One Tough Osprey

Three months ago, I vacationed on Manasota Key in Florida. My in-laws have a small winter place overlooking Lemon Bay. Back then, I took a few photos of an Osprey that caught fish from the bay and would eat them in a tree or on top of a pole near where we stayed. 

When I closely looked at the photos on my computer, I noticed a fishing line dangling from the Osprey's left wing. The next few days I watched the Osprey and the line was still present. It was likely that a hook was hung somewhere under the osprey's wing. I wondered if this Osprey would die from infection. If you look closely below, you can see it.   

Four months later in January, I went to Lemon Bay for a few days and noticed an Osprey hanging around like the one in October. I wondered if it was the same Osprey that I photographed with the line dangling from it's wing. To determine if it was the same Osprey, I looked at the feather pattern on the birds chest to compared. If you look at the area that I circled above, you see a distinguishing feather.   

This January Osprey didn't have the fishing line hanging down and he would catch fish and eat them on the same tree and pole. If you look below, you will see the same distinguished feather.

I'm pretty sure these two photos are of the same Osprey, which means he must have removed the fish hook. I guess you would say that this is one tough old bird..... In fact, I placed an Osprey on my Manasota Key map. Float over to my website, LeoLakes.com to see more of my 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 gifts for the fisherman, lake lover, or Lake house. Order soon to avoid the rush!

All maps, 16x32 size and above, come with a Certificate of Authenticity, a poem, and a sheet covering interesting facts about your LeoLakes Decor Map. Here's the wonderful lake poem that my wife wrote about lakes, rivers, and bays.

"As I look over this beloved waterscape, The most amazing scenes appear in its wake, The sun arises above the shore, Giving grace and beauty to this place that I adore."  

Custom Lakes that just finished......

Just finished these two custom maps, Lake Keowee located in South Carolina and Gull Lake in Minnesota. I do lots of custom maps for folks that want to have a map of their beloved lake. Great Valentine gift!

Take a look at my website, LeoLakes.com to find other maps that I have already completed. 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 three hundred maps on my website. 

 If you would like to see more and read about my treasured maps go to LeoLakes.com. There's a hidden mermaid in every maps!

Check us out at click here: LeoLakes.com

Cartoon Rageous

I've taken a few days off after the holiday rush, but now I'm back.. To start the year off on the right bait, I added a few cartoons, some are new and some that I have used before. I must admit, I love bobbers and I cannot deny. Anyway, enjoy....

Check-out my vintage style lake maps. Best gift for the fishermen. 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. I have maps of Lake Winnipesaukee, Table Rock Lake, Greers Ferry, Lake Lanier, Gaston Lake, Choctawhatchee Bay, Toledo Bend, Raystown, and many others. 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 treasured maps by going to LeoLakes.com. 

Oh yeah, this is part of my studio!

I bought an action camera

In a few months, I'm going to Alaska. I know there will be plenty of beautiful landscape, waterscape and animal photo opportunities. So, I'm doing a little planning on what to take and on top of the list is my Canon 810 camera. I've been thinking that a Gopro camera would be a nice addition, but I'm not wanting to spend $300-$400. The next best option is a knock-off brand, such as an Akaso action camera EK700, which is waterproof. A friend of mine has one and recommended it to me.  

I just purchased the camera. The best thing, it was for less than $100. I also purchase a kit that included all kinds of accessories. 

 

Boy, is it small, but it feels like it's fairly good quality. I hope to do some fishing in Alaska and this camera will work well. Just think, being able to reel in a salmon while filming the action, can't wait. In a few weeks,  I may test this camera on my kayak. I will let you know how it goes. It may become my fishing camera!

Also, check-out all of the accessories. I believe that I could easily mount this camera to the cat and he would never know it.  

Hey, 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 lake house maps, 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.

A superlative Fly

Today, I looked back six years ago to see what I was posting. It's kind of interesting to look back a see how my posts have grown or digressed. I found this post that's about the "Great Blue Heron Fly Company". A fictitious, but  humorous company. 

Date:1/15/2012

What is the best fly to fish with? This question has been asked by every fly fisherman since the first fly was wet by water. Well, the answer is the freshest fly of course. The Great Blue Heron Fly Company definitely have the freshest flies. You just don't get any fresher. Check it out. 

Great Blue Heron Fly Company...The freshest flies, plucked today, flies tomorrow...

We grow our own feathers and pluck them too, OUCH. We tie our own flies, so you don't have to. Better feathers, better Flies! It's not about the tie, it's about the fly! Plucked today, flies tomorrow. A superlative Fly. Buy one, get one for the same price. Here's our advertisement.

Since fishing is a little slower in the winter time a little bait humor goes a long way. Hope you enjoyed and remember, Get away from the big screen and get on a big stream. Adventure Outdoors!

Well, that's pretty much what I was posting six years ago. I don't put nearly as much work in my post now, but I am going through a bobber stage. That is, if you have been reading my posts, you will understand. 

Paddle over to my website for some interesting stuff...…...

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

Annual Christmas Fishing Poem

It's time for my annual Christmas fishing 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!

In need of a Christmas gift for the lake lover? Think about it, if someone you know have a lake house, what's better than having a beautiful decor style lake map hanging in the great room! I just finished this beautiful 2'x4' vintage style lake map of Big Bear Lake. I have other lake maps available too. 

I've been doing lake, river and bay maps for approximately six 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 LeoMaps.com. 

A unique gift for the lake lover.

A unique gift for the lake lover. Warm up the holidays with this vintage style map of the Florida Keys. The map is printed on canvas and the waterfowl are highlighted after printing. Each map is signed and numbered and if you look closely, you may find the tiny mermaid swimming in the waters. 

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.