sketch: pro bass fishing

With the dog days of summer upon us, it is definitely a good time to get outdoors. My sketch today shows a bass pro angler in action, getting on a lunker of a fish.

Happy 4th of July everybody!

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illustration: rainbow trout

Rainbow trout were originally abundant only in North American rivers, then they were introduced to other waters around the world due to its delicious taste and challenge as a fighting game fish. Rainbow trout are generally a smaller cousin to the Salmon fish. They thrive in cold clear water. When you see the presence of trout in a river by you, it is a good indicator that the river is healthy, clean and pristine.

My rainbow trout illustration is done in watercolor.

illustration: crappie

Crappies are a popular North American game fish in the family of sunfish. They can be sought by recreational fishermen and women all year round, even in the winter time because crappies can be active in the cold, unlike bass which become lethargic. The meat of crappie is quite tasty and flaky for a freshwater fish.

The biggest one I caught this spring was 3 pounds at 17-inches in length which is a really good size, though they can be as heavy as 5 pounds. I did release it, so that it could grow that big, someday. I illustrated the species in celebration of my cute crappie.

The summer has begun. Happy Memorial Day all!

cartoon: salmon (part 5 of 6)

Our salmon has another near brush with danger.
Will he make it to his destination?

I wasn’t sure whether to include this moment in Salmon’s life, but I wanted to be as candid as possible. Sorry. I don’t want to be a downer. I just want to share awareness and the importance of sustainablility on our precious planet. The Monterey Bay Aquarium has a very good chart, detailing which kinds of fish are threatened and which fish are okay to harvest.

illustration: carp

When you are walking along a lake and you hear fish splashing, chances are that is the sound of Carp. In fact, Carp-type fish are more prevalent than you may realize. Did you know Koi fish are part of the Carp family, and so are pet goldfish?

Carp fish forage on the bottom of the lake for algae, insects and snails. They are easily spooked by people or predators passing by on the shoreline.

In my drawing of the carp, it encounters a piece of corn. I have no idea why carp love corn. Sweet tooth maybe?

illustration: rainbow trout

Rainbow Trout are a cold water fish that live in the ocean for about three years. They return to river tributaries to spawn. They are identified by their polka dots and pinkish color at the lateral line.

illustration: largemouth bass

Largemouth Bass are a North American freshwater fish. Bass are popular as a game fish because of its predatory behavior. They are omnivorous. Meaning they will eat anything that moves, even if the prey may be too big to swallow. In addition to bait fish, bass will consume insects, snails, frogs and even small water birds. In my drawing, the Largemouth is chasing a fast moving crayfish which makes for a nice crispy treat. But who is the faster one here?