Reservoirs

Prettyboy, Liberty and Loch Raven reservoirs will be reopened to boat fishermen this year by the Baltimore Department of Public Works, which had banned boats last spring while evaluating a potential problem with zebra mussels."

No. 5 Reservoir softball team relied on its defense again and quieted the Mount Hebron bats in a Class 3A East regional semifinal Thursday. Winner Rachel Brown struck out four and shut out the Vikings, 6-0. The Gators (16-3) have given up one run in the past two playoff games. Reservoir's offense scored single runs in the first and second innings followed by two two-run innings, the third and fourth. Baseball James M. Bennett 6, No. 7 Northeast 3: Brandon O'Malley went 2-for-4 and Eric Grantland doubled in two runs, but the Eagles (16-6)

A recent Sunday afternoon at the normally sleepy Loch Raven reservoir played out like an episode of "Cops. " At its eastern point, a young man and woman who had been hiking made their way down to the infamous Loch Raven cliffs and jumped into the calm, beckoning waters to cool off. They were blissfully unaware that across the water, reservoir ranger Simon Phillips was watching, just waiting for the 'splash' to spring into action. "We have swimmers in the water," Phillips radioed a fellow ranger and jetted off to cite the swimmers $200 each.

On a blustery afternoon at Reservoir High on Thursday, unpredictable gusts of wind effected runners' times, and several high profile disqualifications altered the landscape of the meet. In the end, though, the strongest competitors, and teams, won. The Mount Hebron girls carried over their success from the indoor season, led by Michaela Wilkins' four victories. The Reservoir boys, led by Timmy Usher's wins in the 400 meters and 800 meters, took the title on their home track. Usher almost ended the meet with an exclamation point, anchoring the 4x400 relay that at first appeared to break a school record with its first place finish.

Five Maryland fishermen and two businessmen met with Baltimore's director of public works yesterday to discuss the closure of two city-operated reservoirs to boats and to offer their assistance with a potential zebra mussel problem.Baltimore's Prettyboy and Liberty reservoirs have been closed to boaters and anglers in boats since March 1, when the Department of Public Works decided to postpone issuing mandatory permits until it could find a way to delay or prevent zebra mussel infestation.

Anticipation.It's a big part of fishing, waiting to go while speculating what the catch will be. It is especially true as winter starts to wind down -- and anglers endure cabin fever.Already the more serious fishermen are yanking a few nice largemouth bass from tidal waters of the Potomac River near Washington, where fishing has started early since waters there became clean enough tosupport healthy gamefish populations.But let us not forget our reservoirs -- especially Liberty and Piney Run in Carroll; Prettyboy, just over the line in Baltimore County; Loch Raven, also in BaltimoreCounty; and Triadelphia and Rocky Gorge on Howard County's southern border -- where good fishing could begin within a month.

...TC Spinnerbaits are one of my favorite bass lures when fishing area waters such as Liberty, Prettyboy and Piney Run reservoirs.The biggest largemouth I ever pulled out of Loch Raven Reservoir hit a spinner, and I believe that if I had to choose one lure to use all the time, under all conditions, the nod would go to spinners. They attract a better quality bass and provide for the highest hooking percentage.Spinnerbaits have been productive for me in almost every conceivable water and weather condition.

The Reservoir Anglers Association won't be reeling in any fish at Loch Raven Reservoir on Dec. 13. Its haul that day will be litter.The goodwill gesture by the new association, which represents local anglers, is aimed at showing Baltimore officials who operate the city reservoirs that members care what happens to the reservoirs.Fishing hasn't been permitted all year at Loch Raven, Prettyboy and Liberty reservoirs. It was stopped to prevent an invasion by the tiny zebra mussel, which can clog water conduits.

The live aquatic bait ban in effect at Baltimore City's three reservoirs will be modified to allow the use of state-certified, zebra mussel-free bait, Mayor Kurt. L. Schmoke announced yesterday.Live bait had been banned to protect the reservoirs from accidental introduction of zebra mussels, which can attach to live bait. The inch-long shellfish multiplies rapidly and has clogged large water intake structures.Now if you use live aquatic bait, you must have a receipt from a state-certified bait shop in your possession, dated no more than 48 hours from purchase.

Except for a handful of fossil-fuel-funded lobbyists who deny the reality of global warming, we all agree that we urgently need to "green" our energy sources. Investors in forms of electricity generation with low greenhouse-gas emissions stand to make a lot of money in the coming green economy. The big-hydro industry - under fire for harm to river ecology and the eviction of communities in the way of its reservoirs - has seized the opportunity to reposition itself as climate-friendly. The problem is, big hydro is nowhere near as climate-friendly as the industry claims.

A later start to the walleye season has resulted in the largest member of the perch family being "the most abundant fish species" in Deep Creek Lake, according to Al Klotz, Western Regional Fisheries Manager for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. The season, which began Wednesday, starts with a daily creel limit of five and 15-inch minimum size limit. Klotz said several walleyes more than 20 inches long have already been spotted or caught. Aside from Deep Creek Lake, walleye are plentiful in the Youghiogheny River Reservoir, Jennings Randolph Lake, Savage River Reservoir, Potomac River and Liberty Reservoir.

Howard softball coach Chuck Rice couldn't single out any one player or particular aspect of Friday's win at No. 1 Reservoir. Everybody contributed, and everything seemed to be working well. The No. 7 Lions hit the ball hard, got strong pitching from Kensey O'Neill and made defensive plays at key times to stun the previously undefeated Gators, 6-0. Shortstop Jules Natoli was the catalyst at the plate, hitting a run-scoring double and a home run as she drove in four runs and scored twice.

The top-ranked McDonogh girls have relied heavily on depth to grow into the area's dominant track and field team the past few years. But unranked Franklin surprised the Eagles with that same formula Saturday. Franklin didn't take first in a single event at the Pikesville Track Classic, but the Indians earned top-three finishes in nine of the 18 events to win with 84 points. McDonogh won seven times, but that wasn't enough, as the Eagles (72 points) settled for second. No. 8 Mount Hebron finished third with 70 points, as Michaela Wilkins won the 400 meters and 800 meters and the Vikings also took the 1,600 relay.

Reservoir senior pitcher Lee Lawler had the game in his hands on Tuesday afternoon, and he wasn't going to let anyone take it from him. That included Atholton. Trailing 1-0 in the top of the seventh inning, Atholton put two runners on against Lawler with no outs, prompting Reservoir coach Adam Leader to come out and talk things over with Lawler. "I didn't want (Leader) to come out. I wanted him to go back in [the dugout]," Lawler said. "I didn't like how I started off, throwing ball four (to Andrew McLellan)

A city police officer who heard gunshots Friday afternoon quickly responded and saw a man shooting a handgun, and the officer fired at least one round himself before the gunmen escaped, according to a department spokesman. Police said the armed man jumped into the passenger seat of a silver-colored car that sped away from West North Avenue and McCulloh Street about 3:15 p.m., leaving behind two victims suffering from gunshot wounds. Both were taken to area hospitals for treatment.

A Baltimore police officer investigating a domestic disturbance on Saturday morning in the Reservoir Hill neighborhood shot and killed a man armed with a knife, according to authorities. A police spokesman identified the man who was killed as George Wells, 29, of the 2500 block of Brookfield Ave., the same location that the officer had responded for the call. Other details, including how many times and where on his body Wells was shot, were not released on Saturday. Police said Wells was pronounced dead at Maryland Shock Trauma Center at 12:23 p.m., less than 45 minutes after the shooting.

Preservationists who want a logging ban on city reservoir land argued Tuesday night with industry representatives who favor cutting trees under careful supervision.At issue at a public hearing at Loch Raven High School was a task force report on watershed management at three city-owned reservoirs: Loch Raven and Pretty Boy in Baltimore County, and Liberty, which straddles the border between Baltimore and Carroll counties. The report recommends that logging be phased out over five years, except for diseased or damaged trees that are a threat to safety.

Don't worry, it won't be the type where they do bad covers of Adon Olam. Eutaw Place, housed at the bottom of Beth Am Synagogue, is catering to singer-songwriters. It's scheduled to open in late April. The idea came together last summer, said producer and booker Ellen Kahan Zager, 56. She likes coffee-house types like Jammin Java in Virginia and adult contemporary getaways like Rams Head on Stage in Annapolis. But didn't find any in Baltimore. Though she didn't have any experience in the business - "My husband and I just love music," the graphic designer says - she approached the rabbi of her new temple, Beth Am, with a proposal: "Would you consider a music venue in the lower level of the synagogue?"

Despite difficulties shooting from the field, the No. 13 Oakland Mills girls basketball team pulled out a 41-37 win Wednesday over visiting Reservoir. Jasmine Hill had 16 points for the Scorpions (12-1), who led 17-10 at halftime. No. 2 Digital Harbor 44, Patterson 4: A fast-scoring transition offense and a 2-3 zone that troubled the Clippers all game led to a 44-4 victory for the host Rams. Patterson scored all of its points from the foul line, going 4-for-10. Patterson went 0-for-15 on field-goal attempts.