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