The best bay fisherman!

While in Florida, I took a great photo of a fisherman high in a tree. Well, not a fisherman that you may be thinking about, but an osprey, which is known as the fish hawk. You can often see osprey's flying over bays looking for fish to catch.

I spotted this osprey near where we were staying and used my 300mm lens to get a good photo. As you can see, the osprey has caught something and is having lunch.

Looks like he/she has caught a sheepshead fish. Interestingly the sheepshead is often called the convict fish because of the black and white strips on its sides. This convict didn't escape the sharp talons of this osprey. Everyday this bird would catch a fish and have lunch on the same tree. It was always a sheepshead, I wondered why?  Did this bird prefer sheepshead or was it because they were easy to catch. I don't know, but they are good tasting fish.

Check out these talons. They look just like hooks and there's four on each leg. These are better than a Alabama fishing rig.

What does this osprey do at night? It roosts in the same tree that it has lunch in. Well, this one did anyway. I hope you have enjoyed these beautiful birds. 

Get away from the big screen and get on a big stream! Hey, checkout my bay decor maps at  www.leolakes.com makes a great gift.

 

Florida Bay Fishing

 Over spring break I was able to get away from the big screen and get out on a big stream! Here's a picture of beautiful Lemon Bay Florida. Interestingly while fishing, we were checked by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Enforcement personnel. Earlier, I had purchased my 3 day saltwater fishing licenses which came in handy during this check. All went well, and I got to ask the game warden a few questions. I asked, how many folks that you check, don't have their fishing licenses? I was surprised by the answer! The warden said 50% do not have licenses. Now that seems very high to me, but I suppose there's a lot of out of state folks that just start fishing in hopes they don't get caught. Anyway the warden said the fine for not having them was over a 100 bucks.   

During the boat ride we came across five dolphins in the bay. It appeared they were chasing bait fish. This was a good sign because the red tide had been present a few weeks earlier and killed a lot of fish.

We fished around bridge piers and boat docks in hopes of catching sleep head. Our bait was live shrimp which we had purchased earlier, 3 dozen for $12.00.

Here's the result of about four hours of fishing. We actual caught 8-10 fish, but only 4 were keepers.

Yum, sleep head is a great tasting fish.

Pop has an audience while cleaning fish. The neighborhood Pelicans, Herons, and Egrets are always ready for a handout.

Not a bad day fishing! Life is short, get away from the big screen and get on a big stream! Hey, need a great gift for the bay lover, checkout my bay map art at www.leolakes.com

Thanks

 

Shark?

Just got back from spring break to Florida. While walking on the beach near Lemon Bay Florida, I took a photo of this fisherman catching a fish in the Gulf of Mexico.

On the gulf side of the bay lots of folks swim and a few fish. What kind of fish is on the other end of the line?

Hmmm...A black tip shark. I looked up the black tip to see what I could learn. They grow to about 9ft long and are common in the gulf. Interestingly, 16% of all shark bites are by the black tip, but there has been only one death. Still, I'm glad I wasn't swimming in the gulf today.

Looks like the shark is about two & half feet long.

If you look carefully, I think the black tip is smiling! Later I will post the fish that we caught while on spring break.

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

Lake Paintings

I just completed two new custom lakes, Cheat Lake and Madison Lake. These lake paintings are printed on 16x32 canvas. On this size canvas print, I actually hand paint/touch-up the waterfowl and other areas after printing. This really makes the print pop when hanging on the wall. The prints shown here are before touch-up.  

 

Cheat Lake is located on the states line between Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The lake is 13 miles long and 1,730 acre. The major tributary is the Cheat River. A good bass and walleye lake.

This painting of Madison Lake includes Herman, Long, Round and Brant Lakes. Madison Lake is located in South Dakota. Madison Lake is a beautiful lake and is great for fishing. See more at www.LeoLakes.com

Lake Lovers Poem
"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

A March Dusting

This year’s winter in Nashville has not been much of a winter as far as snow fall. So far we have only received 1” of snow and last year we received only 0.4”. On average we normally get 8-11 inches a year. Sunday we woke to a dusting and I decided to get the camera out and take a few shots in the 10 acre woods.

 

I found this tree while wandering around the woods. Who lives here? Looks like the tree is hollow and some animal has set home with the welcome mat being the leaves.

About 3 feet above the active hole was a woodpecker hole. I bet this woodpecker thought the tree was hollow at this level, but found out he had mis-calculated. No bugs today!

After a closer inspection..........

I discovered a nut had been stuffed into the hole, a well polished acorn nut. Looks like the squirrels are doing well this year.

I ended the walk at a red cedar tree! Not a bad ending to a March dusting. 

What's in your woods? Adventure outdoors!

The hottest lure for 2013!!!!!!!!!!!!

Catch big fish like no one esle! Here's a great new plug "guaranteed" to catch more fish, Pete's Paranormal Plug. Pete says this plug will increase your BIG FISH catch by 50-60% and here's why. Have you ever been on the lake or river and heard a big splash only to look out on to the water and see nothing, not even a ripple. That was a ghost fish!

Now with Pete's Paranormal Plug you have a shot at catching that trophy. Just cast Pete's Paranormal Plug as you would your normal lure. If there's a paranormal fish present you will catch it, just hang on for an experience of a life time.

CAUTION: Don't forget to click on the Plug above and read the fine print. Here's a comment from one of our customers: Boy, I fished all day and didn't get a bite and then I put one of Pete's plugs on my line. WOW....WOW.....WOW, what a difference. I am still RECOVERING in the hospital!!!!! Pete says this plug will catch all types of paranormal fish, Bass, Rainbow, Brown, Catfish, Rockfish, and others. Guess what? Currently there's no limit on the number of paranormal fish you can catch however, we recommend that you practice catch and release because.......well you'll find out. You can only get Pete's Paranormal Plug here and it's on special......Buy one, get one for the same price. You gotta get one or two!

Here's a photo of Pete working hard on his next development.

Oh yeah, as you can see or better..... can't see, Pete is Paranormal too.

Remember: DON'T JUST FISH NORMAL, FISH PARANORMAL!

Beavers don't just build dams!

I guess this is what’s called Beaver Graffiti? Look what they’ve built down at the creek. These are some deadbeat beavers. Just think, Mother Nature will need to work overtime and clean this up.

 

Dang Beavers!

 

Get away from the big screen and get on a big stream!

 

Goldilocks Retired!

Do you love your SUV? Goldilocks is my 1999 SUV and has been in the family for 12 years. She's been my fishing buddy, kayak hauling, camping partner and all around family mover. After 248,317 miles, its time to retire Goldilocks. Over the years, she has become a loved family member much like a pet. Goldilocks has been with us on many an outdoor adventure, from the Everglades to Yellowstone and even Canada.

Both kids learned to drive under Goldilocks watchful eye, keeping them safe, even when one crashed her through a gate. I've been babying her along for the last few years because I haven't found a new vehicle that I liked better, "Goldilocks is just right". Well, the time has come! So long Goldilocks, its been great!

Custom Lake Paintings

Have you ever wished that you had a decor map of that little lake you live or grew up on. Well maybe not, but there are a few people that really treasure those small lake gems. Here's one such lake, Suncook Lake in New Hampshire located just below Lake Winnipesakee.

Most folks personalize these lakes by adding photos, poems, cherished locations and special notes, which is the plan for this map. The best part of painting these little lakes is talking to the customer about personalizing their treasured map. You can feel the love for the lake as they discuss those golden memories and how to display them on the map.

I too have a special lake (actually a river), in fact, that is how I started painting rivers, lakes and bays. If you are a lake lover or need a gift for a lake lover, and want to create a family heirloom, then checkout my website at www.LeoLakes.com

    

RACK ON !

I just couldn't resist one last cartoon on DAE (Deer Antler Extract). Hopefully this is the last cartoon on that subject. Get away from the big screen and get on a big stream, or at least put one on your wall. Checkout some big streams at www.leolakes.com

Good Memories

This great blue heron is probably thinking,"Maybe I should try artificial bait."  I painted this back in 2007 and use it for the topper image on this blog. 

The original painting has long been sold to a contractor in Alabama to hang in his office. What do you think drew him to this picture? He said "it was the lure. When I was younger, I had a lure just like the one in the painting. I caught many fish with that lure. After seeing it in the painting, good memories flooded back."

I too had a lure like this one when I was a kid, in fact I used it as the model for the painting. I remember catching  lots of fish on the Duck River with it. I guess you could say that I paint good memories.

Oh yeah, what do you think I called this painting? I named it "Blue Monday Heron" because if you look closely, you can tell the heron is not having a good day fishing on a cold, windy Monday.

Lake Music

What is lake music? Well, there is a lake near Music City (Nashville) that has a long history of lake music. There must be music in the waters because many, many country music stars and song writers live on or near the lake. Stars like Johnny Cash lived on the lake, Taylor Swift lived near the lake while going to high school and this is just to name a few.  The lake didn't create the stars, but it certainly seems to have helped. It must be those foggy mornings with a blue heron flying over and the sun just rising over the water that is a catalyst for great songs and music.  I just finished this beautiful art decor map of Old Hickory Lake the “Music Lake”. The lake is actually named after

Andrew Jackson “Old Hickory” the 7^th president of the United States, but could have just as well been called the music lake. In fact, I hide a musical note in the waters to emphasis the lake’s music heritage. The lake is printed on canvas from a watercolor painting and the waterfowl is hand painted.

"Reduce screen time and increase stream time. Get on a big stream, or at least put one on your wall."

What Deer Antler Extract does to you.

I do alot of outdoorsy cartoons because I have fun with them. Here's a few that I have added to the site. I had to play off  the recent Deer Antler Extract rage in sports. Also, a little about Labradors. Enjoy!

Remember: "Reduce your screen time and increase your stream time. Get on a big stream."

Lake Winnipesaukee fly over, sort of?

Just completed this 6'-4" x 3'-2" treasured map of Lake Winnipesaukee. The map is large enough for me to place the camera near the canvas and take close-up shots.

Coming in for a land! It almost looks like you are really flying over a lake minus the island names! 

 

 Lake Winnipesaukee is a beautiful lake with many islands.

 All my lakes have the signature ruby meridian, waterfowl, and hidden things in the water.

Here's a great blue heron flying over the lake. I hand paint (touch up) the waterfowl on all canvas prints. 

 If you look closely, you may see a mermaid in the water or even a big trout. See more lakes, rivers and bay maps at www.LeoLakes.com

I hide a tiny mermaid/fish in the waters of all my lake map paintings that folks love to search for. 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 two hundred on my website that can be purchased right from the site, or I can do custom and personalizes 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!

Little Waders

I did this cartoon a while back and I thought it was funny so I brought it back. Enjoy!

 

I couldn't resist doing this cartoon of these waders hanging on the wall and little Johnny's artwork all over his dad's fish suit, as little Johnny calls them. Looks like that's a permanent marker in Johnny's hand. Hmm, wonder what daddy's reaction will be?

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