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