My favorite lures! The original gold plated Al’s Goldfish and their new Living Lures in baitfish living colors, are hooking and holding our backyard neighbors.
APtravelnews- Bob & Barb “Stopping to Smell The Roses” in our backyard images–November 26th, Port St Lucie, FL-OK! I know, goofy about fishing and all things involved in fooling the finicky and the foolhardy gluttons too! I know Largemouth are touted as being finicky feeders, yet i found a lure group that slays them (I carefully release all top predators, bass are in that category) with ease. Just 15-feet from our screen door lanai, down a slightly sloping grass backyard, lies a very large rain holding pond. This 10-acre pond is interconnected with several additional ponds in our private, HOA (hate HOA, except the ponds are protected from unabated, indiscriminate catch and take use) neighborhood. When I want to check out anything I offer it to my dozens of backyard neighbors; Largemouth, giant brim, and the invasive, but fun loving Peacock bass. Of all the many hard and soft lures I’ve tried and had fine success with, nothing has been more consistent in having a neighbor visit their side of the pond mud and weed than by them accepting the invitation I offer with AL’s Goldfish Co. lures. We will also be testing these lures in the Keys with our son and daughter Brian and Diane on our Mako. Stay tuned to see if our old neighbors when we lived in the Keys will come to visit again! For a good look at AL’s Goldfish Co. go: www.alsgoldfish.com
Barb loves to fish when she has an edge and doesn’t have the whole day to hopefully hook a neighbor with shoulders enough for us to spar with! She has become an Al’s lover too!
My 24-inch brown (only hookup in high water) caught in W. Virginia 100-foot wide stream. Hooked me under a tree limb, but he was mine to photo and release. Got a special technique to get a fish out of cover!
APtravelnews- Forwarding on this important news piece from ASA–Alexandria, VA – November 12, 2015 – The American Sportfishing Association (ASA) and the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) announced today a partnership in which NMMA will produce a new Marine Accessories Pavilion located within the International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades, better known as ICAST. ICAST will be held July 12-15, 2016, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla.
NMMA’s new Marine Accessories Pavilion highlights the importance of boating accessories to the world’s largest recreational fishing trade show, which also includes a co-location with the International Fly Tackle Dealer Show, known as IFTD.
A view from the tower towards Pickwick Lake. This Marriott Hotel was excellent in every way!
APtravelnews-October 23rd—Florence, AL. and Lauderdale, County is quite progressively moving forward with offering locals and visitors some of the best historical, modern as well as iconic music entertainment and even spiritual attractions, excellent restaurants and accommodations that AL. has to offer. Barb and I, thanks to the very professional, yet extremely friendly, Georgia Carter Turner from Florence and Lauderdale Tourism Development Council, brought us in to familiarize us with many opportunities that all visitors can take advantage of as well.
We stayed at the Marriott Shoals Hotel & Conference Center, which offered excellent buffet breakfasts, lunch and dinners at Swampers Restaurant (see images of our meals) comfortable rooms and even an indoor and outdoor impressive swimming pool and spa. The staff was very pleasant and friendly; the elevator never kept you waiting- it was as fast as any I have ever experienced. The beds were perfect! It’s tough to be comfortable traveling and bed-hopping, but here we slept comfortably and bedded down on the 6th floor watching vast sunsets and sun-ups over a panoramic view of hill and dale, viewing the nearby waters of Muscle Shoals and the Tennessee River. www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/msimc-marriott-shoals-hotel-and-spa/
Salmon and sauteed Brussel,Sprouts at Swamper’s Restaurant in the lobby area of the Marriott!Welcome Center new and special for Florence, Lauderdale and every visitor!Steak and fried green tomatoes. Even Pres. Bushes favorite vegetable (not) Broccoli! Dat’s a meal!
Early Monday morning, writer Rebecca McCormick from Hot Springs Arkansas and I were scheduled to fish Pickwick Lake with Guide Lance Walker. It sure was cool traveling at 75-miles per hour with his Skeeter Boat powered by a 250-hp Yamaha, but we got to cover plenty of water and with a bit of a cold-front, the fish had a bit of lockjaw. Fortunately, we carried Click-It Hot Hand Warmers. Lance loved using these near instant reusable units in his hands and on his back too. Fortunately we had the right guide. Lance knew where they lived and we popped a 9-pound largemouth, a 4-pound smallmouth and a few additional bass in the 4-pound range. Plenty of great fish to photo and release (see images). Overall a fabulous fishing adventure! www.scout.com/outdoors/wired2fish/story/1466300-pickwick-bass-fishing-showing-out-again
After a wash-up, we headed for lunch and ice cream at Trowbridge’s on Main Street in Florence. The diminutive place is an iconic, very reasonably priced lunch spot with ice cream to cry for “more. Along with the lively crowd, we enjoyed sharing this long-time fun-spot that felt like a throw-back to the 50’s. Pimento Cheese sandwiches were long time favorites, and I had a Butter Pecan Milk Shake that I can’t wait to taste again-WOW! www.yelp.com No there was more to come: Stay tuned for our dinner at Ricatoni’s Italian Grill and later; Arx Mortis Haunted attraction, back door tour. It was so spooky and really scary! Note: See lots more in next posts about our whirlwind adventures in Florence and Muscle Shoals, AL. Check out their website at: www.visitflorenceal.com We’re Going back for sure!
Our fishing guide, Lance Walker knows where they live (a nine-pounder) and he knows how to knock on their door!The display at the welcome Center shows various types of bass that are found in the TN. and Lake Pickwick.