2010 February | Ultimate Fishing Directory

12 Feb

The Opening Ceremonies Of The Winter Olympic Games…

Posted by the fisherbabe, under Uncategorized

were absolutely amazing!!!! There are not words to describe the feelings, the emotions, or the pure awe inspiring performances that occurred in Vancouver tonight…and for that matter the feelings and emotions I felt just watching from my home in Nebraska. Each Olympic Opening Ceremony does such an amazing job showcasing the beautiful and unique characteristics of the hosting country, and Canada was certainly no exception!!!

The entrance of the Olympians from each country is my favorite part, because for one special moment in time, I can feel the hope, the preparation, the desire, and the dedication that each one of those athletes must feel during that walk into the arena. It is a feeling that most of us will never know first hand, but one that we can all share in through the success and talent of our country’s Olympians.

This year, like always, there are some amazing athletes competing in the 2010 Winter Games. First and foremost, Nodar Kumaritashvili, a 21 year old athlete from Georgia, must be recognized for the amazing life he dedicated to achieving the elite status of Olympian…and the amazing life he gave today in pursuit of that goal. The horrific accident that took his life was one that will not be soon forgotten and is one that will forever remind us to cherish every single moment of life that we are given.

Also, Marjan Kalhor was an inspiring sight to see walking into the arena. This lady is the first woman from Iran to ever compete at the Winter Olympics. This is an extraordinary day in history. Another amazing Olympian is Peter Forsberg who has already won 2 gold medals in his life with the Swedish Ice Hockey Team. You might recognize him as a member of the Colorado Avalanche Hockey Team.

Finally, I want to recognize an amazing athlete in Alpine Skier Hubertus Von Hohenlohe of Mexico. This man has competed in, including 2010, 5 olympic events. He is 51 years old. YES…I said 51!!!! This man proves that there is absolutely NO excuse for not reaching for the stars regardless of your circumstances!!!!

After the Olympians entered the arena, the show really began!!! The enormous lighted polar bear rising from the “icy” floor was a site to behold. From there, Canada really touched on some emotion with the “breaking of the ice” scene on the floor of the arena. What an absolutely amazing sight. However, what came next was something that I simply cannot explain…whales “swam” across the “ocean” floor and the realistic blow-hole scene that arose from that arena floor was a touching tribute to a country that has such incredible beauty just waiting to be discovered!!

The aboriginal dancers showed an endurance and skill all their own, dancing for at least the entire first HALF of the opening ceremony show. I was absolutely amazed and astounded at the beauty of the story that was told by the characters and their dance. Then…behold a lovely tap dancing man was spotlighted and he was A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. There was such an extraordinary amount of talent showcased at these ceremonies that there are not words to explain the wonderful job Canada did with the Olympics this year!!!

You all know that I love Canada because it is a country of unique opportunity and unexplored beauty. It is a country that holds some of the best fisheries on this planet and some of the most lovely, accomodating people that I have ever had the pleasure to meet. Tonight was absolutely no exception to my wonderful opinion of a country that has offered me so much emotion and insight into life and such natural beauty. I believe that they did a beautiful job of showcasing that same emotion, insight and natural beauty to those who, perhaps, have underestimated what Canada has to offer.

You know…I have witnessed first hand the aboriginal cultures, the breaking of the ice, and the whales soaring through the vast ocean…perhaps we should all remember that each country has a unique and lovely story to tell and that if we can look past what we “think” it should represent then just maybe we will be lucky enough to learn a lesson of the ages that will enlighten us beyond belief!!

Happy Olympic Dreams ~

LIZZY aka The Fisherbabe

09 Feb

Bikinis, Suntan Lotion, and Fishing Poles…

Posted by the fisherbabe, under Uncategorized

just seem like they go together, right????? LOL…with the snow falling as I type this, I am definitely thinking YES right about now!! Deep sea fishing isn’t something I have done a ton of in my life…and I think I need to remedy that!!

Winter brings about a lot of emotions for me…fear that the snow and ice won’t melt before my spring trip for pike, love for the natural beauty of a fresh fallen snow, frustration at the morons that don’t know how to drive in the above mentioned snow, anticipation for the new and upcoming year and all the fishing it will bring, and finally longing for a much needed relaxing break from all the stresses just living of our lives brings us. As much as I LOVE Canada and its excellent lakes and fisheries…it’s times like this, when the snow is falling and the temps are below zero, that I dream of a sunny beach, a tiny bikini, and a pina coloda…and of course, my fishing pole!!!

During these desperate times, I take to looking at old pictures (like the one above I took in St. Lucia last year) and to the internet (to research future destinations) to feul my desires of that magnificent faraway dream land. Last year, at just about this time, I was actually in the lovely Saint Lucia staring at the beauty of the Piton Mountains (which are pictured above), sipping on some Piton Beer and celebrating my graduation from Law School.

What an amazing time we had touring around the island and yeah…the snorkeling was fantastic. If you love fish as much as I do…snorkeling is a great reminder that catching fish doesn’t always have to be the only fun you can have with these amazing creatures.

For example, I swam along with some of these nice little guys. Also, I saw lots of barracuda. As a matter of fact, I had no idea what the barracuda were and tried to touch one…lol!! Lucky for me, it found me uninteresting and swam away!!

St. Lucia was a blast and a trip I will never forget. Another trip I really love is the yearly cruise I take with my mommy to Mexico. Usually, it involves a stop in Cozumel and Playa Del Carmen which are both places that I truly adore. Snorkeling in Cozumel is by far some of the best on the planet…but if you aren’t one who loves the sport, an underwater boat tour allows you to experience alot of the same kind of fun!!! On our boat tour we saw a lot of these types of views…

and we saw lots of these little guys who for some reason seemed to be fascinated with our boat…

I am a very lucky girl who has been able to travel to many beautiful places around the world in my life…but I am definitely not done yet!!! There are a few other places that I want to visit, as well. For example, Belize is one of my future destinations, and I want to wet a line there, for sure!!!

This Blue Hole (pictured above) fascinates me…and if you haven’t ever researched it, I would advise looking it up!!! Other places that are on my list are Roatan (Honduras), Isla Mujer (Mexico), Greece, Greenland, Fiji, Iceland, Martinique, Anguilla, Australia, Bonaire, Curacao, South Africa, England, and…okay pretty much anywhere in the whole world where I can learn about another culture, relax, and wet a line!!! But those places I mentioned specifically are at the top of the list…LOL!!!!

Researching and dreaming of magical, faraway places can be a great way to use the time until winter passes or until your next big trip. PLUS…if you are like me and research trip after trip after trip trying to find just the perfect spot, the webpages, articles, and blog posts you may come across while daydreaming might just lead to a new dream desitination that perhaps you hadn’t thought of before. Keeping your mind and heart open is truly the key to experiencing the most fabulous places, people, and things in life!!! You should never be scared to take a risk and say yes to a new adventure.

I mean…what if I had said no to my first Canadian fishing trip just because I was scared of some dirt and an outhouse. The fact is…I almost DID say no…I resisted for quite a while. What a MAJOR MISTAKE I almost made just because my heart and mind weren’t open to new things. I would never have known how much those trips enrich my life and strengthen important bonds. I would have never known how complete my life could actually be!!!

So now…it’s your turn to dream of FABULOUS, MAGICAL PLACES in a faraway land and to tell me all about them. Leave me a comment and tell me all about your dream adventures and what places you would LOVE to visit…and even better, tell me how leaving your mind and heart open to new adventures has changed YOUR life!!! I would really, really adore hearing all your stories!

Happy Mid-Winter Dreams ~

LIZZY aka The Fisherbabe

05 Feb

The “Problem” Of Beauty For Women In Sports…

Posted by the fisherbabe, under fisherbabe

… is a question that has long weighed on my mind. This dilemma sits heavy on my shoulders, and kinda…well…ticks me off sometimes. This problem is addressed in a new article titled,
Let the Lindsey hype begin: Vonn is Sports Illustrated cover girl

In short, the article discusses the new Sports Illustrated Cover featuring Lindsey Vonn who is poised to become the greatest American woman skier of all time. However, the only thing people are focusing on is the pose she is in on the cover…suggesting that it is too provocative. The only thing I see on the cover is a beautiful, athletic, talented girl in an overexaggerated tuck stance regularly seen in the sport of skiing. Come on people…CHILLAX!!!

The article states, “…This is Vonn’s moment. If she wins multiple golds in Vancouver, Vonn has the potential to become a major crossover star. She’d be like Michael Phelps, only with better looks and an actual personality. Landing on the SI cover is a good way for her to start the Vonn saturation campaign. It’s as important for her as it is the magazine. The pose is suggestive, sure, but it’s not objectifying. The headline reads “America’s best woman skier ever”, for Jean-Claude’s sake! Why can’t she be both the best skier in the world and really, really attractive too? Tom Brady’s a great athlete and a handsome dude and I don’t hear people whine when he’s shirtless in GQ. Most importantly, this cover is almost identical to the one that ran on SI’s Winter Olympic preview in 1992. That one featured a gentleman named A.J. Kitt and I’m pretty sure nobody complained that it was too provocative.”

Well…I say they hit the nail on the head when they pose the question, “why can’t she be both the best skier in the world and really, really attractive too?” Why do people get so mad and immediately dismiss talent and credibility because the girl is beautiful and sexy. It is obvious this girl is skilled in the sport of skiing. Why do people immediately cry “Objectification or Provocation” just because the cover shot showcases an attractive woman? She is completely covered in a ski outfit, for goodness sake…LOL!! Personally, I adore the last line regarding Tom Brady.

Frankly, the whole double standard thing annoys me…and I find it most annoying when it comes from other women. Women who should rejoice in the success and forward progress of their gender are the first to criticize, and that fact both amazes and disgusts me.

Well I say…GO LINDSEY and the entire USA Women’s Ski Team!!! You girls are athletic, talented, and skilled and none of those qualities deserve to be undermined by your beauty. GO TEAM USA!!!

And to all the people out there who hate or dismiss thier talent because they are super hot chicas…well…I guess the world has a place for idiots, too!!!

FISH ON!!!

LIZZY aka The Fisherbabe

03 Feb

My Sex A** Lure Collection…

Posted by the fisherbabe, under Uncategorized

needs to be replenished something fierce before heading to Lake Waskiaowaka in May. I have only one of my super awesome Orange Hammer lures and that one has most of the paint worn off it so really it is just a “hammer” with no orange. My three hand painted generic red-eyes that I cherished were taken by what I am sure was the biggest, craziest Pike you have ever seen and my hand painted generic casting spoons need a touch up, as well.

Anyways…I decided, while I was sorting through the old tackle box and making a list of MUST DO’S for my upcoming trip, that I would treat you all to a post on all the Northern Pike lures that I will DEFINITELY have in my tackle box this May!!!

1. The Famous Orange Hammer – This lure is always in my tackle box and found out in September that Lake Trout love em too!!! I always take the 7/8 ounce size and have at least 10 back ups in my tackle box. Seriously, you all know how I feel about this lure…if I could only take one up to Manitoba, this would be it…and I would not be scared cause I would out fish any person with a FULL TACKLE BOX of lures!!!

2. Generic Colored Cabelas Canadian Casting Spoon – Unfortunately, this lure is no longer sold. Therefore, I have to buy the plain silver model and hand paint it to my liking. It’s not as hard as it sounds…actually its kind of fun!!!

If you try to paint your own lures, remember that primer is KEY to getting a great, smooth finish!!!

3. Generic Colored Doctor Spoon – I will be carrying along one of these hand painted Doctor Spoons…okay maybe two…on my trip because they worked great last year. Also in this family is the Fire Tiger Colored Doctor Spoon which also did quite well last year. Both will be coming along with me on my little trip to Manitoba!!!

4. Generic Colored Silver Minnow – This weedless spoon is a staple in many tackle boxes when fishing for Pike right after ice out. Although I keep a couple of this lure in the normal Silver color in my box, I hand painted this lure in the generic coloring from the Cabelas Canadian Casting Spoon. I LOVE IT…it seduces many monsters out from those weeds!!!

5. Red-Eyes – I will be carrying these lures along in a variety of colors. Last year, I hand painted 3 of these bad boys in varying generic colored patterns. They got snatched away from me immediately, and boy…talk about one sad Fisherbabe. This year I will take the Fire Tiger color pictured here but will also be taking a few more hand painted ones!!!

6. Assorted Jigs – Because you just never know when you are gonna feel like pickin’ up a walleye or two…and PLUS jigs are just plain FUN!!!

I love getting all my tackle ready for my trips…it’s fun to sit at the table and paint my lures and dream of all the MONSTER fish they will catch. These I have listed here are some of my favorites for catching Northern Pike, and I certainly won’t go on my trip without them. My tackle box is still full of my Laker Lures so that will need a thorough re-organizing sometime in the near future. It is important to get that done early so you have plenty of time to visit your local sporting goods store for all the lures you might need to replace.

Soooooo now it’s your turn. Tell me what lure you will not leave home without? Leave me a comment!!!

Happy Lure Shopping ~

LIZZY aka The Fisherbabe

02 Feb

It Is The Month Of Loooooooooove…

Posted by the fisherbabe, under fisherbabe

…and I, for one, LOVE LOVE LOVE it!!!! First of all…it is just FOUR more months til my awesome trip to Dunlop’s. Secondly, it is the month for lovers…and mine gives me beautiful presents!!! Yes…he is a good Fisherhubby. But…speaking of presents, Valentines Day is a perfect time to give your Fisherbabe lots of warm, fuzzy, lovely items to keep her comfy and warm on that really super awesome fishing trip she has so lovingly agreed to go on with you.

You know…us Fisherbabes aren’t like you Fisherguys. When I go on a fishing trip to a grungy old camp that hasn’t been cleaned to my standards of sterilization…ever, I like to take along things that make me feel beautiful and sexy and comfy especially for my time in the evenings at the cabin. So here are some of my favorite things to take along…annnnd maybe you can find a lovely little present for your lovely Fisherbabe, as well.

My favorite thing to splurge on for myself is PAJAMAS. I love night wear. It can make you feel comfy and cozy and sexy and beautiful all at the same time…especially when you are in a kinda dirty cabin in the middle of the woods. This set is beautiful and from victorias secret. It is made of cotton and would be great for cold or warm weather trips because its loose enough to not stick to the skin in warm weather but would also allow for layering in colder weather. Also its very reasonably priced at $34.00 and comes in a variety of colors. My favorite, though, is of course the pink!!!

Many times, I am the only girl in camp with lotsa boys…so make sure whatever you buy her is comfortable, beautiful, but also modest so that she doesnt feel uncomfortable in front of the other boys. Also…on the business end of things, there are weight limits and they are STRICT. These are cotton and light so the weight won’t be a problem

My next MUST HAVE item on a fishing trip is a good pair of light-weight slippers. I have these UGGS and, although they look heavy, they are actually very light. They ring up at 110.00 and come in a variety of colors. They are very warm and have a wool lining like all UGG boots. In addition, they have a great rugged sole that can be worn outside in the middle of the night for a trip to the “tree” or the probably not pink outhouse.

This bag is beautiful. It’s soft-sided so it can be shoved into a duffel or packed into a tote bag. It holds a lot of a girls beauty items and keeps them safe and sound. It can be found at Target and comes in at a very low price of $19.99. I love these bags, because we always drive at least 24 hours to get to our airport and I like to have my beauty supplies at my fingertips. This bag packs into my car tote very nicely and packs into my duffel bag for the trip to the camp. Plus…it’s perfect for either weekend trips or week long trips. It comes in a lot of different colors, as well!!!

This item is MY FAVORITE to carry along on my fishing trips…although I am not sure the guys will agree. This Shampoo and Conditioner set from Victorias Secret is a VERY VERY fragrant haircare set that makes me feel lovely and decadent even in the nastiest of places. Plus, since I can’t usually fit full sized bottles into my bag (because of weight issues), these are perfect because they come in perfect little trial sizes. This set is so fragrant that they double as a perfume of sorts. It isn’t a good idea to wear perfumes and smelly body lotions in the wild as they attract mosquitos and other pesky bugs, but this haircare set gives a beautiful, subtle fragrance that doesn’t attract bugs…trust me ~ it’s tried and tested…LOL

Now you may think to yourself…why in the world would I give facial cleansing wipes to my lover for V-day, but this line of deep clean cleansers, moisturizers, and beauty products is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G, and you can get creative and give her a whole basket full of them. The deep clean line is perfect for fishing getaways because they clean your skin and moisturize it in the deepest, best way possible. I swear by these wipes when I go fishing because there are many times when I cannot shower for A WEEK…I know – ewwwwwwwwwwww!! These wipes keep my face looking lovely and fresh and fit right into my tackle box which is PERFECT. Sometimes a girl just needs a little freshening ya know!!!

I love all these products. They are super perfect for any girl (or girls on your V-Day list. I think a present of the PJs, the haircare, and the UGGS would be an AWESOME present. Throw in a couple lures and some fishing line and it could be the best present EVER!! Personally, I can’t wait for Valentines Day. I know that many people think its a stupid holiday made famous by retailers to sell stuff but please just remember…every day is what you make of it and it can be as magical as you want it to be

Happy Shopping ~

LIZZY aka The Fisherbabe