille Lacs is French for “one thousand lakes.”

Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mille_Lacs_Lake
http://millelacs.com/activities/family-summer-vacations/

Pickwick Lake

Pickwick Lake is located within Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee. Pickwick has some exceptional fishing areas that have record size smallmouth bass and catfish; warm water dispelled from the power plant attracts fish during the cold weather in some areas. Pickwick Landing State Park offers areas for camping and three public beaches; some of the biggest fishing tournaments are held at the park. The park also contains two trails that are about two miles long and for golf lovers, the park has a golf course that hosts the St. Jude Charity Golf Tournament each year. Pickwick Lake is also home to the Yellow Creek waterfall which even has a rope swing for visitors to jump off the falls. 

Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pickwick_Lake
http://tnstateparks.com/parks/about/pickwick-landing

Lake Gaston

Lake Gaston is located in between the North Carolina and Virginia border; the area surrounding the lake is home to more than 150,000 people. Lake Gaston is a popular vacation spot because of its proximity to two major interstates and several colleges. In addition to the ease of travel to Lake Gaston, Lake Gaston is a good vacation spot because of the prevalence of activities such as fishing, golf, and boating. Lake Gaston has a large population of largemouth basses and striped bass are added to the lake making it a fantastic lake for anglers (however, serious fisherman may want to visit the lake during February and March when catches are usually at their peak). 

Sources: http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/
http://www.virginia.org/Listings/OutdoorsAndSports/LakeGaston/
http://www.lakegastonguide.com/

Hope you enjoyed the article and if you want to know more about the maps, visit Leolakes.com
Have a great end of the summer!

Newest Fishing Techique

The fish are going wild over this new fishing technique and the fishermen are too. It massively increases your size and number of fish that you catch.  It's called Baitscaping. You may ask "What is Baitscaping? It's really simple as you can see from this diagram below of the gentlemen using the technique on his bait. 

How to catch bigger fish, "Baitscape!" You can do it too, go ahead and give it a try. Hey, drop us a line after you try it and let us know how it went. 

Remember: "Don't Just Bait, Baitscape!"

Check Out my vintage style Lake, River and Bay Maps! They make really cool gifts. 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. 

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

A bat out of hell?

Not long ago, my nephew was fishing at night on the Duck river in Tennessee. It was a normal warm summer night with bats flying around catching insects over the river. Apparently, one bat was having trouble with its radar or maybe it was joking with all the other little rodents with wings and may have said: "hey y'all watch this". 
Anyway, the bat ends up flying directly into my nephews fishing line that was stretched out over the water. Somehow the bat gets entangled in the fishing line and can't get free. Talk about an usual catch, that's the way you catch a bat on a fishing pole. This brings up a big questions. Is this a state record for bats caught on a fishing pole or the only bat ever caught on a fishing pole. Actually if you look closely, it looks as if the bat has the green fishing line in it mouth. I'm wondering if it thought that it was food? I'm not sure, but this is a unique story. Lucky for the bat, he was removed unharmed from the line and flew off like a "bat out of hell". I can just see his little bat buddies laughing and giving him a hard time. 

Check-out my lake and river maps, click: www.LeoLakes.com

5 Beautiful Lakes to Visit this Summer

Summer is here and that means it’s the perfect time to visit your favorite lake! Here are some of the most popular lakes in the United States. With more than two months of summer left, maybe you’ll have time to visit all ten?

1. Lake Winnipesaukee

Lake Winnipesaukee is located in the foothills of the White Mountains within the Lakes Region of New Hampshire. Lake Winnipesaukee is surrounded by charming villages with distinctive atmospheres; all of these towns offer quaint shops and restaurants that make for a great afternoon. I recently visited the town of Wolfeboro and was stunned by the beauty and idyllic nature of the area. Lake Winnipesaukee’s crystal clear water and picturesque beauty make for a relaxing vacation or day trip.

Fun fact: The Native American word Winnipesaukee means “Smile of the Great Spirit” or “Beautiful Water in a High Place.”

Sources and More Information:

http://www.lake-winnipesaukee-travel-guide.com/lake-winnipesaukee-waterfront.html http://www.lakesregion.org/regionalinfo/ourlakes/lakewinnipesaukee/tabid/182/default.aspx 

2. Table Rock Lake

With almost 500 miles of shoreline and close vicinity to Branson and Silver Dollar City, Table Rock Lake makes a great vacation spot! Table Rock is considered one of the best lakes for fishing since it has a variety of bass, catfish, and bluegill. If you’re a nature lover, then you can enjoy Mark Twain National Forest which is close to Table Rock. Table Rock is a great place to visit because it appeals to a variety of people; nature lovers, fisherman, and theme park goers alike can find something to do near and on Table Rock Lake!

Sources and More Information:

http://www.branson.com/learn/branson-lakes/table-rock-lake/

http://www.visittablerocklake.org/

3. Lake Sidney Lanier

Lake Sidney Lanier is located in Cumming Georgia just 40 minutes away from Atlanta. More than 7.5 million people visit this lake per year and it’s not difficult to see why; the serene setting creates a perfect atmosphere for relaxation and with renowned golf courses and fishing spots, Sidney Lanier appeals to all kinds of people. Sidney Lanier is a perfect place for families to visit since it is close to the waterpark Lanier World. If you can’t visit Sidney Lanier during the summer, don’t fret because from November through January six miles of holiday lights are strung up to create one of the world’s biggest light shows. Fun Fact: Lake Sidney Lanier is actually named after an American poet and musician of the same name; the lake was created by the damming of the Chattahoochee River which was the subject of his poem named The Song of the Chattahoochee. 

Sources and More Information: 

http://www.homeaway.com/info/travelers/travel-ideas/destination-guides/georgia/what-to-do-in-lake-lanier

http://www.cityofcumming.net/lake-sidney-lanier/

4. Old Hickory Lake

Old Hickory Lake is a reservoir located in north central Tennessee close to the Tennessee’s capital of Nashville. With eight marinas and activities such as hiking, boating, and hunting, Old Hickory Lake is a great place for fisherman and outdoorsman to visit and with its close proximity to Nashville, which is famous for county music, it’s also a destination for music lovers. With Nashville’s great nightlife and the lake’s both scenic and energetic atmosphere, Old Hickory is a place where you can go for both an active and relaxing vacation.
Fun Fact: Old Hickory Lake is named after President Andrew Jackson whose nickname was Old Hickory. His home the Hermitageis located close to the lake.

Sources and More Information:

http://www.nashville-vacation-fun.com/old-hickory-lake.html

5. Great Sacandaga Lake

The Great Sacandaga Lake is located in Fulton County, New York; one of the largest of the Adirondack lakes, Great Sacandaga is surrounded by lofty pines and situated within the Adirondack Park. In addition to relaxing in the natural beauty of the lake, you can participate in activities such as fishing and jet skiing. One of the best things about the Great Sacandaga is its proximity to a variety of museums and entertainment such as dinner theatres. A good way to spend your day at Great Sacandaga Lake would be to start the day off with boating and fishing and then visit the Adirondack Museum to learn more about the history and culture of the Adirondacks and then end your day at a dinner theatre. 

Sources and More Information:

http://www.adirondack.net/sacandaga/

http://www.visitsacandaga.com/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Lanier

Canvas Lake Decor Maps

I paint lake, river and bay maps and have for the last 4-5 years. They have become something that I love to do. I often receive emails from customers about my maps. Here's one that I received after Fathers Day.

"Hi Larry, just wanted to thank you again for the Lake Nebagamon map.  I gave it to my father in law for Fathers Day and he absolutely loved it!  His wife told me he said it was the best gift he ever received." 

I call my maps treasured maps because most folks have that special body of water that they treasure.  I have over two hundred on my website that can be purchased right from the site, or I can paint a custom lake, river or bay map, too. I hide a tiny mermaid/fish in the waters of all my lake map paintings that folks love to search for.  

Here's a few more recent comments

Customer Email: 6/22/15: Hi Larry, just wanted to thank you again for the Lake Nebagamon map.  I gave it to my father in law for Fathers Day and he absolutely loved it!  His wife told me he said it was the best gift he ever received.(Custom Lake Map)

Customer Email: 6/12/15: I got the picture today! Looks really good.  Thank you very much. Great job. Very satisfied!!! (Bull Shoals Lake) 

Customer Email: 6/8/15: Received the map in the mail over the weekend. Much sooner than I expected! It looks amazing! One of a kind, crafted really well! You added all the special locations I asked for and it is perfect! Thank you so much!!(Table Rock Lake)

Customer Email: 5/20/15: It’s perfect!! Love it! It’s a b’day gift for my  husband. He will love it too. Thanks so much:) (Choctawhatchee Bay)

Customer Email: 5/04/15: Hi Larry, Received the map right on time and wanted to let you know it’s great! I like things for the lake house that you just don’t see everywhere and this is just perfect. When my friends get their place rebuilt this is going to be the best house warming present! Thanks again. (Custom Lake Map)

If you are looking for a gift, my maps make a great gift for the lake house owner, lake lover, or fisherman. See more and read about my treasured maps, go to LeoMaps.com. 

"I Love this lake, The most amazing scenes appear in its wake, The sun arises just above the shore, Giving grace and beauty to this place I adore." LKO

Check this monster out! A Tennessee state record Largemouth at 15.2 lbs. The massive fish was caught on Chickamauga Lake in East Tennessee and breaks the old record of 14.8 lbs caught in 1954. I think if I caught this lunker, I would have the biggest smile on my face!

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.