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Rusty Chinnis

Rusty Chinnis

March 7, 2017
Rusty Chinnis is The Sun’s Outdoors columnist.
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July 11, 2022
By Rusty Chinnis
Reel Time: The Sister Keys - the restorative power of nature

Reel Time: The Sister Keys – the restorative power of nature

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead, anthropologist (1901-1978) In the 1890s, the fir…
July 4, 2022
By Rusty Chinnis
Reel Time: Guiding principals

Reel Time: Guiding principles

I have always been a great fan of fishing guides. They can provide a terrific initiation to the local waters and are indispensable when angling new destinations. Not only do you get the benefit of th…
June 28, 2022
By Rusty Chinnis

Reel Time: Learning to fish – back to basics

Anglers of all stripes like to keep up with state-of-the-art innovations in the angling world. While that new jig or special fly can perhaps improve their odds at catching fish, it’s important for ne…
June 21, 2022
By Rusty Chinnis

Reel Time: Fishing with Captain Kevin Wessel

My pliers were in one hand and a fly was in the other as I prepared to cut the leader and change flies. Pausing, I looked up to check with Capt. Kevin Wessel before committing. “Tarpon coming at 1…
June 13, 2022
By Rusty Chinnis

Reel Time: Never Stop Learning

Merriam Webster’s Dictionary defines learning as “knowledge or skill acquired by instruction or study.” As most anglers will attest, that’s how we’ve gained the ability to successfully target (oc…
June 5, 2022
By Rusty Chinnis
Reel Time: Making fishing fun

Reel Time: Make fishing fun

Lately, it seems we’re constantly reminded how our experiences growing up molded us into the kind of person we are today. The all-too-often-heart wrenching news we’re seeing emphasizes just how impor…
May 29, 2022
By Rusty Chinnis
Reel Time: Jack crevalle, pit bull of the sea

Reel Time: Jack crevalle, pit bulls of the sea

For most local anglers, jack crevalle is not a target species. That’s pretty much true for fly and spin anglers as well as those that troll the beaches and passes. Most jack crevalle are caught insho…
May 22, 2022
By Rusty Chinnis
Reel Time: Worth

Reel Time: What’s it worth?

Worth – “The value of something measured by its qualities or by the esteem in which it is held.” How would you define the quality of the life you live – its worth? For most of us, it’s the natural w…
May 16, 2022
By Rusty Chinnis
Reel Time: Clean Water Act case benefits anglers

Reel Time: Clean Water Act case benefits anglers

Suncoast Waterkeeper and partner environmental groups Tampa Bay Waterkeeper, Manasota-88 and Our Children’s Earth Foundation have once again given local anglers cause for some badly-needed optimism…
May 7, 2022
By Rusty Chinnis

Reel Time: Tarpon season primer

Tarpon season is one of the most anticipated times of the year on local waters. While it’s possible to encounter tarpon occasionally most every month of the year, April through July is the time savvy…
May 2, 2022
By Rusty Chinnis
Reel Time on the Road: River of painted rocks

Reel Time on the Road: River of painted rocks

The river’s edge was garlanded with the lime green blush of early spring. Maples, oaks and sourwood trees lined the banks, punctuated with the blossoms of flowering dogwoods, eastern redbud and flame…
April 24, 2022
By Rusty Chinnis
Reel Time on the Road: Looking back, paying forward

Reel Time on the Road: Looking back, paying forward

One of the things I like most about fishing is the friends we make along the way and the many experiences that last a lifetime. When we can combine that with sharing the passion and paying it forward…
April 10, 2022
By Rusty Chinnis
Reel Time: Sister Keys Cleanup reaps benefits

Reel Time: Sister Keys Cleanup reaps benefits

Suncoast Waterkeeper teamed up with Sarasota Bay Watch this past weekend when they conducted the 2022 Annual Sister Keys Cleanup. The event was a collaboration with the Town of Longboat Key and th…
April 4, 2022
By Rusty Chinnis
Reel Time on the Road: Frankie's Two Boys Inn

Reel Time on the Road: Frankie’s Two Boys Inn

Over the years I’ve had the pleasure of fishing a lot of destinations in the Bahamas. The fact that it’s so close to Florida coupled with its vast schools of my favorite catch on the fly, bonefish, m…
March 21, 2022
By Rusty Chinnis
Reel Time: All hands on deck

Reel Time: All hands on deck

This past week I had the pleasure of fishing with Captain Scott Moore, Tampa Bay Waterkeeper board member Adam Fernandez and his two boys, AJ and Henry, ages 7 and 5. I’ve been a fisherman my whol…