I found the best fishing hole, sort of.......

I was in Florida last week and discovered the best fishing hole ever! I was lucky to have my camera with me to document the catches. Obviously, this is not the kind of fishing that you are thinking of, but still fishing is fishing. I met a few new friends that were fishing from the shore. Mr. Bittern is shown here approaching the water line ready for a big catch.  

With in a second, a fish is near.....

and bang, Mr. bittern has the catch 

Hummm, looks like a shiner minnow. That will go well in the sunshine. Yum, yum!  

Here's another friend nicknamed "Sandpiper". Oh, looks like he has something. Got to get a closer look.......

It's a crab! It's not bad to have crabs sometimes.......Looks delicious !

Not a bad five minutes of fishing.


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. Oh yeah, I hide things in the lake waters, such as a tiny mermaid/fish. Folks love to search for them. 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. 

As you can see, my maps make a great gift.  Orders are picking up during the holiday's, so order soon. Click here www.LeoLakes.com for more information.

Have a very "Happy New Year" and remember......

A few years ago, I got to follow my dream, a dream of having my own studio and creating the art that I love. After some wandering around on exactly what I wanted to produce, then putting all my creative and artistic ability in to it, I can now say that I have found it, "producing creative decor maps of places that folks love." I think this email below, from one of my customers pretty much sums it up, I have found my calling!" 

I received my custom, Hammock Lake decor map yesterday and was like a kid opening it on Christmas Day.  I could not wait to see it, and it definitely did not disappoint! It it stunning!!  Thank you so much for working with me to create this amazing focal point of my home. Your work is gorgeous and is just what I had been looking for!! I absolutely love the barn wood frame!! Thank you also for your promptness on answering your emails and for the super quick delivery.  Your business is more than 5 star and is so much appreciated!!! Thank you again and have a GREAT 2018!!

Have a very "Happy New Year" and remember "Life is short, get away from the big screen and get on a big stream."

My Lake 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!

Best Lake House Gift

Warm up the holidays with this vintage style map of the Florida Keys. The map is printed on canvas and the water fowl are high lighted after printing. Each map is signed and numbered and if you look closely, you may find the tiny mermaid swimming in the waters

or warm up those cold winter nights with a beautiful vintage style Lake Map over the fireplace.......

Or just put one on the wall to brighten up the lake house......

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. 

Best Lake Lover Gift

Best lake lover Gift! Think about it, if someone you know, has a lake house, what's better than having a beautiful vintage style lake map hanging in the great room! I just finished this beautiful 2'x4' vintage style lake map of Lake Bob Sandlin. The colors came out perfect and they work well with the mahogany frame. I'm sure it will look great hanging in the customer's lake house. LeoLakes.com 

I've been doing lake, river and bay maps for approximately seven 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 LeoLakes.com. 

Beautiful Beach and Bay Maps

This is a photo of beautiful Lemon Bay, which is located between Sarasota and Ft Myers, Florida, about 30 miles south of Sarasota Fl.   I always plan an annual trip to Manasota Key/Lemon Bay. On top of my "to do list" is a little fishing and some other exciting activities. That's my father-in-law on the dock fishing. There's nothing better than walking on Manasota Key beach enjoying the waves and searching for sharks teeth that have washed up.

Speaking of Shark!!! SHARK, in lemon Bay?...............Nope, it's a bottlenose dolphin. Dolphin have been known to swim under a fisherman's boat and grabbed his catch of the day. 

I enjoy this area so much, I did a decor map of the area. Take a look below. Oh yeah, I hide things in the lake waters, such as a tiny mermaid/fish. Folks love to search for them.

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. Bay maps will add beauty to your Beach House Decor. Makes a great gift! Find out more interesting facts about my treasured maps by going to LeoLakes.com. 

Click here: LeoLakes.com

Lake House Map

Just finished this 2ft x 4ft canvas map of Table Rock Lake and it will be hanging in the customers lake house soon. LeoLakes.com

Interestingly, I often get comments about the tiny mermaid hidden in the waters of all my maps. Folks love to tell me about the search for the mermaid. They say the children really enjoy hunting for her and are thrilled when they spot her in the waters. Oh yeah, some folks tell me that she moves, but I'm not sure that I believe that. LeoLakes.com

Most folks add a star to a special place on the lake such as a lake house or where they caught that big fish. I've been doing lake, river and bay maps for approximately seven 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. 

Beautiful Map for the Lake House

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!

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.