Burke Lake Park, Fairfax County, Virginia:
A fishing hotspot where dream comes true for a World Bank Staffer addicted to fishing
(By Sandrine Soman, Children^s Novelist and Storyteller)
This incredible story starts with a phone interview arranged by of Mr. Lee Walker, Editor of Virginia Wildlife Magazine. A further insight was gathered from Mr. Charlie Reagle, Manager of the Burke Lake Park located at 7313 Ox Road, Fairfax, Virginia, who confirmed enthusiastically: “Yes, we do have one of the Commonwealth’s top fishermen right here in this County; and his name is Kouassi Pascal Soman.” He indicated that so far, Mr. Soman has caught six “Trophy Channel Catfish” in Burke Lake waters with an average weight of about 25 lbs. In fact, he caught his latest on September 9, 2006 which was photographed by Mrs. Tracy Carlsen (see attached pictures). At this pace, Mr. Soman is likely to earn the honor of an “Expert Fisherman,” an angler with 10 or more “Trophy Fish” of the same specie. The funny thing is that Mr. Soman is also my Dad!
Indeed, my Dad, a native of the Ivory Coast (West Africa) has been awarded twice “Angler of the Month” by the Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries in September 2003 and May 2006. These were for the recognition of the largest officially registered “Channel Catfish” in the State of Virginia. And this is just a small part of the story. Meeting him in person and listening to his amazing life story for a few minutes and your jaw will drop right onto the ground; many of his closest friends argue vehemently even with me: Amazing!...
An introduction to his Autobiography published by iUniverse, Inc. in January 2003 reads: “A level-headed economist by all accounts, Kouassi admits his addiction to fishing his daddy taught him early on the Djoreh River which has succumbed to the encroaching desertification plaguing large parts of Africa. An eligible heir to the throne of the small kingdom of Abongui in the northeastern Côte d’Ivoire, Kouassi left home for school some fifty miles away at the age of five; saw an electrical light bulb in action and slipped into his first pair of shoes at eleven…”
This life story and uncommon destiny explain Mr. Soman’s love for nature and the Burke Lake Park, a wonderful place for family fun on weekends. This conveniently located public park at the heart of Fairfax Station has its tour-boat rides, overnight camping grounds, a miniature train and an 18-holes golf course. In fact, Mr. Soman and his family spent many summer weekends there fishing, riding their bikes and playing miniature golf. It is also his favorite place for many other reasons. Indeed, the lake is circled by a long and tortuous walking trail which is shared among numerous fishermen searching for hotspots, cyclists, campers and ordinary nature lovers as the Virginians are…” Mr. Soman has worked on education and economic issues for the World Bank Group in Washington, DC for more than 20 years.
As a result, my family has also become nature lovers, strong advocates for girls’ education, against environmental degradation and water pollution. All these in addition to fishing, of course, an American favorite sport in which I (Sandie Soman, Bishop O’Connell High School Class of 2010) am becoming an expert at the tender age of just 14! My own stand on girls’ education and pollution issues are very strong, so much so that I have produced a manuscript of my first Novel on these matters: “The Potomac River Angel” is expected to be published within a year. “This is just the tip of the iceberg; please stay tune!.” I would love to tell you more about my Dad and the rest of my family.
