Regulars (All)

Article - Sporting Life by Dennis Doyle; by Dennis Doyle - 4/18/13

Baitfishing the Trophy Season?

You heard right: Trolling is no longer required

Not everyone trolls during trophy rockfish season. A growing contingent of shore-bound anglers fish bloodworms or cut bait on the bottom. They have been catching an ever-more impressive number of big migratory stripers. An equally expanding cadre of small- and medium-sized boat anglers have also been chumming and chunking fresh menhaden (aka alewife or bunker) to hungry post-spawn giants. A big, juicy bloodworm on a bottom rig is just as effective fished from a skiff as it...

Article - The Bay Gardener by Dr. Francis Gouin; by Dr. Francis Gouin - 4/18/13

Test It!

If you want to start your garden right, learn what your soil needs for plants to thrive

Why are you so hesitant to have your soil tested? Now that spring is here, interest in gardening is on the rise. No matter where I go, people approach me with gardening problems. Most are directly associated with nutrient deficiencies in their soils. How to Prune Raspberries and Blackberries I know how to prune raspberries, but I’m not so sure about blackberries. I would appreciate it if you would enlighten me. –Barbie Walter, via email When...

Article - The Dish; by Lisa Knoll - 4/18/13

Tasting the Entrepreneurial Sprit

Distilling Sloop Betty, a 40-year first

As Bay Weekly’s 20th birthday approaches, we reflect on entrepreneurial courage. What crazy notion compelled three family members to start a community newspaper on a wing and a prayer? Innovative thinking drives small, independent businesses. Some like to follow, some to lead and others to create. Creating is risky, expensive and typically fueled by passion. That’s the American way. The same spirit motivated brothers Chris and Jon Cook to get...

Article - Sky Watch by J. Alex Knoll; by J. Alex Knoll - 4/11/13

By the Light of the Moon

Luna pairs with Jupiter and glows with Earth’s light

A nascent crescent moon emerges from the lingering glow of sunset at week’s end and then appears roughly 10 degrees higher and remains visible a half-hour longer night by night. Saturday evening, the moon forms a near perfect triangle with blazing Jupiter to the east and orange Aldebaran to the south, each less than 10 degrees from the other. Sunday the moon pulls within two degrees of Jupiter, and the pair remain visible until 10:30pm. Even just a few days old, the...

Article - Sporting Life by Dennis Doyle; by Dennis Doyle - 4/11/13

Gangbusters for Shad

When the forsythia bloom, the hickories start running

Pulling into my driveway this week, I caught the briefest flash of bright yellow out of the corner of my eye. A neighbor’s forsythia bush was beginning to bloom. My mind returned to this exact time a year ago. Late that morning, a friend and I were pussyfooting up to a riverbank on the upper Choptank. We had already spent a number of fruitless weeks chasing elusive yellow perch and again feared failure. What we saw in the water restored our hope. Fishfinder...

Article - The Bay Gardener by Dr. Francis Gouin; by Dr. Francis Gouin - 4/11/13

It’s Back to the Water Here, Too

If I can leave my garden long enough to launch my boats

The Bay Gardener has difficulty deciding which is more relaxing, spending days in the garden, spending hours sailing his 24-foot MacGregor swing-keel boat, building boats or resurrecting an old boat or tractor. When it is too cold, windy or wet, resurrecting an old boat or antique tractor in the warm garage provides hours of challenges and satisfaction. Now that spring is here, there is competition for my time. The garden needs to be planted, and the sailboat needs attention...

Article - The Dish; by Lisa Knoll - 4/11/13

A Toast to a Small World with Greenville Pale Ale

New and seasonal favorites bring flavor to spring

I grew up in a bucolic part of northern Delaware near the Brandywine River Valley, dubbed Chateau Country for its lush countryside riddled with duPont estates, rolling hills and horse farms. Greenville is the town center, just down the road from Nemours and Hagley Museum, the estate and gunpowder mill that was the beginning of the duPont dynasty. My father’s family has been part of the community for many generations, though we plowed a different path than the duPonts. My great-grandfather...

Article - Sporting Life by Dennis Doyle; by Dennis Doyle - 4/4/13

Pitching to Perch and Pickerel

The river gave up gold

It had turned into a beautiful day despite a forecast of high winds and rain. Trees were whipping overhead, but down the well-worn path we followed on the forest floor, it was sheltered and calm. When we broke out of the tree-cast shadow line, the bright sun warmed us so that we had to open our jackets and slow our pace. When we arrived at our destination on the Tuckahoe, we had the place to ourselves. Separating, Frank went upstream, and I went down. Rigging my four-pound...

Article - Sky Watch by J. Alex Knoll; by J. Alex Knoll - 4/4/13

Less of Our Light for More Star Light

Help Globe at Night shine a spotlight on light pollution

With the moon waning through early morning skies, this weekend is a great opportunity to participate in the latest round of the Globe at Night program, which goes on through Tuesday, April 9. Relying on the observations of volunteers from all around the world, Globe at Night is gathering the most comprehensive data on light pollution. Citizen scientists including children and families, schools and civic groups participate by observing the faintest stars they can see within the constellation Leo...

Article - The Bay Gardener by Dr. Francis Gouin; by Dr. Francis Gouin - 4/4/13

Insect Survivors Are Waking

Spray horticultural oil now to control them

The mild winter is likely to be followed by early invasions of scale insects, spider mites and other bugs that over-winter in the cracks and crevices on the bark of trees and shrubs. Roses, Alberta spruce, blue spruce and roses are the most susceptible species for spider mites. Scale insects will attack euonymus, crab apple, cherries including cherry laurel, oak and pine. Wax scale insects especially like hollies. A thorough spraying now with a four percent concentration of...