The Pasadena Sportfishing Group has two kids fishing derbies a year. One in April which is the   freshwater fishing derby at Lake Waterford Park and one in August a Saltwater kids’ fishing derby  held a Downs’ Park. The Pasadena Sportfishing volunteers have many problems each year at Downs’ park where the kids have no place to fish except from the beach. One of the problems are snags (hook-ups) when  the kids cannot get their fishing lines out past the debries under the water and they lose alot of hooks and line. This is enough to frustrate a kid or anyone else and make them lose interest in fishing. Other problems encountered are broken glass at the water’s edge and wood with nails that float ashore. Thank God we haven’t found any needles on the beach although there have been report of some found on other beaches near the area. Whenever the tide comes in the kids and parents end up on the large rocks or in the marsh. This is not an ideal situation to persuade a kid to  become interested in the sport of fishing.

          The Pasadena Sportfishing Committee members discussed the possibility of having a fishing pier at Downs’ Park to limit the above problems. Richard Dobry volunteered to chair the  idea. He notified the right people who advised the Committee in securing the proper procedure to go forward with the idea. A local newspaper staff writer wrote about the Pasadena Sportfishing Group’s aim for a fishing pier; his article became the link between PSG and a professor at the U.S. Naval Academy. PSG was fortunate to get the call which permitted several midshipmen to design the pier as one of their engineering projects. They did a great job from designing the pier to estimating the  the cost which is about $350,000.00 or more. Now that we have the plans PSG hopes to have Anne Arundel County and the Department of Natural Resources of Maryland come up with the funds to complete the project. This fishing pier will benefit everyone of all ages. Did you know Anne Arundel County has 437 miles of Chesapeake Bay shoreline? More shoreline than any other county in this state but less fishing piers and boat ramps than other counties! This County has two large parks on the water without fishing piers or boat ramps; all I see are baseball diamonds and tennis courts. I can’t play tennis or baseball anymore but I know a lot of guys my age would certainly enjoy a pier at Downs’ Park whether you’re out fishing or just strolling. Speak up! We need your support.

REMEMBER THE WHEEL THAT SQUEALS THE MOST GETS OILED!!!

07/17/01