| There are a lot of places in this world where one can | | | | Seas lagoon, Holly, a veteran of over twenty years in |
| go to find solace, peace and tranquility while wetting a | | | | the Disney corporation, gave us some interesting facts |
| line for fish.Walt Disney World in Orlando Florida is not | | | | on her background with Disney World. Having spent |
| the first place that comes to mind.Nonetheless, right | | | | the first part of her career with Disney in "guest |
| there beneath the shadow of the Magic Kingdom, | | | | relations" she had mainly handled "guest" complaints, so |
| amongst wide-eyed roller coaster riders, a stones | | | | the fishing guide position she had held for the last eight |
| throw from Tinkerbell's safety harness, exists one of | | | | years was a welcome relief. She had grown up in |
| the prime Largemouth Bass fishing waters you will find | | | | Louisiana fishing for bass, and she was well qualified |
| anywhere.Remote? No.Pristine? Hardly.Filled with | | | | for obviously one of the most coveted positions that |
| hungry fat Largemouth Bass....YES!!I'm not really sure | | | | the 70,000 or so folks on the Disney World payroll |
| what compelled me to book a two hour Disney Bass | | | | could have. Spending your day out on the water away |
| fishing adventure.I don't know if I was curious that | | | | from the crowds certainly seemed a better tour of |
| possibly a rather large mouse might show up at the | | | | duty, than trying to manipulate a pen with oversized |
| dock with a fishing vest full of sponsor patches,and a | | | | paws inside a large fur coat in 90 degree weather.But |
| big wad of chew between his cheek and gum. Or, if | | | | that's just me.We motored on by the big ferry boat |
| mechanical alligators might raise up out of the water- | | | | loaded with another group of guests ready for a |
| jaws agape-while I reached down to pick up my bass | | | | d-day like assault on the Magic Kingdom, and pulled up |
| by the lips. Or, if perhaps cannonballs might be landing | | | | to the shallows near an island. I knew I would have to |
| dangerously close to the boat as we all sang yo-ho | | | | catch my fish early on, before the "estrogen" effect |
| yo- ho a fisherman's life for me....Or maybe, just | | | | would occur and I would be relegated to camera |
| maybe, after wandering around the Magic Kingdom, | | | | duty.Even though catch and release is the practice on |
| Animal Kingdom, Epcot and MGM for four days, | | | | these waters, live bait is still the bait of choice. Being a |
| bouncing off of an endless stream of six year olds | | | | steelhead and salmon fisherman from Oregon I was |
| with attached parents in tow,eating space | | | | unfamiliar with the little "shiners" that they use down |
| burgers,frontier burgers,Yeti burgers, and trying to | | | | south to produce the big bass, but as if on cue, within a |
| figure out how to amuse myself in line for 60 minutes | | | | minute of tossing the little fellar into the drink I had my |
| while waiting to have the POOH scared out of | | | | first largemouth on--and it was a nice one too!I hoisted |
| me.....maybe, just maybe I thought that I might just find a | | | | a chubby four pound bass onto the boat, and as I |
| few hours away from the hustle,bustle and silent | | | | grabbed him by the "largemouth" I made sure he was |
| freakish stares of Chip and Dale.I must admit, as we | | | | real, and not some animatronic Disney bass that was |
| were making plans for a family trip to the mother of all | | | | about to break into a chorus of "You ain't nothin' but a |
| amusement parks, I had spotted this fishing adventure | | | | hound dog".Pretty soon Sara, my daughter, had her |
| on the Disney website. As my wife locked us in for | | | | first bass on and mom was right behind her with her |
| five days of "Disney Magic", I writhed in agony | | | | first bass.Dang, the estrogen had kicked in early.As |
| wondering just how many princesses there must be if | | | | promised, Disney had already delivered a great family |
| it takes five days to see them.My six year old | | | | experience and since most of the fish caught by my |
| daughter was obviously thrilled.Being a card carrying | | | | daughter had been crappie sized fish out of her |
| member of the "I want to go fishing club", I figured this | | | | Grandpa's pond, the look of excitement that Sara had |
| may be my only opportunity to sneak in some fishing | | | | on her face when she hoisted her first largemouth |
| on this trip. And if you have ever looked at a map of | | | | bass was well worth the price of admission.We each |
| the Orlando area, you will see that this is an abundant | | | | caught several more bass with the biggest running |
| area of lakes, not to mention short drives to the | | | | close to five pounds.Sara, like any six year old, quickly |
| coastal areas and ocean fishing galore. In other words | | | | lost interest in the labor involved with catching fish, and |
| it was killing me, knowing how close to great fishing I | | | | turned her interest to the "shiners" swimming in the live |
| was--but unless they had trout swimming along the | | | | well.I guess you might say she took a shine to 'em!! |
| waterways of Splash Mountain--I was never going to | | | | HA!Anyway, she became are unofficial "shiner" go-fer, |
| see any of them.So, after the third day of posing for | | | | and kept the little fish in shape, by chasing them around |
| pictures with oversized rodents, dragons, and perky | | | | trying to catch them with her bare hands.After a short |
| princesses, I called the Disney central reservation line | | | | dry spell, we headed off to other "pristine" waters. This |
| for "active fun"-as if screaming and doing isometric | | | | spot happened to be at the ferry landing, where all the |
| hand grips on Expedition Everest, or ogling Pocahontas | | | | people line up for the d-day assault.Under the watchful |
| is not considered active fun!- and booked a bass | | | | eyes of hundreds of Disney patrons and a couple of |
| fishing trip for the next morning. Evidently, the line and | | | | Herons and Egrets, we went bass fishing. After landing |
| waiting period for the "largemouth bass ride" is not | | | | another big chubby in front of the bored line sitters, |
| nearly as long as the wait for Peter Pan, because the | | | | they all let out a loud cheer and like the shy fella I am, I |
| nice girl (I think it may have been Cinderella) was able | | | | hoisted my trophy like I had just won Bassmaster's |
| to get us a fishing trip out of the Contemporary Hotel | | | | $10,000 first prize on ESPN.Unfortunately, one of our |
| Marina with no problem.Didn't even have to get a | | | | released fish didn't fare to well and soon was floating |
| FastPass!!Best of all, we didn't have to get up early. | | | | belly up near the ferry boat. A Heron made a heroic |
| We were scheduled for 10:00 a.m.Like all Disney | | | | effort to hoist the big fish from the waters, but the two |
| events and productions, great attention to detail and | | | | pound fish was too much and he retired back to his |
| planning is done to insure the perfect family | | | | front row seat on shore.Although there is always going |
| experience. That is why catch and release is the | | | | to be a certain amount of attrition, even when you are |
| practice on Seven Seas lagoon and Bay lake, (the two | | | | catching and releasing fish, I think the Disney folks |
| primary fishing waters at Walt Disney World) and | | | | would just as soon their bass went belly up away |
| probably a big reason for the reliable fishery.AND like | | | | from the gates to Fantasyland, and we soon had a |
| all Disney adventures and productions, the perfect | | | | radio call from Holly's boss telling us to move from the |
| family experience has it's price.$230.00 for two hours | | | | docks-because it was too windy.Seemed odd since |
| of fishing!That's a lotta rubber worms.In fairness, that is | | | | there was only the faintest of breezes in the air.We |
| the rental of the boat and the boat can handle up to | | | | still felt bad, and certainly didn't want to be responsible |
| five fishermen(four if they are wearing mouse ears.) | | | | for kids being permanently scarred for life, so we |
| so really you technically can get it under fifty bucks a | | | | moved.Not that Disney does anything to ever |
| person.AND like all Disney events-it was well worth the | | | | permanently scar kids!!??It was just as well, because |
| price to see the excited look on my daughters face | | | | by now my wife was using her unfair estrogen |
| when I told her we were gonna catch us " a messa | | | | advantage to outfish me two to one, which was even |
| bass".Most of the guides showed up at the marina a | | | | noticed by the ferry boat- line operator, who made it a |
| few minutes early and looked like they had part time | | | | point to walk over to our boat and tell us of his keen |
| roles on The Animal Planet. The boats were spotless, | | | | observation.Darn estrogen.By the time we motored |
| fully equipped and ready to go. Since there were three | | | | our way back into Bay lake our "two hour cruise" was |
| of us and we had a "little one" on board, we were | | | | pretty much at an end. Of course there was still the |
| given a pontoon type boat rather than a bass boat.I | | | | matter of settling up on the bill, and receiving a nice |
| expected Steve the crocodile hunter to be our guide | | | | complimentary subscription to a bass fishing |
| for the day,but as it turned out our guide was to be a | | | | magazine---which of course happens to be owned by |
| lovely lady by the name of Holly.Guess Goofy had the | | | | Disney.....As we left the boat and headed back into the |
| day off.After quick introductions we were on board | | | | perfect world of magical princesses, long lines, and the |
| our Tracker and on our way.Now, for those of you | | | | ever present gift shops, I couldn't help but think that I |
| that have read any previous articles I have written, you | | | | had just got off the best ride at Disney |
| will quickly realize that I was going fishing with three | | | | World.Well-except for the Mad Tea Cups....A.J. Klott |
| members of the "e-factor" estrogen fishing society. If | | | | Author, writer of fishing humor,and "fly tack" |
| you are not familiar with this secret society, let's just | | | | peddler.A.J. writes about the people,characters and |
| say that I had about as much of a chance of outfishing | | | | modern day events that surround the fishing world. His |
| these ladies as getting a date with Ariel or Snow | | | | first book is now out and being sold out of the back of |
| White.As we motored our way out of the natural | | | | a 1976 Opal Cadet.Coming to your town soon. |
| waters of Bay lake and into the man made Seven | | | | |