Father daughter tattoo........

I have a secret, I have a tattoo. It's not unlike Fred the Fisherman's tattoo below, but it is different. I do fish, however I didn't get a fishing tattoo. I would describe it as sentimental, an activity done over a long period of time, and it has a twin. Yes a twin. Who would put a tattoo on their face, not me. My new tattoo is actually located on my ankle, however some folks may call them cankles. 

I suppose it's time for the big reveal. My tattoo says 'run." Yes, that's it. Why in the world would I get a tattoo that says "run"? That a great question! I wasn't drunk when I got it. Believe it or not, I have run about 12 miles a week for the last 23 years, but that's not the reason I got this new tattoo. It is all because of my daughter. She started running with me when she was in elementary school. Now, she is almost 23 years old. A few months ago, she got a tattoo because she loves to run and told me that it was all because of me. So, she said that we should consider getting a twin tattoo. 

So I did!

As you can see from this photo, we have twin tattoos. I think it's kind of cool to have twin tattoos. I only wish that I had started her out fishing..........

Paddle over to my studio and check-out my beautiful maps. Add beauty to your lake house! A nice big map of the lake that you live on. Have a large wall, hang a large map! 

Anyway, check-out my lake house lake maps, makes a great gift. Click here, Leolakes.com to see if we have your map. We have many popular lake maps such as the Lake Winnipesaukee, Great Sacandaga Lake, Lewis Smith Lake, Pickwick Lake, Greer's Ferry Lake, Lake Sidney Lanier, Lake Sinclair, Table Rock Lake, and Lake Wallenpaupack for the lake house.  Also, we paint custom maps and have personalized maps for that special someone. 

A few bait cartoons...

Yeah like my title? I do....I'm still doing bobber cartoons, but slowing down. I had no idea that I could come up with so many bobber cartoons. I think that I have over fifty, that's a world record. I'm sure.  Hope you like'm and remember, "Bait can be fun!" Enjoy

Seriously, Paddle over to my website and take a look at my Lake, River, and Bay Maps. I have hundreds of decor 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 Fish Camp, Lake House or Cabin. The Best lake lover gift of he year.  Find out more interesting facts about my treasured maps by going to LeoLakes.com. 

Pop the old school fisherman.

A few years ago, I photographed my father-in-law "Pop", while fishing on Lemon Bay in Florida. He loves to fish, and is now almost 92 years young. Pop is an old school fisherman!

Pop isn't too fond of fancy tackle boxes.  As you can see, he has a makeshift tackle box. A baby wipes box, probably one from our kids years ago. Think about it, Pop is repurposing before repurposing was cool! "Old School."  

Pop was born in a time when bait was free, you only had to search for it, a little digging and a handful of worms would be crawling all over the ground. In Florida, Pop fishes with live shrimp that he catches himself, yes free bait. He uses shrimp traps to catch the shrimp and feeds them lettuce. "Old School!"

One thing you learn about an old school fisherman is patience. Once he sets his pole, he waits and watches. 

......and waits and watches. You can tell a great fisherman, because there will be a great blue heron lurking behind their back! Why? Because, the heron knows "This Old School Fisherman" catches fish and I'm getting the leftovers...If you look closely, there is a great blue heron behind Pop.

Pop has spotted a bite. Check out the bend in the end of the fishing pole. Pop is ready to set the hook and reel in a catch, not too early.

Looks like the live bait is a winner. Pop has caught a small trout, not a keeper, but a fun catch anyway. Pop doesn't fish as much as he used to, but still has some amazing fishing tales. Pop is one of the last "Old School Fishermen".  

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 gifts for the fisherman, lake lover, or Lake house. 

As you can see, my maps make a great gift.   Click here www.LeoLakes.com for more information.

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

Best Lake Lover gift!

Need a 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 they enjoy.

My maps make great gifts and will bring back memories of those boating trips to that favorite lake. You can even star your favorite place. Don't forget to look for the fish jumping around in the lake waters or tiny hidden mermaid!

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. 

Baitrageous bobber humor

I've been so busy, I am just now up-dating this blog. One reason for the delay is that I have decided to put a little more effort in drawing my cartoons. Hopefully you will see the extra effort in the following cartoons. I'm not sure if it's worth the time, but we will see. Yes, I still have a few more bobber cartoons. Enjoy...

One of my favorite cartoons!

This one is okay, but not a favorite.

I like this one, clever maybe...

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. 

Wading a Creek.......

Our ten acre woods has a creek on the back of the property. I got to wade down our creek last week with a biologist. Yeah, my daughter is a biologist. We use to wade this creek when she was a little kid, looking under rocks for crayfish or salamanders. Once she caught a crayfish with big pinchers and it pinched her on the hand, she just cried, but that didn't stop her fro  catching whatever was under a creek rock. 

It's amazing how the impact of wading a creek has on life. She is a third year Phd student in biology at the University of Georgia. 

It's a beautiful little creek with all kinds of life including this salamander. The creek is named the South Fork of Sycamore creek. I can see why they call it Sycamore Creek because of all the sycamore trees that line the banks.

The water is fairly cool on this hot summer day. Check-out the clarity of the water.  She noted that it appears to be a healthy stream. It's cool what you spot while wading. We found this box turtle wandering the woods, probably looking for a mate. 

Lucky for my daughter, she won a National Science Foundation Grant that pays for her Phd schooling.   

I must say, I give thanks to this creek........

Something else, I do beautiful lake maps. Paddle on over to my website to see some great maps of your favorite lake, river, or bay...LeoLakes.com makes great gifts for the Lake Lover, Lake House, or Fishermen.

Lake house fun.......

I decided to add a little lake house fishing humor to the blog. Here's a few oldies but goodies cartoons that I have done in the past. I bet that I've done 300 different cartoons over the last few years. Hope you enjoy! Oh yeah, check-out my treasured lake house maps below. I think they are kind of neat and my customers love them.

Hey, check-out my treasured lake house maps. I got an idea, hang a lake decor map of the lake in the lake house!

Here's what my customers say:
"The  map looks great! Thanks so much.  We are visiting my brother this weekend at Lake Chautauqua and I know it will be a great addition to their new lake house.  Are you able to do waterways that are not listed.  My husband and I own a cottage on a lake in Maine and would love a picture like this."

"Larry, We  hung the map above our bed at the lake house. We absolutely love it.  We have a water ski headboard and the map works perfectly. Plan to enjoy it many years to come!

Anyway, 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. Also, you can personalize your lake map with a star where your lake house is located.  I call my maps, treasured maps because most folks have that special body of water that they treasure. My treasured maps make a great gift for the fisherman, lake lover, lake house. Add beauty with lake cabin decor, lake decor, lake cottage decor, or buy as a lake gift.  

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

Remember: "Hanging a Leo Lakes Treasured Map in a lake house, is like christening a boat with a bottle of champagne!" 

I mapped my vacation

A few weeks ago, I went to Nags Head N.C. on vacation. I found that Nags Head was a pretty cool place and enjoyed my visit. In fact, I enjoyed my visit so much that I painted a decor map of Nags Head. Here's a quick step by step guide to a map painting in progress. 

I carefully draw the map on poster board. While I'm drawing the roads, I think back when I was diving down these roads going to the beach, Jockey's Ridge, Duck, Kill Devil Hills etc....

After I complete the map drawing, I start painting the map using watercolors. Believe it or not, I only used blue, brown, and red colors. After I finish the painting the map, it is scanned into the computer and I use a graphic program to add detail, such as lettering, waterfowl, fish, and a tiny mermaid. Check it out!

The finished product! A beautiful canvas map of Nags Head. It turned out great. I like the colors and how it grabs your attention. Most folks are drawn to the map, scanning the map for a familiar places. 

Yes, this is me and my wife at Jockey's Ridge, Nags Head! Now that you have seen how I do maps, check-out my maps. They look great hanging in your home, lake house or office. Makes the best Gift! I have beautiful lake decor map of your favorite lake, which will look perfect above the fireplace. I even do custom maps of your favorite lake, river, or bay. LeoLakes.com

Unlike most 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.