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Rusty Chinnis

Rusty Chinnis

March 7, 2017
Rusty Chinnis is The Sun’s Outdoors columnist.
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May 28, 2025
By Rusty Chinnis
Reel Time on the Road: A Drift on the Chattahoochee

Reel Time on the Road: A Drift on the Chattahoochee

“Eventually all things merge into one, and a river runs through it.” Norman Maclean, “A River Runs Through It” I have always had a fascination with rivers. As an angler more at home in saltwater, ri…
May 20, 2025
By Rusty Chinnis
Reel Time on the Road: Fishing The Soque

Reel Time on the Road: Fishing The Soque

The Soque River is a 30-mile-long tributary of the Chattahoochee River in northeastern Georgia whose watershed, headwaters and mouth lie entirely in Habersham County. The river has a vibrant heritag…
May 14, 2025
By Rusty Chinnis
It’s tarpon time off Anna Maria Island

It’s tarpon time off Anna Maria Island

Tarpon are one of the premier gamefish that swim local waters and are a noble adversary on any tackle. The fish that frequent our beaches during the months of May through August can weigh over 200 po…
May 6, 2025
By Rusty Chinnis

Get involved this summer

With summer fast approaching, there’s time on the horizon when we have the freedom from school schedules, extracurricular activities and many of our daily routines and have the time to fish more and…
April 22, 2025
By Rusty Chinnis
Sister Keys cleanup celebrates 15 years

Sister Keys cleanup celebrates 15 years

Suncoast Waterkeeper teamed up with Sarasota Bay Watch this past weekend for the Annual Sister Keys Cleanup. The event, held yearly since 2010, was a collaboration of the two non-profit organization…
April 14, 2025
By Rusty Chinnis
Choose lines, leaders wisely

Choose lines, leaders wisely

It might not be the sexiest part of fishing, but lines and leaders are an integral part of a successful equa­tion. The choices of line are varied, including variations of monofilament, braid and fluo…
April 8, 2025
By Rusty Chinnis
Practice always key to fly casting mastery

Practice always key to fly casting mastery

I’ve mentioned in articles recently the importance of practice for anglers who want to learn and/or improve their fly casting. There are many sources of instruction on fly casting, and good techniqu…
April 1, 2025
By Rusty Chinnis
Saltwater fly fishing basics: Tackle

Saltwater fly fishing basics: Tackle

It’s one of the fastest growing segments of the angling industry, a test of the mettle of angler and tackle. Fly fishing dates back to very early times, but its popularity has skyrocketed in recent y…
March 25, 2025
By Rusty Chinnis
Get involved in keeping Sarasota Bay healthy

Get involved in keeping Sarasota Bay healthy

Spring is a great time to enjoy our coastal waters while work­ing to keep them healthy. Two upcoming events in April provide a terrific opportunity to do this vital work and meet others who share the…
March 19, 2025
By Rusty Chinnis
Spring fever? Go for cobia

Spring fever? Go for cobia

The first day of spring is March 20, and as local water temperatures warm with the approach of spring, local anglers need to be alert for cobia in area waters. Often mistaken for shark, whose shap…
March 11, 2025
By Rusty Chinnis
In praise of seabirds

In praise of seabirds

Seabirds are an angler’s friend. Besides being an integral part of the marine ecosystem and beautiful to behold, they help us locate fish. An observant angler notices where birds congregate on a low…
March 3, 2025
By Rusty Chinnis
The honorable harvest

Reel Time: The honorable harvest

While reading a chapter in “Braiding Sweetgrass” by Robin Wall Kimmerer this morning, I came across the chapter entitled, “The Honorable Harvest.” Kimmerer, an American scientist, ac­claimed author a…
February 26, 2025
By Rusty Chinnis
Anatomy of a fishing rod

Reel Time: Anatomy of a Fishing Rod

All fishing rods, whether a spinning rod, a fly rod or a casting rod, share the basic components – blank, guides, reel seats and handles. So why is one rod more expensive than another? A rod’s bla…
February 17, 2025
By Rusty Chinnis

Reel Time: Harbingers of spring

The signs of spring are in the air, even though the official start of the season is a month away. I heard the first whippoorwill this past week and bait is starting to school in Sarasota Bay, welcome…
February 11, 2025
By Rusty Chinnis

Reel Time: Become a citizen scientist

On Feb. 7, Suncoast Waterkeeper Founder Justin Bloom, Board Member Richard Moore and I took Professor John Bowden and three of his research students into Tampa Bay to help them collect samples for an…