Another Cost of Convenience

Dear Bay Weekly:

Kudos to Simone Gorrindo for tackling the story on the Planet Aid drop boxes (Nov. 5). Convenience, what are willing to trade for it? Seems to me we have traded some valuable things already. As a nation, we have certainly traded our health for convenience. Fast food, pre-packaged food and preserved food are all major contributors to some of the most common diseases plaguing our society. We have traded wellness for convenience, too. Not feeling well, we look for a quick fix by taking the latest drug on the market, giving little thought to the root of the problem. Now we know that our charity options offer a choice of convenience. What is the cost? Perhaps our integrity. Once you know, you can’t pretend not to know. The choices are yours. Choose wisely. Convenience, it seems to come at great costs.

–A. Kaye, Dunkirk

More Praise on Planet Aid

Dear Bay Weekly:

Congratulations to Simone Gorrindo on her Planet Aid story. I just read the story and was very impressed: excellent research and reporting. A tough assignment handled beautifully.

–Dotty Holcomb Doherty, Annapolis

Advice from the Fishing Doctor Doyle

Dear Bay Weekly:

I always enjoy The Sporting Life and congratulate Dennis Doyle on the prize-sized perch. Now for the questions and comments:

1. I fish off my dock in the Severn River. This time of year I generally catch white perch (Daredev’l lures). In colder weather I often get pickerel (same lures). This October, zilch. Tried Hula Popper (think he suggested surface poppers) and Mepps spinners and shad darts, all to no avail.

Further information about my lures: I pinch the barbs shut, but I don’t think this is the reason for my lack of success. Just not getting strikes.

Suggestions?

2. Months ago I asked Doyle about telescoping rods. Bought one from Cabellas and the guides fell off the first time I used it. Complained and they credited my account with the cost of the rod. They did not want it back (apparently had similar experiences with other users of this rod.) I glued the errant guides on with cyanocrylate glue and it works so-so for drop-line fishing off the boat. You cannot cast with the rod because the weight distribution is wrong and the flexibility is non-existent. Still, kudos to Cabellas.

–Bob Siegel Annapolis

Dennis Doyle’s Reply: Not sure what to tell you about your lack of perch. Fishing this fall has been very inconsistent, particularly in near-shore waters. The fish may not be there.

But for one thing, don’t use poppers. They are useless for white perch, which is strictly a bottom-feeding fish. If you’re not on the bottom or close to it, you will not be where they hang.

The prime time for perch along the docks is early and late in the day coinciding with a high tide, though you can catch them at other times as well. As a search solution, I would get myself a bag of bloodworms and fish the bottom in the morning or evenings during the two hours on either side of high tide.

If you catch fish, then the problem may be that you’re presenting your lures too fast or not deep enough, that they don’t like the lure — or some variation on that type of theme.

If you don’t catch anything then, the problem is likely that the fish have left the shoreline areas and you’ll just have to wait until they return.