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