Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1947-07-17
Fishermen Find
Great Sport In
Nearby Areas
BY Owen Stagmer

AS we approach the midvaca-
ton period and face the need of
making the best use of our time
, we should seek out some of the
fine and beautiful fishing areas
close by.
II angling, which the dictionary
defines as the "art Of fishing with
a rod, line and hook" is our fav-
orite sport, then let us visit some
of the nearby spots where we may
cast our plug, dunk our garden
hackle or place our fly. Even
though we may not have a strike
on each cast or land one of the
finry tribe with each pull of the
line, we can at least have the pleas
ure and benefit of the God-given
outdoors away from the worries
and hustle of our busy lives.
Fpr those partial to bass fish
ing there are many fine holes in
which the small-mouth variety
linger and feed in the Patapsco
river just west of Gainesville. A
little below the Avalon Dam in
Patapsco State Forest is one of the
favorite spots. Upstream where
Route 40 Highway Bridge crosses
the Patapsco and upstream to the
fork in the river, then to Daniels,
is all likely water and each year
many nice specimens are taken
by the angler with patience and
skill.
West from Daniels for several
miles are many rapids in which
good sized fish are to be found by
the fisherman with the endurance
and will power to travel this
rough territory. From the rapids
westward, the river becomes
rolling stream for a distance of
several miles with fish scattered
throughout its length, although in
lesser numbers. q
II we prefer the still water we
drive southwark to the Patuxent
river where we find the Tridelphia
or Brighton Dam. This lies south
from Cooksville on Route 40,
northeast from Olney and north
west from GAINESVILLE. 1t is a lake
formed b5 a dam erected by the
Washington Sanitary Commission
and IS private water. Fishing is
permitted upon payment of fifty
cents day to the guard at the
bridge. There are several miles of
shoreline which provide good fish
ing for bass as well as sunnies
and crappy. Also in this river and
its tributaries, both above and be-
low the dam, are some good spots
for bass and fall fish.
A little farther to the southeast
is the Potomac River where bass
may be caught in both the river
and its many feeding streams,
from the Rocks just outside of
Washington upstream as far as
one may wish to travel. This is a
favorite bass stream both with
residents and out-of-state visitors.
On drive of about two hours
northward on the Falls road lies
the Prettyboy Dam, a Baltimore
City water reservoir, which was
opened to fishermen last year for
the first time. Boats may be rent
ed by the hour or day enabling
fishermen to reach hard-to-get-to
spots and entice reluctant mem
bers Of the finny tribe to nibble
on bait that cannot be presented
from shore.
Northward on the Pulaski High
way we come to Bush river which
abounds in the large size big
mouth variety of bass and the
sporting pike. Here we must rent
a boat as fishing from the shore
is impossible because of trespas-
sing on property and because Of
the many swampy areas. However
these marshes furnish fine feeding
grounds for the species we seek.
Both plugs and live bait prove eff
fective in this area.
Eastward from Baltimore lies
Middle river and Seneca Creek,
both bass and pike areas, but in
lesser quantities than the Bush
river sections.
To the east and south lies the
Chesapeake Bay with its many
types Of salt water fishing which
is in class Of its own.
Southwark we travel to the Sew
ern river to catch the fine-eating
yellow perch as well as pike and
striped bass. These fish we catch
mainly from boats but many are
caught from private piers and
some from shore. This is our best
sportsman's river and net fishing
is prohibited throughout it's length.
Also the largest yellow perch
| hatchery In tha xvorId In IN fta I'm.