Coast Guard updates lights and fly-tiers gather.

Mariners navigating the Patapsco River can do so more safely now, thanks to the United States Coast Guard’s (USCG) recently completed upgrades to the Fort McHenry Range, an aid to navigation light systems for guiding shipping traffic into the Port of Baltimore. The Fort McHenry Range is a tandem of lights at different elevations, reassuring captains and pilots that their vessel is in mid-channel and in safe water for their entrance to the city.

The lower of the two lights in the system is the front light; the higher is the rear light. In 1913, the front light was originally constructed on the fort at a height of 41 feet, 99 years following the renowned nautical engagement, which inspired Francis Scott Key to write the words to the Star Spangled Banner. The current light structure was built in 1934. The rear light is located approximately one mile behind the front light and was originally built in 1934 at a height of 113 feet, then rebuilt in 1963. Both lights were originally outfitted with 24-inch RL-24 drum lanterns creating a focused beam of light down the center of the channel. Due to the growth of the city, the lights needed to be modernized with updated equipment to meet today’s needs.

The USCG temporarily switched off power to both lights to begin the upgrades in June 2011. The front light’s rehabilitation and optics update included two new RL-24 lanterns with 1,000-watt lamps in each lantern. The rear tower was removed and a new one was built to a height of 155 feet. It was updated with three new RL-24 lanterns with 1,000-watt lamps in each one.

Both lights remain white during the days but were changed to a fixed red hue for the rear light and a fixed green for the front light during the nighttime. The increased lantern intensity of the range and the new height of the rear light should provide better visibility and make for safer transits of vessels arriving in Baltimore.

10^th TieFest

If you’ve ever been interested in learning how to create your own fishing flies or in learning how to cast a fly line, the annual TieFest this month at the Kent Narrows Yacht Club near Chester, Maryland, is a fantastic opportunity for novices. The free event features internationally recognized fly-tiers and anglers and allows you to see up-close-and-personal how they make their famous lures. This year’s 10^th annual show is from 10AM to 4PM on Saturday, February 25^th.

The participating fly-tiers typically work on saltwater fly patterns for fishing the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic seaboard, and are ready to answer questions about casting and techniques—and may even suggest a few locations where fish have been biting. Well-known anglers such as Lefty Kreh, Bob Clouser and Steve Silverio are regular tiers at the event. More than 500 anglers from four states are expected to attend.

“TieFest presents a great way to experience fly fishing during the winter months,” says Tony Friedrich, Executive Director of the Coastal Conservation Association Maryland, the event sponsor. “What makes it special is that any angler can walk up to the numerous experts attending, ask a personal question and expect an answer. This doesn’t happen in most other settings.”