Nearly a year after the state Board of Public Works approved renaming the fishing piers over the Choptank River in honor of long-time outdoors writer Bill Burton, the sign is up and a July dedication ceremony is in the works.

Bill Burton Fishing Piers State Park--the state's second smallest park--was once the ends of the U.S. 50 bridge on the outskirts of Cambridge. When a new bridge was nearing completion, the writer used his Evening Sun columns to successfully lobby state government to retain a portion of the old structure for anglers.

Just before he died last summer--weeks before the BPW vote--we had a little ceremony of our own in the form of a kid's fishing day on the pier. From his wheelchair, Burton told stories and signed certificates of achievement for every young angler, including his granddaughter, MacKenzie Boughey.

He was pleased the state chose to honor him with a fishing spot accessible to everyone.

The State Highway Administration refused to create a sign, saying it didn't have the money (guess it went broke making all those ICC/Martin O'Malley signs). Really, folks, how much could a single sheet of metal cost in the scheme of things?

Luckily the Fisheries Service ponied up--good on them--and the sign is posted, as this photo of Mackenzie Boughey shows.

We'll have more on the dedication when details are firmed up with the Burton family.

Posted by Candus Thomson at 11:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

So, the Wall Street Journal informs readers this week that fishermen are "the original conservationists."

On a TV commercial airing in Albuquerque, viwers are being told that dairy farmers are "the original conservationists."

And members of the Maryland Legislative Sportsmen's Foundation frequently remind state lawmakers meeting in Annapolis that hunters are "the original conservationists."

If all these folks are out there conserving, why are things in the outdoors so screwed up?
Who really is deserving of the title?

It is a nifty label, especially if you fit into one of the above-mentioned groups or any others that I've no doubt missed.

Googling "original conservationist" gets lots of results, from a website devoted to Ronald Reagan to news stories about Inuit whalers in Alaska to a Sierra Club promotion used to troll for new members.

In each case, of course, folks only morphed into "original conservationists" after they came within an inch of killing and consuming every last critter of a certain type or wiping a species off the face of the Earth or destroying critical habitat in the name of progress.

In the big picture, bison, cranes and cod have at one time or another fallen victim to the cold, dead hand of an "original conservationist."

Closer to home, striped bass, blue crabs and oysters have been similarly embraced.

Who would get your vote for being the original conservationist? Is it a single individual, say Teddy Roosevelt or John Muir? Or a group, such as the Nature Conservancy?

Let me know what you think.

Posted by Candus Thomson at 8:30 AM | Permalink
        

Almost 200 tagged striped bass--including one that could be worth $20,000--were released today in the Chesapeake Bay as the Search for Diamond Jim enters its second month.

Charter boats left several marinas around the bay just after dawn to catch and tag stripers that were a minimum of 18 inches long.

With little more than a day to go, no one has caught the June tagged fish nicknamed Diamond Jim and worth $10,000 nor has anyone caught a $500 imposter.

If that holds through Wednesday, the bounty on the new Diamond Jim will increase by $10,000 while the value of imposters remains the same.

If no one catches the fish sporting the plastic, neon-green tag by the end of July, the final Diamond Jim will be worth $25,000. The contest ends on Labor Day.

The other component, the Maryland Fishing Challenge, is a year-round event that attracts thousands of anglers who catch legal-sized fish from more than 60 freshwater and saltwater species.

All successful Maryland Fishing Challenge and Diamond Jim anglers are eligible for the grand prizes, which will be awarded at a closing ceremony during the 43rd annual Seafood Festival on Sept. 11, at Sandy Point State Park.

Grand prize winners will be randomly selected. Top prizes are a boat, motor and trailer from Bass Pro and Tracker Boats; merchandise and fishing trips from Bill's Outdoor Center; a 7-day trip to the island of Tobago, courtesy of the World Fishing Network; and merchandise from Under Armour.

Posted by Candus Thomson at 7:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

The Pasadena Sportfishing Group won't be meeting in July. Another group is using its meeting spot at the Earleigh Heights Fire Hall.

But members will be playing host to their popular Kid's Fishing Derby on July 17, from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Downs Park on the Chesapeake Bay.

Kids will be using the 300-foor pier that extends out over the water and PSG members will be there to help bait hooks, reel in fish and offer advice.

Three prizes will be awarded in two groups: 5 to 8 years old and 9 to 13 years old. A casting contest will mean even more prizes.

No anglers will go home hungry. PSG members will be cooking up lunch for all the kids and their parents or guardians.

Details and a registration form are at http://pasadenasportfishing.com or by calling 410-439-3474.

On Oct. 9, PSG will be hosting another event for anglers of all ages. Information can be found at the group's website.

Posted by Candus Thomson at 9:46 AM | Permalink
        

If the bluebirds flew the coop before you could see them on nestcam, fear not.

Another pair of bluebirds has set up shop in the nesting box outside the Pennsylvanis Game Commission headquarters in Harrisburg. And the camera is rolling http://www.pgc.state.pa.us .

Four bluebird chicks from the first batch took off about two weeks ago. Game commission cleaned out the box to reduce the chance of parasites infecting any newcomers.

It is not unusual to have more than one set of tenants in a season. The new mama bluebird already has begun to lay eggs.

Click on “Wildlife” in the menu bar in the banner, click on “Birds,” and then choose “Bluebird Home” from the listing.

Posted by Candus Thomson at 9:00 AM | Permalink
        

Stephen Linhard of Annapolis has been selected to serve as a commissioner on the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council.

The 19-member board, one of eight in the country, develops fisheries management plans for the federal waters from New York to North Carolina.

Eric Schwaab, assistant administrator for NOAA’s Fisheries Service and former deputy secretary of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, made the appointment from a list supplied by the O'Malley administration.

Linhard, 43, is the chief administrative officer of St. Mary's Parish and Schools. He is the former treasurer at St. John's College and former controller of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. A graduate of Calvert Hall and Washington College in Chestertown, he has been active in the Maryland Legislative Sportsmen’s Foundation and the Maryland League of Conservation Voters. He is the former chairman of the Annapolis chapter of Ducks Unlimited and also served on the Severn River Commission and Annapolis Environmental Commission.

Recently, he rallied the outdoors community when the faltering economy threatened the viablity of the Maryland Fishing Challenge. At a December meeting in Annapolis, Linhard urged groups to find alternative funding sources for prizes and help raise the visibility of the annual event.

"Steve was instrumental in bringing the Fishing Challenge final awards ceremony into a partnership with the Maryland Seafood Festival to bring sport fishing greater exposure to Marylanders," says Marty Gary, assistant director of the Fisheries Service and driving force behind the Challenge. "That creates the potential for annual Maryland sport fishing celebration."

The awards ceremony will be on Sept. 11 at Sandy Point State Park.

Gov. Martin O'Malley submitted three names for the at-large council seat: Earl Ray Gwin Jr. of Berlin, Lee M. “Monty” Hawkins of Ocean City and Linhard. Incumbent Larry Simns, president of the Maryland Watermen's Association, has served three terms and was ineligible to be renominated.

In a statement, the governor praised Linhard for his "great integrity along with a strong commitment to stand for all fishing interests while balancing the need to foster robust fishing opportunities through sustainable, science-based fisheries management.”

Posted by Candus Thomson at 6:00 AM | Permalink
        

The good news: Andy Thomossan caught a monster fish during North Carolina's Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament--an 883-pound marlin--good for $1.2 million and a tournament record.

The bad news: A hired hand on the boat didn't have a $30 fishing license when Thomossan landed Moby Marlin on June 14, the fourth day of the week-long event.

The result: No prize money, no bragging rights and $160 in fines and court costs for Peter Wann, the mate, who bought a license at the weigh station, a violation of tournament rules and state regulations.

Thomosson and his fellow anglers aboard Citation of Hatteras, N.C, were declared the winners of the event, but Wann failed the post-tournament lie detector test and the truth came out.

Late Tuesday, tournament directors disqualified the marlin and awarded $999,453 to the anglers aboard the Carnivore of Cape Carteret, N.C, who caught a blue marlin that tipped the scales at 528.3 pounds.

"We didn't do anything wrong," Thomasson told the Jacksonville (N.C.) Daily News after the disqualification. "But one of our people did. He failed to get a fishing license, but we didn't know it. He told us he had it. He didn't. So you take a man for his word, you know?"

Posted by Candus Thomson at 10:19 AM | Permalink
        

Required of waterfowl hunters and prized by collectors, the 2010-2011 edition of the Federal Duck Stamp will make its national debut Friday morning at Bass Pro Shops Outdoors World in Hanover.

And no one could be prouder than Robert Bealle, a Waldorf farmer and artist, who won the contest when his painting of an American wigeon was judged superior to 223 other entries last October at the Patuxent Research Refuge in Laurel.

Bealle was runner up in 1983 and made the finals four other times. He also won the Maryland Duck Stamp contest three times.

The federal stamp costs $15. Ninety-eight cents of every dollar goes to the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund, which aquires wetlands for the National Wildlife Refuge System. Since it was created in 1934, the stamp has raised more than $750 million to buy and protect 5.3 million acres of habitat. In Maryland, the money has been used to acquire more than 31,000 acres.

All waterfowl hunters age 16 and older are required to purchase and carry a current Federal Duck Stamp. A current stamp also is good for free admission to any wildlife refuge open to the public.

But the stamps also are collectors items. Hunters have been known to buy two: one to affix to their license, the other to collect. Collectors have paid hundreds to acquire vintage stamps.

"It's a pretty big day and important for everyone, not just waterfowl hunters," says Chris Jennings, a spokesman for Ducks Unlimited. "The stamps are of great value to the outdoors community. It's birders, boaters, kayakers, fishermen--everyone who enjoys our wildlife refuges benefits."

The doors at Bass Pro Shops Outdoors World at Arundel Mills open at 9 a.m., and the ceremony begins at 10 a.m. Afterward, the sale of the first stamps will begin and the artists will be available for autographs. The event is free and open to the public.

Posted by Candus Thomson at 6:00 AM | Permalink
        

The family of a Northern Virginia man critically injured by a hit-and-run boater on June 5 near Thomas Point Light on the Chesapeake Bay is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the driver.

Metro Crime Stoppers is coordinating the effort and will turn over all tips to Natural Resources Police investigators.

Anyone with information is asked to call 1-866-7LOCKUP, or contact www.metrocrimestoppers.org, or text “MCS” plus a message to “CRIMES” (274637).

"Given the time of day and conditions and the fact that the boat was rather uncommon, someone must have seen something or seen the boat tied up," said NRP Sgt. Art Windemuth. "People should pass along their tips, no matter how slight."

The victim and witnesses said the boat was a 21-foot, white-and-champagne colored powerboat manufactured by Donzi. The occupants were described as a balding white male, between 30 and 40 years old, and a younger white female.

Mark Gentile, 55, of Alexandria, Va., was run over after he jumped off his sailboat anchored between Fishing Creek and South River about 2:30 p.m. Gentile attempted to avoid the collision by diving below the surface but the boat struck both of his legs.

Although the impact broke both of the sailor's legs, he was able to swim back to his boat and used a line to keep himself afloat while a passenger called 911 for help.

Gentile was rescued by an NRP officer and and Coast Guard personnel as he started to lose consciousness and slip below the water. He was airlifted from the Annapolis Coast Guard station to the Maryland Shock Trauma Center for treatment.

Windemuth said investigators continue to follow leads.

Posted by Candus Thomson at 11:29 AM | Permalink
        

Search-and-rescue crews recovered the body of a Chestertown waterman this morning after his empty boat was found last night near his pound nets on the Chester River.

Stephen Leonard Cohey, 56, is the state's fourth boating fatality of the year.

Natural Resources Police, Coast Guard aviation and marine units and rescue squads from Kent and Queen Anne’s counties launnched a serach after Cohey failed to return to Kennersly Marina.

His boat was quickly located and this morning rescuers found his body about one-quarter mile south of his pound nets.

The body was taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore for an autopsy. The NRP Special Operations Division is continuing an investigation to determine the cause of the accident.

Posted by Candus Thomson at 11:18 AM | Permalink
        

It's not unusual for the FLW to take advantange of good bass fishing opportunities in Maryland when organizers plan the tournament season.

Next year is no different, except for the site. National Harbor, along the Potomac River in Prince George's County, will be the host of the FLW Tour Open, June 1-4. It is one of four Opens and six Tour Majors scheduled for next season.

Pro anglers will compete for up to $125,000 and amateurs will be vying for up to $25,000 in each tournament.

Usually bass tournaments set up shop at Smallwood State Park in Charles County or the tributaries in the upper reaches of the Chesapeake Bay.

With its upscale residences and waterfront restaurants, the $2 billion National Harbor project near Washington, which opened two years ago, is a departure.

The season begins Feb. 2-5 with an FLW Open on Lake Okeechobee in Clewiston, Fla. National Harbor is the second Open stop, followed by Lake Champlain in Plattsburgh, N.Y., on Sept. 14-17 and Lake Guntersville in Guntersville, Ala., on Oct. 19-22.

The Angler of the Year title for 2011 will be determined over the 10 events.

The 2011 Forrest Wood Cup, the championship event, will be held Aug. 11-14 on Lake Ouachita in Hot Springs, Ark. Only the top finishers in the Tour Majors will compete for the Cup. In 2012, the field will expand to include the top five finishers from the 2011 Open series.

Posted by Candus Thomson at 7:00 AM | Permalink
        

Hard to believe, but Interior Secretary Ken Salazar will be in Annapolis Friday, along with other federal officials and Governor O'Malley, to hear what you think about the great outdoors and how best to use it.

At least that's the promised premise of a national tour ordered by President Obama to "listen and learn from people all over the country." Maryland is the second of more than a dozen planned stops.

These officials want to know what you think about conservation of open space, securing access to public lands and waterways, getting kids outdoors, stewardship opportunities and environmental education.

(Someone should tell Salazar that the best use of the outdoors is not putting it in an oiled pan and baking until done.)

Why, they've even set aside time for a discussion of issues of general importance. Salazar will be moderating a session, so maybe you'll get a chance to ask him how things are going in the Gulf. But I doubt it.

Last year, the government produced a report, "Great Outdoors America," the first look at priorities and challenges since President Reagan ordered a review in 1987.

The report noted that the Land and Water Conservation Fund, established 45 years ago, has never been adequately funded by Congress (big sursprise, eh?). Originally money came from sale of federal land, recreation fees collected at federal sites and motorboat fuel taxes. When that money proved inadequate, Congress kicked in 12.5 percent of revenue from oil and natural gas lease sales under the--how delicious--Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act.

But that money is expected to amount to just $22 million by the time the fund expires in 2015. Chump change for BP's Tony Hayward.

It should be noted that Maryland is doing a lot of the right stuff: Putting money in its Program Open Space, which uses a tiny portion of the real estate transfer tax to buy land for conservation and recreation and building GreenPrint Maryland http://greenprintmaryland.gov, a Web-based map that shows the environmental importance of every clump of dirt in the state.

More than 275 regular folks have indicated they will attend. There's still time to add your voice.

Our public servants will be listening from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, 801 Chase St.

It's free, but organizers would like you to register by sending your name, telephone number and primary area of interest to cindy_chance@partner.nps.gov or at http://http://www.baygateways.net/AmericasGreatOutdoors/index.html .

Posted by Candus Thomson at 6:00 AM | Permalink
        

As temperatures soar, state officials are asking the public to report fish kills as quickly as possible to help pinpoint the source of the problem.

Just last week, anglers and kayakers on the Potomac River reported seeing dead fish floating on the Potomac River near Great Falls.

A Fairfax County, Va., park worker sounded an Internet alarm on June 19, saying that over the past several weeks, he had noticed many dead floating fish, primarily channel and bullhead catfish, but also some smallmouth bass in the 12-inch to 17-inch range.

At about the same time, kayakers notified the Maryland Department of Natural Resources about the kill.

Warmer temperatures can stress fish or promote conditions that lead to massive kills. Last year at this time, anglers reported 600 dead bass along with 247 catfish and other species over a six-mile stretch of the river in Charles County.

DNR biologist John Mullican said staff from the Maryland Department of the Environment checked the river from Great Falls to Point of Rocks and saw a few carcasses in the lower sections. The fish, mostly channel catfish and carp, had died several days earlier, which made it impossible for biologists to determine the cause of death, Mullican said.

Mullican said the best chance of getting to the root of the problem is for experts to observe the behavior of fish and collect samples while the kill is in progress.

The quickest way to reach the experts is to first call the MDE Fish Kill Hotline at 877-224-7229, and then contact the DNR Inland Fisheries office at 301-898-5443. The MDE has personnel on call at all times to respond to hotline reports.

Posted by Candus Thomson at 11:35 AM | Permalink
        

Just back from a few days off. One of the must-reads was Tim Dickinson's article in the June 24 Rolling Stone, "The Spill, the Scandal and the President.".

Everyone--from Bush to Obama--has their hands dirty in the BP Deepwater Horizon fiasco. The cumulative effect of their action or inaction takes your breath away, especially in the case of the corrupt Minerals Management Service, the Interior Department entity charged with overseeing drilling and collecting royalties.

But we should all save a little air in our lungs so that we can scream at Interior Secretary Ken Salazar: Get Out!

Why? Here's a little chunk of what Dickinson found:

"Salazar did little to tamp down on the lawlessness at MMS, beyond referring a few employees for criminal prosecution and ending a Bush-era program that allowed oil companies to make their "royalty" payments -- the amount they owe taxpayers for extracting a scarce public resource -- not in cash but in crude. And instead of putting the brakes on new offshore drilling, Salazar immediately throttled it up to record levels. Even though he had scrapped the Bush plan, Salazar put 53 million offshore acres up for lease in the Gulf in his first year alone -- an all-time high."

And even though as the "new sheriff in town" he promised to restore confidence in MMS, Dickinson writes:

"Salazar was far less aggressive, however, when it came to making good on his promise to fix MMS. Though he criticized the actions of "a few rotten apples" at the agency, he left long-serving lackeys of the oil industry in charge... One of the Bush-era managers whom Salazar left in place was John Goll, the agency's director for Alaska. Shortly after, the Interior secretary announced a reorganization of MMS in the wake of the Gulf disaster, Goll called a staff meeting and served cake decorated with the words "Drill, baby, drill."

Despite warnings from scientists and others within MMS:

"On April 6th of last year, less than a month after BP submitted its application, MMS gave the oil giant the go-ahead to drill in the Gulf without a comprehensive environmental review. The one-page approval put no restrictions on BP, issuing only a mild suggestion that would prove prescient: 'Exercise caution while drilling due to indications of shallow gas.'"

That's the condensed version of Dickinson's take on Salazar.

In March, President Obama stood with Salazar at Andrews Air Force Base and praised his Cabinet secretary as "one of the finest secretaries of Interior we've ever had."

Hogwash. The former Dairy Queen owner is in over his head. The only blizzards he's making now involve snowing the public about his role in this mess.

Peter Orszag, the White House budget director, is already heading out the door, the first Obama Cabinet secretary to call it day.

If the president really wants us to believe that he's in control of the oil mop-up operation and that nothing like this will ever happen again, he needs to fire Salazar.

Posted by Candus Thomson at 7:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)
        

Beginning next month, the public will get four opportunities to review and comment on the O'Malley administration's oyster recovery and aquaculture plan, proposed in January and approved by the General Assembly.

All four gatherings begin at 6 p.m.

July 7: Anne Arundel Community College, Pascal Center for the Performing Arts, 101 College Parkway, Arnold.

July 13: Leonardtown High School Auditorium, 23995 Point Lookout Road, Leonardtown.

July 22: Salisbury University, Caruthers Hall Auditorium, 1101 Camden Avenue, Salisbury.

Aug. 5: Chesapeake College, Todd Performing Arts Center, Route 50 and Route 213, Wye Mills.

For the last 16 years, the Chesapeake Bay oyster population has been mired at at one percent of historic levels while the number of productive oyster bars has decreased by 80 percent.

The number of watermen working the bay has plummeted to slightly more than 500, one-fourth the total of 25 years ago.

To reverse the decline, the O'Malley administration wants to increase oyster sanctuaries and set aside portions of the bay for aquaculture businesses.

Watermen oppose the location of the sanctuaries, saying it shuts them out of prime locations. They also are worried that the amount of time and money it takes to establish an aquaculture business is more than they can afford.

The plan is on the Department of Natural Resources website http://www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/oysters/pdfs/OysterOpenHouseFINAL2a.pdf.

A synopsis is at http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/oysters/OysterRestoration&AquacultureDevelopmentProposedRegulationsFactsheet.pdf.

Posted by Candus Thomson at 1:00 PM | Permalink
        

So New York lawmakers and leaders of the Recreational Fishing Alliance are drooling all over themselves because the state Senate passed a bill to repeal its $10 saltwater fishing license and replace it with a free angler registry.

As Bugs Bunny would say, "What a bunch of maroons."

Lucky for us, they put their stupidity in a press release for all to see.

"Residents should be able to partake in recreational saltwater fishing without being forced to purchase a license to do so," said state Sen. Brian Foley (D-Irresponsible), the sponsor of the bill.

"A total repeal of licensing fee requirements is one step closer to reality thanks to Senator Foley's efforts," said U.S. Sen Charles Schumer (D-Pandering). "Now we need the Assembly to act immediately to keep fishing free."

"We're halfway there, and if we can now get the Assembly to understand this saltwater user fee is simply another unfair tax with misappropriated funds, perhaps we can see this unreasonable burden on the New York recreational fishing community lifted once and for all," added Jim Hutchinson, of the Recreational Fishing Alliance.

Wrong, wrong and wrong.

Let's see, we have a state senator from a bankrupt state and a U.S. senator from a bankrupt nation both saying people shouldn't pay for what they use. And we have a group paid for by the fishing industry and based in New Jersey (busted budget, busted government) applauding irresponsible fiscal actions.

Any wonder why we're in the fiscal mess we're in?

Fishing isn't free. Sure maybe it was in the good old days, when wagon trains rolled west, women cleaned clothes by beating them on rocks by ye old stream and everyone lost their teeth by the time they were 30.

And during those free and carefree fishing days, we overfished everything in sight.

Today, responsible fishing requires science-based regulations to protect species and the gear and manpower to back up those rules.

“The biggest challenge we face is the fight to reform and bring common sense and sound science into the fisheries management process, says James Donofrio, RFA founder, in a statement on the RFA website.

Last time I looked, that science stuff wasn't free.

Running an angler registry isn't free, either. Maybe Schumer can get BP to pay for it.

The license/registry is required by the federal government so that scientists can accurately assess how many fish and what types of fish are being caught each year. Maryland didn't have a saltwater license, so the General Assembly this year--in the 11th hour of the session--approved one. Instead of the money going to the federal government next year to pay for the registry, the money will stay in Maryland and be used on Fisheries Service projects.

That's being responsible.

Why do I care if Foley, Schumer and others are in a New York stupid state of mind?

Because Long Island anglers share migratory striped bass with the rest of us on the Eastern Seaboard. If N.Y. fisheries regulators are fiscally hamstrung, that isn't a good thing for us in Maryland.

Schumer complained that the saltwater fishing license approved last year "places far too great a burden on Long Island anglers and charter boats who are already struggling day to day."

Ummm, Chuck, you want fly fishermen in the Adirondacks or bass fishermen on Lake Champlain to pay for a SALTWATER license?

And $10 is a burden on someone who owns a boat on Long Island? Really?

Sadly, it's just election-year pandering from Foley, a Long Island lawmaker who could easily be out of a job in November, and Schumer, who needs the spotlight like oxygen.

Send in the clowns. Don't bother, they're here.

Posted by Candus Thomson at 11:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (13)
        

It's a sad time for Red Cup campers.

You know who you are. The folks who put their tasty adult beverages in the red 16-ounce Solo cup for discreet indulging at state campgrounds.

While scouting out my next adventure, I recently drove through a few state campgrounds. Lots of people holding red cups. The waste disposal bins were full of evidence that red-cup camping lives despite Nanny State, no-alcohol rules imposed last year.

So what are we to think about the news that Solo Cup Co. will be shutting down its Owings Mills manufacturing facility in March 2012?

There was comfort in knowing that the alcohol delivery devices in our hands were made in Maryland by Maryland workers. Kind of covered over the part about it being illegal.

Luckily, there's still a manufacturing plant in Federalsburg in Caroline County.

Solo says our supply also will come from other North American plants still churning out petrochemicals in sizes perfect for beer and other refreshing liquids.

And, I've come across another alcohol delivery device that's perfect for home or camp, courtesy of another local manufacturer, Apple Press of Glen Burnie.

Unlike the rather conspicuous red Solo cup, the "Non Alcoholic Beverage" koozie is an understated, black neoprene sleeve that has the added advantage of keeping liquid cold. It also is reusable, another plus.

Someone could make a real killing selling these at convenience stores near state campgrounds. Come to think of it, the cash-strapped state could fatten its coffers by selling them at its campground stores.

Here's looking at you, Martin O'Malley.

Posted by Candus Thomson at 11:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

So it's the Friday before Father's Day and you're still casting about for something that won't be placed in the "man closet" still in its original shrink wrap?

Here's 10 suggestions:

1) A sturdy flashlight that throws a powerful beam. EagleTac, Streamlight, Fenix and 4Sevens make quality torches.

2) Boga Grips, in 15-pound, 30-pound and 60-pound models, make handling and weighing fish a snap.

3) A personal flotation device, aka, life jacket. These days, they don't have to look like something adrift from the S.S. Minnow, they don't cost a fortune and the sentiment is clear: "We'd love to have you around for a long time."

4) A hiking stick. In addition to helping with footing on the trail, a hiking stick can make fording a stream safer. Some sticks fold down to make them easier to attach to a pack or tackle box or keep in the car.

5) A multi-purpose knife or tool. Buck, Wenger, Leatherman and SOG all make dependable gear.

6) A good book. Every day can't be an outdoors day, especially when the thermometer and hygrometer conspire to meet near the top of the dial. Good yarns: "Skipjack: The Story of America's Last Sailing Oystermen," by Christopher White; "Seaworthy: A Swordboat Captain Returns to the Sea," by Linda Greenlaw; "The Big One: An Island, an Obsession, and the Furious Pursuit of a Great Fish," by David Kinney; "The Fish's Eye," by Ian Frazier; and "On the Run: An Angler's Journey Down the Striper Coast," by David DiBenedetto.

7) A "Buzz Off" shirt by Ex-Officio. An odorless insect repellent, EPA-approved, is bonded to the fabric to ward off mosquitoes and ticks. The company also has pants and socks with "Buzz Off" technology. It really works.

8) A hat that provides relief from the sun and a pair of sunglasses to protect the peepers.

9) A dry bag for his gear and a waterproof housing for his phone/GPS. Yes, plastic bags will do, but they look dorky and are easily punctured. Sea to Summit, SealLine and NRS make good dry bags. Pelican and OtterBox make good waterproof hardcases. Dry Pak makes good soft pouches.

10) If you have a little bit of courage, grab a few lures or flies from dad's tackle box and take them to a reputable local shop--Clyde's, Backwater Angler, Herb's, Angler's, Tochterman's and Set's are good choices--and ask for new versions of the same. Put the old lures back in his tackle box and wrap the new ones for Sunday.

Posted by Candus Thomson at 8:28 AM | Permalink
        

A new Web-based campaign, "Restoring Our Waters, says it is "targeting" hunters, anglers and other outdoors enthusiasts to rally support for the Chesapeake Clean Water Act, a bill sponsored by Sen. Ben Cardin that will be reviewed this month by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.

The lobbying effort is being led by Choose Clean Water http://www.choosecleanwater.org, an Annapolis-based coalition of regional environmental groups led by staff from the National Wildlife Federation.

But if Choose Clean Water is reaching out to hunters and anglers, it has failed to show that outreach except in the most superficial way.

Yes, it has gotten Ducks Unlimited and Trout Unlimited to sign on. And kudos for reaching out to the Maryland Bass Federation, a good bunch of folks who often get overlooked.

But where is the partnership with Maryland Saltwater Sportfishermen's Association or Coastal Conservation Association Maryland? Where's the Maryland Waterfowlers Association. What about the Maryland Bowhunters Society. And the trappers, where are they?

There's no mention of this on anyone's website.

That's just in Maryland. Pennsylvania has a gazillion times more active outdoors groups (and no Senate or House co-sponsors of the bill).

I know what CCW is going to say, that anglers and hunters are members of the more than 130 groups already on board.

Hogwash. Read the list of CCW coalition members. It's obvious CCW hasn't reached beyond its base: the mostly liberal, crunchy granola organizations. Interaction with the real hook-and-bullet crowd--the folks who were conservationists before it was in vogue--isn't evident in any meaningful way.

I haven't seen a single mention of this campaign at any of the tackle shops and sporting goods stores I frequent. I haven't heard a single MSSA or CCA member bring this up. It's not posted at any campground I've contacted.

Just sending a press release to the outdoors writers of the region doesn't constitute an outreach campaign.

By all means, read about the "Restoring Our Waters" campaign http://www.restoringourwaters.org. Organizers don't ask you for any money--yet--but they do require your email address if you decide to sign the electronic petition. Why, I can only guess.

Cardin's legislation, and the House version sponsored by Congressman Elijah Cummings, are serious attempts and long overdue.

But you can send your support without the help of "Restoring" or CCW.

Because, in truth, they really haven't asked for your help. No, they haven't.

Posted by Candus Thomson at 9:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

A friend and former Evening Sun reporter sent along a note that jogged my memory. Several years back, I had a similar experience fishing on the Chesapeake Bay and got a similar explanation from a charter captain.

I made a few phone calls, but promptly forgot about it. Here's the fishing question in search of an answer:

"I went fishing [Friday] and got skunked, as apparently did most people. We were trolling plenty of lines in prime waters between Chesapeake Beach and the power plant, but nothing, not even a nibble, just six sunburned hours of boredom.

"It has been suggested to me that the reason the rockfish aren't biting is because they're gorging themselves on some kind of sea worm that emerges from the bay floor every few years -- kind of an aquatic seven-year locust. I have never heard of such a thing. Have you?"

I turn it over to you, smart readers. A bay truth or a good yarn to explain a bad day of fishing?

Let me know.

Posted by Candus Thomson at 6:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

They were ready to woo the adults in charge with their charm and good looks, but that wasn't necessary.

The students from Chesapeake Bay Middle School had the goods--hard facts--why the state Board of Public Works should approve their project to put as many as 200 reef balls around the fishing pier at Downs Park in Pasadena.

More structure would mean more fish and more oysters and cleaner water, they told the board Wednesday morning.

A beaming Gov. Martin O'Malley called their proposal "awesome" and led a packed meeting room in a round of applause. He then made sure they got a tour of his office and a chance to sit at his desk in the big, black leather chair.

Parents and their teachers, Jake Gavin and Catherine Sherry, grinned and took pictures. The kids giggled in relief and then went back to school to complete exams.

Field work on the project begins Tuesday, when a work boat from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation starts placing the reefs balls in the water.

When the work is done, reef balls will surround the pier, about 50 yards offshore, creating a field of about two acres. Inside that ring, students will spread a bed of oyster and sea clam shells to serve as a welcome mat for tiny critters that fish love to eat. Reef balls might be tucked under the pier, too. Finally, the students will set oyster spat on the concrete to complete the aquatic community.

The students had countless dress rehearsals before they presented the project last November to the Joint Evaluation Committee, a group that consists of state and federal experts. Those folks made some suggestions, offered encouragement and added their endorsement.

The students are receiving help and support from several groups, including the Pasadena Sportfishing Group, the Northern Anne Arundel chapter of Coastal Conservation Association Maryland and the Maryland Saltwater Sportsfishermen's Association.

Posted by Candus Thomson at 7:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

Natural Resources Police are following up on about a dozen leads, "some of them very promising," in the aftermath of a hit-and-run boating accident last Saturday that injured a sailor from Northern Virginia.

The department has released a photo of a boat that the victim and witnesses say is a similar model and color to striking vessel.

Mark Gentile, 55, suffered two broken legs when a powerboat that witnesses said was traveling about 40 knots (46 mph) came close to the stern of his anchored sailboat and struck him.

"I tried to get out of his way and it was boom, boom and the next thing you know, I was just floating in the water," Gentile told WUSA-TV from his hospital bed at the Maryland Shock Trauma Center.

Maryland marine law requires boaters to have an adequate lookout and to travel at a safe speed for conditions. The area of the Chesapeake Bay at Thomas Point between Fishing Creek and South River is popular on weekends, attracting a motley flotilla ranging from small sailboats and personal watercraft to lightning-fast cigarette boats and fishing boats.

Gentile attempted to avoid the collision by diving below the surface but the boat struck both of his legs, shattering the bones.

"I'm going to die," Gentile told the TV station as he recalled the accident. "A few more minutes, I'll be out of blood."

NRP Sgt. Art Windemuth said it could have been worse.

"If he didn't have the presence of mind to swim and dive away from the boat, it would have struck him about the torso and head," he said.

Gentile was rescued by NRP Officer Murray Hunt and Coast Guard personnel who jumped into the water as the injured man slipped below the surface.

NRP is looking for a white, 21-foot Donzi speedboat, with beige or champagne trim. Witnesses said the occupants were a man and a woman in their 30s or 40s.

"We've received quite a few leads, about a dozen. Nothing definitive, but some of them very promising," Windemuth said. "We are in the process of following up on them."

Anyone with information about the boat or who witnessed the accident should call NRP Communication Center at 410-260-8888 or toll free at 800-628-9944 and ask for Officer Hunt.

Posted by Candus Thomson at 6:00 AM | Permalink
        

It seemed innocent enough.

Give a harmless lunch-time talk to the staff of DNR's Wildlife and Heritage Service about my job. A few jokes, a little insight on journalism's ground rules and embarrassing moments, a smidgen of advice on how to get noticed (in a good way) by the media gods. A 40-minute exercise, tops.

But in some parallel universe, where Martin O'Malley reigns and uptight people see grassy knolls, the deep-dive OOOGA horns sounded an alarm.

I was not to be left alone. When I arrived at the meeting, so did my shadow.

Apparently, the Maryland budget crisis is over. Because a member of the DNR communications team drove a state car more than two hours from Annapolis to Rocky Gap State Park, sat through my content-free talk, got up and drove back to Annapolis. Six hours out of a work day and, I'm guessing, about $18 in gas ($155 using the IRS 50-cents-a-mile rate).

It would have been less expensive for Team O'Malley to have given me the $18 as hush money.

Or if they simply had to know what I was saying, I could have just dialed up 1-877-620-8DNR, placed my phone on the podium and let them take notes.

It makes me wonder what "they" were planning had I shouted, "Martin O'Malley is a dootbrain and he throws like a girl."

I don't know what the deal was. I didn't really care. But for state employees, who have seen colleagues laid off and been forced to take furlough days, it's a slap in the face.

As a taxpayer, I'm teed off knowing that money and manpower was wasted listening to me.

To say nothing of it being downright Big Brother creepy. And the election season is just beginning.

On the way back to the Baltimore area, Police came on the radio. I wasn't paying attention until Sting got to his warning: Every move you make, every step you take, I'll be watching you.

I laughed out loud. And then I glanced in the rearview mirror, just to be safe.

Posted by Candus Thomson at 1:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

Sitting in his office in southwestern Florida, Dr. Aaron Adams worries about tar balls as he wonders about tarpon.

The fisheries scientist, a Baltimore area native and graduate of St Mary's College of Maryland, has made a career of studying tarpon and bonefish--strong, fast moving fish that are no match for the smothering carpet of oil created by the Deepwater Horizon disaster.

"There are a lot of unknowns," he said of the effects of the spill. "It's not just the oil but the toxins in the oil and the toxins in the dispersants."

Tarpon and bonefish are prized by anglers, especially those wielding fly rods, and are a significant draw in the Gulf coast's multi-billion dollar recreational industry. The tarpon is Alabama's state fish.

But little is known about them--where they spawn and how juvenile fish develop. Scientists don't know if the spill will disrupt migratory patterns or destroy eggs. That makes it hard to chart how the BP gusher will upset the life cycle.

"We have no baseline on many fish," Adams said in a telephone interview. "With tarpon, we don't know where they spawn. If it's where we think it is, it's at the edge of the Loop Current."

That, of course, would put generations of tarpon on a collision course with disaster.

On Monday, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reopened an area in the Gulf of Mexico it had previously closed to fishing. The no-fishing zone now covers 78,264 square miles, or about 32% of federal waters in the Gulf, a slight decrease since last week.

NOAA said it reopened about 430 square miles of the Gulf near the Florida Panhandle because data indicated the slick hadn't followed projections.

That buys time.

But Adams, who works for the Mote Marine Laboratory, worries about how we use that brief reprieve and the years to come.

"We just don't have the money to do the research," he said. "We haven't invested in the research very well. Fishing here is a multi-billion dollar industry. Even $1 billion spent on research, while it isn't much, would go a very long way. We invest in 401k's for our retirement, we ought to invest in this."

Twelve years ago, Adams was a founding member of a group that became the Bonefish and Tarpon Trust http://www.tarbone.org to make the most of research efforts, lobby and educate the public. Founding members included fly fishing great Lefty Kreh, sports broadcasting legend Curt Gowdy and retired Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf.

Adams said research money could be used to do stock assessments, fund projects, train and equip recreational anglers to help with surveys and build up the network of scientists. And it could be used to study the effects of an oil disaster on fish and their habitat.

"It looks like down the road there's going to be more off-shore drilling...It would be foolish to assume this isn't going to happen again," he said. "Here in southwest Florida, we're in the clear now, but that's a myopic view."

He continued, "If the oil comes to southwest Florida, I'm sure that will open a lot of [research] doors, but I'm hoping those doors don't open."

Posted by Candus Thomson at 10:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

While anglers and hunters have made good use of chat rooms and forums on the Internet to share information and send alerts about bad regulatory policies and actions, social networking sites are not getting much of a workout, a new poll indicates.

According to the May 2010 http://HunterSurvey.com and http://AnglerSurvey.com surveys, 64 percent of hunters and anglers report they are not using Facebook or Twitter to gather outdoor information.

The two surveys were compiled by Florida-based Southwick Associates, one of the largest pollsters of outdoors trends in the country. The fishing and hunting surveys began in 2004.

Twenty-four percent of hunters who use social media prefer Facebook, while 10.7 percent said they visit YouTube. MySpace was third (9.6 percent), followed by CamoSpace (3.2 percent), LinkedIn (2.5 percent) and Twitter (2.4 percent).

Facebook also is the No. 1 choice of anglers who dabble in social media. It led the poll with 22 percent, with YouTube coming in at half that. MySpace was in third place (8 percent), followed by LinkedIn (3.6 percent) and Twitter (2.5 percent).

Posted by Candus Thomson at 6:00 AM | Permalink
        

The Maryland Saltwater Sportfishermen’s Association is urging the state's elected officials and environment agencies to plan for the worst should the Gulf oil spill make its way up the East Coast and into Maryland waters.

“Maryland’s recreational anglers provide this state with a tremendous value and they depend upon the health of its marine and coastal resources, and having a plan in place for the effects of the oil spill off our coast is a logical first step to mitigate any damage," said Dave Smith, MSSA executive director.

Anglers are worried that the Loop Current, a major ocean current that rotates in a clockwise direction in the Gulf of Mexico, could carry the oil and chemical dispersants down the west coast of Florida, past the Keys and into the Gulf Stream, Smith said.

If the toxic plume reaches the Gulf Stream and is carried north to Cape Hatteras, N.C., it could wreak havoc on the marine and coastal life that recreational fishermen enjoy, he said. The spill also could harm several year classes of sport fish.

In a pre-Memorial day briefing, the Maryland Department of the Environment told Gov. Martin O'Malley that "it is extremely unlikely" that the spill will reach the state's beaches and wetlands.

Computer models used by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predict that oil reaching the Loop Current would take 8-10 days to reach the Florida Keys. The slick would be less concentrated and continue to degrade as it moved up the coast on the Gulf Stream.

NOAA scientists say they do not expect spill residue--in the form of tar balls--to reach any further up the East Coast than Cape Hatteras.

MDE officials believe any impact here would take the form of tar balls or an oily sheen. They note that in 1995, beach crews were able to scoop up tar balls that came ashore at Ocean City with their regular trash cleaning equipment.

Posted by Candus Thomson at 10:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

Natural Resources Police are looking for the operator of a 21-foot powerboat involved in a hit-and-run accident that injured a Virginia man on Saturday afternoon near Thomas Point on the Chesapeake Bay.

Mark Gentile, 55, of Alexandria, Va., was run over after he jumped off his sailboat anchored between Fishing Creek and South River about 2:30 p.m. to retrieve a minnow pot. Gentile attempted to avoid the collision by diving below the surface but the boat struck both of his legs.

The injured sailor was able to swim back to his boat and used a line to keep himself afloat while a passenger called 911 for help.

Gentile slipped below the surface as NRP and Coast Guard arrived and an NRP officer and a member of the Coast Guard jumped into the water to rescue him.

A Coast Guard boat brought Gentile ashore as members of the Anne Arundel County Emergency Medical Services treated him. He was airlifted from the Annapolis Coast Guard station to the Maryland Shock Trauma Center for treatment.

The hit-and-run boat has been described as a 21-foot vessel manufactured by Donzi, white and champagne in color. The driver and passenger were described as a white male and a white female, between 30 and 40 years old.

If you have information about the boat or witnessed the accident call NRP Communication Center at 410-260-8888 or toll free at 800-628-9944 and ask for Ofc. Murray Hunt.

Posted by Candus Thomson at 7:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

Tim Campbell of Phoenix took the top prize Saturday in the seventh annual Coastal Conservation Association Maryland Kent Narrows Chapter Fly and Light Tackle Fishing Tournament. Campbell caught a 28-inch, 11.31-pound striper.

Captain Tom Hughes of Catonsville, won the fly division, with a 23.5-inch, 5.10-pound striper.

Two Grasonville men were runnersup in the two divisions. Mark Galasso earned second place in the light tackle division, and Jeff Nickolson won second in the fly category.

More than 100 anglers worked the waters between Sassafras River and Cedar Point from 6 a.m. until just before the 3:30 p.m. weigh in at Kent Narrows.

The event was sponsored by Dvorak, LLC.; Kent Island Kayaks; Shore Tackle; and Under Armour.

Posted by Candus Thomson at 6:45 AM | Permalink
        

Deale pro Bryan Schmitt played the tide of the Potomac River Saturday and reeled in a five-bass limit weighing 15 pounds to win the FLW American Fishing Series Northern Division tournament.

He caught his limit each day of the three-day event at Smallwood State Park in Charles County for a total of 54 pounds, 5 ounces. Schmitt earned $25,000 and a 198VX Ranger boat with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Yamaha outboard motor.

“I was flipping a black and blue jig all week long,” said Schmitt. “I found some isolated grass clumps and fished one area the entire week and it paid off. I was about 15 minutes south of the launch site and just stayed put.

“The tide was key in my fishing this tournament; I had about an hour window in the morning when the tide was going out and the fish were biting good and then I got another hour window later on in the day when the tide came back in. Today was a shorter fishing day so we didn’t get that extra change and I thought it was really going to hurt me, but I still managed to catch a limit and win this thing."

The runnerup was Bill Chapman of Salt Rock, W. Va., who won $8,500 for a 15-bass creel weighing, 51 pounds, 10 ounces. In third was Thomas Wooten of Huddleston, Va., who caught 14 bass for a total of 51 pounds, 9 ounces, good for $6,000.

On Friday, Chapman also caught the pro division's biggest bass, a 7-pound, 2-ounce fish good for an additional $300.

Frank Miller of W. Nanticoke, Pa., earned top honors and $10,000 in the amateur division with a three-day total of 15 bass weighing 44 pounds, 2 ounces.

Schmitt was in fourth place after the first day, but worked the tide, deep grass and clear water to take the lead with a creel that weighed 21 pounds, 3 ounces.

He leads Chapman by one point in the Northern Division standings. The next tour stop is July 15-17 on Vermont's Lake Champlain.

Schmitt has won four FLW tournaments and had 17 top 10 finishes in his career, which began in 2005. He has won a total of $108,162.

Posted by Candus Thomson at 4:21 PM | Permalink
        

Saturday is the first of three free fishing days in Maryland, when adults can wet a line without having to buy a license (kids under 16 don't need a license).

It's a good time to dust off the tackle or buy an inexpensive rod and reel--$20 will do it--and go hang out lake side or along a river bank.

No pressure, just fun. Here's some tips from the "Take Me Fishing" campaign, along with some observations of my own, to make the day a memorable one.

1) Involve your kids from the beginning. Ask them for suggestions as you plan the outing. Depending on their age, give them small things for which they are responsible, such as ensuring that everyone has a personal floatation device, or teaching them to coil a line.

2) Pick a kid-friendly place with a sturdy dock or solid shoreline large enough for the young angler and you. Assume you won't be fishing. This is all about them.

3) Pack food, water, sunscreen, bug spray and wet wipes. Have a bathroom plan.

4) Keep it fun. Don't plan on a whole day out there. Bring some other fun things--a Frisbee, a ball and glove, a container of bubbles--to break up the activity. Print out pictures of the kinds of fish you're likely to see and make it a teachable moment.

5) An ultra-light spinning or spin casting rod and reel combo with six-pound test line is usually easier for kids to use.

6) Avoid hooks larger than size 10. Hook sizes run backwards; size 12 is smaller than size 10.

7) When it comes to bobbers, small is better.

8) To get the bait in front of the fish, squeeze small BB-sized split shot sinkers onto your line one at a time until your bobber nearly sinks from the weight.

9) Worms still make good bait for panfish. If you have a youngster who cringes at worms, try a little dab of powerbait.

10) Bring a camera. Take lots of pictures. If your young angler is lucky enough to catch his or her first fish, be sure to get them a certificate from the Department of Natural Resouces "My First Fish" program. A certificate with the angler's name, date, species caught, length, and fishing buddy or Captain will be awarded to commemorate the event. If a digital photograph is taken and included with the entry, it will be placed on the certificate. The details are at DNR's website http://dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/challenge/rules.asp#mff

If you can't get out this weekend, make a date for June 12 or July 4.

Posted by Candus Thomson at 12:46 PM | Permalink
        

Vermont Governor Jim Douglas has made it official: as of April 1, wearing felt-soled boots and waders in state waters will be illegal.

The prohibition is an attempt to stem the spread of didymo, nicknamed rock snot, an algae that spreads on trout streams and smothers habitat and food sources.

Maryland is considering a ban that would take effect Jan. 1.

Rock snot already has been detected on two Maryland rivers, the Gunpowder and the Savage. The Department of Natural Resources has set up wader and boot scrubbing stations along popular trout streams and has posted signs.

DNR's invasive species team leader, Jonathan McKnight, says Maryland's proposed policy, "is not designed to prevent an aware and careful fisherman who cleans off his boots. It's for the unaware fisherman who does not know better or who doesn't plan ahead."

Scientists believe porous felt holds tiny bits of algae more readily than rubber-bottomed footware, giving rock snot a free ride to other waterways.

A 2006 study prepared for New Zealand biosecurity officials said that felt-soled boots that were examined five hours after use in infested waters contained nearly 3,000 times more live didymo cells than rubber soles (11,000 on felt vs. 3.9 on rubber). At 36 hours, a second careful cleaning yielded significant numbers of live cells from the felt soles and no live or dead cells from the rubber soles (290 on felt vs. 0 on rubber).

New Zealand authorities banned felt-bottomed boots. Alaska's Board of Fisheries also has adopted an anti-felt policy to protect freshwater streams and lakes that takes effect on Jan. 1, 2012.

The new Vermont law makes few exceptions. State or federal employees or emergency personnel may use felt-bottomed boots or waders while on the job.

Posted by Candus Thomson at 9:30 AM | Permalink
        

It’s time for him to go.
We’ve seen enough of Ken Salazar.
President Obama should take his Interior secretary with him to the Gulf today and forget to bring him back.

He’s been useless, and never more so than right now. He casts no shadow.

The president has already admitted he screwed the pooch on the spill response. What's one more mea culpa when the entire Gulf region is starting to smell like a gigantic Jiffy Lube?

It's not as if Obama couldn't find a replacement. Arizona Congressman Raul Grijalva immediately comes to mind. How about Sen. Maria Cantwell of Washington, who has fought big oil and has a business background? Pick a Udall--Tom or Mark--both senators and both with a family history of caring for the environment.

Salazar, the former Colorado senator, has already proven he's out of his league. Pressed last month by a Congressional panel about his response to the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster, Salazar responded that he sent a top aide to the region "without a change of underwear."

What a twofer: pitifully lacking in detail AND too much information.

Let’s review his tenure as a member of Obama’s cabinet.

He assumed the post in January 2009, knowing that during six of the last eight years, his department was run by Gale Norton, a political hack who fled to take a cushy job at Shell Oil.

Further, there’s a scathing 2007 report sitting on his desk that says the Minerals Mangement Service office in Denver is "a dysfunctional organization that has been riddled with conflicts of interest, unprofessional behavior and a free-for-all atmosphere" that included some of your employees doing drugs and having sex with the very people they’re supposed to be keeping an eye on.

But instead of taking a blowtorch to the infected parts of the operation, he scooted about the country doing photo opportunities in front of really groovy places run by his National Park Service.

In March 2009, he called the controversy surrounding an 11th-hour Bush administration decision to allow people to carry concealed, loaded guns in national parks a "distraction" to Americans and his department.

The folks who know better--the ones who raise money for parks and former employees--disagreed. The National Parks Conservation Association and the Coalition of National Park Service Retirees filed suit, asking that the no loaded guns policy established under the Reagan administration be restored.

Salazar hired Sylvia Vaca, a former BP executive, to be deputy administrator for land and minerals management.

Meanwhile, the MMS allowed the operators of the BP Deepwater Horizon rig to cut corners.
And even with oil erupting into the Gulf, Salazar's underlings approved other underwater drilling permits.

Last week, the Inspector General issued another MMS report that found employees in Louisiana took tickets to sports events, indulged in free lunches and other gifts from oil and gas companies. Thirteen employees had porn on their government computers and others did drugs.

Salazar called the report, "deeply disturbing."

Really? Is that the best he could do?

The secretary has a plan. He wants to replace MMS with a new bureaucracy to separate the enforcement function from the oil and gas revenue collection operation. In that way, there will be one hand out instead of two.

The name Minerals Management Service would be but a memory. Salazar should be in that category, too.

Cleaning up this mess should start at Interior and with Salazar, who wears a big cowboy hat, but can't talk the talk or walk the walk.

Posted by Candus Thomson at 8:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (9)
        

Time to stock up on a summer's worth of goo to keep the bugs and rays at bay.

In its July issue, Consumer Reports publishes the results of tests involving 12 sunscreens and 10 bug sprays. The magazine rated their effectiveness and did a price comparison.

In sunscreen sprays, CR says four, with SPF ratings of 30 or higher, provide excellent protection against UVB rays and very good protection against UVA rays. Also important is that each maintained effectiveness after nearly an hour and a half of being in the water. The winners, with the cost per ounce, are:

Target Up & Up (88 cents); Walgreens Sport Continuous ($1.33); Banana Boat Sport Performance Continuous ($1.60); Aveeno Continuous Protection ($2); and Coppertone Water Babies ($1.38). The Target spray is a CR Best Buy.

CR recommends lathering up 15 to 30 minutes before going outside and reapplying spray every two hours or after being in the water or working up a sweat.

The magazine recommends a half dozen bug sprays--four with DEET, one with oil of lemon eucalyptus and one with picaridin. All six protect against two types of mosquitoes and deer ticks for at least seven hours.

I like bug sprays containing 20 percent of the chemical picaridin because they don't wreak havoc with fishing line, plastics and other synthetic items like DEET sometimes does. You lose a little bit of DEET's effectiveness, but sometimes the trade off is worth it.

CR recommends: Off Deep Woods Sportsmen II ($1.25 per ounce); Cutter Backwoods Unscented ($1.33); Off FamilyCare Smooth and Dry ($1.63); 3M Ultrathon Insect Repellent 8 ($1.67); Repel Plant Based Lemon Eucalyptus ($1.94); and Natrapel 8-Hour with picaridin ($2).

Testers noted (and I concur) that Cutter Backwoods didn't cause much of a stink or leave behind a slimy scum. For that reason, it's my favorite DEET-based spray.

Whatever you do when it comes to sunscreen and bug spray, don't use products that combine the two, CR notes.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that while bug sprays are a one-and-done operation under most circumstances, sunscreens work best when applied several times during an outing. Trying to strike a balance may mean too much of a good thing with bug spray while under-protecting yourself from the sun.

Posted by Candus Thomson at 7:50 AM | Permalink
        

Turns out there's more than two ways to hike the 41 miles of the Appalachian Trail that runs through Maryland from the Pennsylvania line to the Potomac River.

And it figures that a group from Mensa has not only done it once, but 24 times. This weekend will mark the silver anniversary of Walk Across Maryland.

The hike can be done as a one-day slog, going north to south to save on elevation. And as I wrote on Sunday, Dick Hillman, the former Annapolis mayor and avid hiker and runner, will be leading five hikes over five months to complete the journey.

For their part, the Mensa hikers have broken the trail into three segments over three days. They use support cars to haul tents, sleeping bags and food, leaving participants to carry their own water and snacks. At various points, volunteers magically appear to shower hikers with cold drinks and popsicles.

When the caravan stops at night, hikers can set up under the stars, in a tent or in an AT shelter. Or, they can hitch a ride back to Hagerstown and rent a room in a motel. Not shabby.

The group charges $35 per person to cover the cost of the support cars, treats and some meals. That's a bargain any way you look at it. And when you've perfected the details over 24 years, as WAM organizers have done, you know it must be a pretty smooth operation.

How do they do it? The first day is PenMar to the AT shelter near Wolfsville Road. The second day is Wolfsville Road to Turners Gap. The final day is Turners Gap to Harpers Ferry.

All the details are at the website for Harpers Ferry Books http://www.harpersferrybooks.com

They invited me to join them. An ankle sprain will keep me with my foot propped up in the air this weekend rather than on the ground. But next year is another story.

Happy 25th anniversary, WAM. Here's to 25 more!

Posted by Candus Thomson at 6:00 AM | Permalink
        

We have lots of water: freshwater, saltwater and liquid that's a little of both.

Why not take advantage of one of Maryland's most plentiful resources?

Eastern Mountain Sports is having a free kayak demonstration at Truxton Park in Annapolis Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Representatives from many of the major manufacturers will be there to help you sort through the incredible number of options and let you take a test paddle. EMS staff will assist you in selecting a boat and accessories. And there will be deals.

Then, at 9 a.m. on June 13, REI Timonium is offering soup-to-nuts instruction. First, a classroom session covering gear and clothing, basic safety and correct paddling techniques. Then, paddlers will head out on the water to practice. Class size is limited. The cost is $95, member; $115, nonmember. To register, call 410-252-5920.

Posted by Candus Thomson at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

Access to a portion of the Atlantic Ocean off Maryland will be closed to boat traffic from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday through Sunday, for the Ocean City Air Show.

The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds are the headliners. The show also will include jumps by the Navy SEALS Leap Frogs and the 101st Airborne Screaming Eagles and a search-and-rescue demonstration by the Coast Guard.

The safety zone to accommodate low-flying aircraft extends from Talbot Street north through 33rd Street and east from the beach approximately 3,000 feet into the Atlantic Ocean. All vessels will be barred from entering the area or anchoring within 1,800 feet of the beach on the north and south borders of the zone during practices and performances.

The restricted waters will be marked by brightly colored buoys and policed by Natural Resources Police and the Coast Guard. Violation of the perimeter could result in a significant fine.

GPS coordinates and a photo of the closed area can be found on the Ocean City Air Show website, http://www.ocairshow.com.

Posted by Candus Thomson at 1:33 PM | Permalink
        

Patapsco Valley State Park has two projects this Saturday to improve and restore trails at the McKeldin and Avalon/Orange areas.

Registered participants get free T-shirts and lunch as a thank you.

Projects are available for all skill levels and work will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The events are sponsored by REI stores in Timonium and College Park and Mid-Atlantic Off Road Enthusiasts, Trail Conservancy Inc., and the Friends of Patapsco Valley Heritage Greenway.

Register for the Avalon/Orange area project at http://www.rei.com/stores/27.

Register for the McKeldin area project at http://www.rei.com/stores/62.

Once at a site, you can sign-up for projects starting at 8:30 a.m.

Bring a water bottle and gloves. Wear long pants, sturdy shoes and a hat. Volunteers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

If you have questions, contact volunteer coordinator Maegan Cooper at 410-465-3287 or macooper@dnr.state.md.us.

This rain-or-shine project is part of National Trails Day.

Posted by Candus Thomson at 11:30 AM | Permalink
        

At 50 bucks a night, a mini cabin at Cunningham Falls State Park is a bargain.

The sites are flat and shaded, the picnic tables are sturdy and the beds are more comfortable than a lot of futons I've slept on. The staff stands ready to help with advice on starting a fire after a downpour or removing the small bat that greeted my friends when they opened their cabin door.

Memorial Day weekend was a tremendous endorsement of the work being done by the Maryland Park Service staff. At least five state camp grounds were filled to capacity. Where I was staying, people hoping to cool off at Hunting Creek Lake were turned away when the beach reached capacity. The 78-foot falls itself was covered with swimmers, splashers and dippers.

If only...

Campers could enjoy a glass of wine with our pasta or a beer with our brats.

For my incredibly talented foodie friends, it meant designing meals that didn't involve alcohol in the making: no marsala in chicken marsala, no vin in the coq au vin, no flambe for the Baked Alaska.

No joke. When it comes to cooking, my camping colleagues are so good in the woods that it's a sin to be eating on anything less than the good china.

I admire the work being done by the folks at the Maryland Park Service. But while they've bent over backwards to accommodate families and dog lovers and hunters, they've done nothing for those of us who want to be treated like the taxpaying adults we are.

Really, rangers, is laughter at 11 p.m. more annoying than children crying, screaming and playing at 6 a.m.?

To my middle-aged ears, the answer is, no.

The authorities claim they just want to keep the peace at state campgrounds. But they already have the tool: the overnight quiet period.

Enforce it and the alleged issue becomes a non-issue.

And the park service's own statistics fail to establish there's a problem. In 2008, when 11 million people visited state parks, Natural Resources Police issued just 530 citations for alcohol-fueled rowdy and illegal behavior.

That's tinnier than a deer tick on a deer.

Of course, if you you have the means to rent a $120-a-night, full-service cabin, you can drink yourself stupid. (Think of it as a corkage fee).

And, if you're the Maryland State Police running the Polar Bear Plunge at Sandy Point State Park in January, you can obtain a piece of paper--a permit, as the park service calls it--that allows people to get tanked before and after their plunge. Although I hear next year will be an alcohol-free event.

It would be nice if the Maryland Park Service acknowledged the existence of responsible adults using its facilities---think Baby Boomers, folks--and came up with a way to allow us to have a apres-hike cocktail or wine with dinner. Most of us wouldn't mind reserving a spot at an "adults only" camping loop or buying a permit that we'd post at our site the same way we display a parking pass on our vehicle's dashboard. If it's good enough for the State Police...

There's no reason why the state should force responsible adults to sneak around in the woods like a bunch of high schoolers.

Posted by Candus Thomson at 8:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)