video: winter canoe fishing before lake freeze, first catch of year & kingfisher sighting

Welcome to my Bite-sized Fishing series in the New Year! This is the latest in the winter season I try to catch Bluegill and Perch, before the lake turns to ice. Plus, I get some sightings of the awesome Kingfisher bird while on the water.

This was filmed in the week after New Years Day when there was a warmish day of 48 degrees. I brave it because there is no wind to ruin my canoeing experience. I simply use a live worm as bait because none of the fish were interested in artificial baits, this time.

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video: can a 2-piece travel rod withstand a powerful fish? + eagle birds abound!

While canoe/kayak fishing, I put Fenwick Eagle 2-Piece rod to the test to see if I can pull in a powerful fish. The quality spinning rod is medium fast with excellent feedback, but how is its strength? I hope to catch a bass, but I end up fighting a fish that is even stronger, heavier and quite possibly my personal best in weight!

Plus, I get a sighting of several Bald Eagles, flying, perched and… walking?!

Check out my video, and enjoy.

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The following gear appear in this video:
Fenwick Eagle Spinning 2-piece rod
Gamakatsu Octopus Circle Hook (size 8)
Reaction Tackle – Lead Drop Shot, 1/8 oz
Stren Original Monofilament 10 lb test
Boga Grip
Frabill Power Stow Net 20×24 Hoop 36in Sliding Handle
Aqua Bound Sting Ray Hybrid 2-Piece Kayak Paddle
Panasonic HC-V800 HD Camcorder
GoPro Hero 8 Black

video: find a fish in a barren cold lake + the hungry kingfisher

On an ominous foggy winter day, I go canoe fishing and use the Humminbird Fishing Buddy 120 to help me find a fish in a barren lake. It is hard to spot any fish in this cold water because they are all gone, dispersed or simply lethargic. Eventually, I do catch a nice fish, and its a new species for me! What do you think I catch?

By the way, remember the Kingfisher I had mentioned in my previous post? Well, I feature the sighting of that very bird, as it is scouting for food, in my video. Luckily, I have my camera and that is how I am able to draw a rendition of the little critter (when I got home later).

In a way, the Kingfisher and I compete to catch a fish. Who will win this competition? Check out my video and enjoy!

drawing: the kingfisher

While I was fishing the other day, a bird, perched over the water, caught my eye. At first, I thought it was a Blue Jay because, well, it was blue, and it had a crest on its head. But then, it made a nice subtle chirping. Blue Jays actually make a loud alarming sound. So I knew this bird was different.

I continued to fish. An hour or so later, I saw the bird again. This time, the bird had a Bluegill in its mouth. The bluegill was almost as big as the bird itself! I suddenly realized that this bird is a Kingfisher!

I’ve seen nature shows that featured kingfishers and how good they are at catching their food from the water. And here it is right before my eyes. In honor of the sighting, I just had to draw the cute little bugger (when I got home).

Sorry to get so excited but I always wanted to see this amazing little bird in person. Plus, I am a birder enthusiast AND I love fishing. Birds that are made for catching fish are a win-win in my book :)

If you like Outdoor & Nature art, please feel free to check out my shop.

video: young bald eagle sighting & dropshot fishing

Bald Eagles are making a comeback, including in my area. I get a sighting of family of eagles, the mother and its offspring. Interestingly, the young eagle looks a little odd because it does not have a bald crown like an adult. The young has a blotchy feather pattern.

Plus, while fishing from the river edge, I use worms on the drop shot rig, and experiment with different lengths. between the hook and sinker. Success depends on the depth, structure and the kind of fish you are seeking.

Is the drop shot with worms effective for catching fish? What kind of fish am I able to catch on this presentation? Watch my short video and find out :)  Thanks for watching and enjoy!

everglades (part 2): in search for amazing birds & reptiles

The Florida Everglades is a massive preserve for wildlife. In this Part 2 video of the park, I go on a quest to find exotic birds, alligators, turtles and more. Some of my favorite clips are of an Osprey bird feeding on a fish, and of a Soft-shelled Turtle looking for a place to lay her eggs. Nature in its wildest form. Plus, I share a few quick facts about the beautiful National Park. In the end, I fish on a pier at the Atlantic Ocean, I try to catch (and release) any fish that will bite, and it is a tiny fish called Palometa. Even the name is cute.

Some of my art, both graphic and illustrative, are featured in the video too. Check my  short video out, Everglades Wildlife Up Close, and enjoy! Which animal do you like or wish to see in the Everglades?

sketch: osprey catches fish

I am working on a series of sketches about Florida wildlife. I am hoping to tie the illustrations with a video I am also creating on the Everglades.

For starters, today’s drawing is of a predatory Osprey bird, swooping across the sky to catch a nice fish for a meal.

Stay tuned for more :)

Happy weekend!

sketch: canada goose

Today, I draw an exciting subject, a Canadian Goose! Okay. I’m kinda joking. We see these geese every day that we are bored of seeing them. Am I right? Canada geese are so prolific, it is easy to find a model for my drawing. Question: Why do we call them Canada Geese if they are too lazy to fly back to Canada anymore?

The plus side of staying at home is having more time to be creative. For me, it is creating videos and doing drawings.

I feel like I tend to be too rigid in my art. So I wanted to challenge myself to be more loose with this sketch. And that makes it so much more fun and freeing! That is exactly what we need at this time, to be able to not over-do it and liberate ourselves from the stress :)

Thank you Mr Goose for making oblong shapes so fun to draw.

 

sketch: cat sitting up

I have to say that my cat, Mochi, has excellent eye contact. Although cats don’t show facial emotion as readily as dogs do, it never fails to amaze me at how engaged she is when looking out at nature, through the window and on TV! I just had to draw her as she cordially sits on the dining table to get a closer look at a nature program on the flat screen. You can actually see her in action on my short video (from a few blog posts ago).

Do you think my drawing captures her expression well?

video: rare peregrine falcon sighting & small vs big lure for fishing?

What lure fires up a Bass to bite? Today, I do a mini challenge to see what the fish are attracted to – a small or a big crankbait, both are by Bagley brand. Crankbaits emulate a scurrying fish when being retrieved in the water. I really like Bagley brand lures because they come in bright neon colors. They almost belong in a Mardi Gras parade! And it is a parade for me when I catch a fish :)

Plus, while I am on the river, I am pleasantly surprised by the presence of a rare endangered bird. It is a sighting of a Peregrine Falcon! You may not know it but I am an aspiring birdwatcher. (I have a bunch of bird feeders outside my window. And I like to see if I can name the birds that visit my deck.)

In my neck of the woods, Peregrine Falcons used to flourish before industrialization, living on the towering cliffs of the Hudson River and the Delaware Water Gap. Then, Peregrines were threatened due to heavy use of pesticides, like DDT, that seeped into the rivers, and drinking water, making their eggs so brittle that babies would not survive. Thankfully, DDT was banned in the 1970s and Peregrine Falcon populations are healthier and returning.

The falcon that I see is very big and fluffy, because it is a female, and females are much bigger than the males. In the distance, if you listen carefully, you can hear the babies. I am blessed to capture her on video perched, while drinking water from the river, and in flight.

Check out my short video, and let me know what you think.