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Reel Time

Reel Time on the Road: Fishing The Soque
Fishing, Outdoors, Reel Time

Reel Time on the Road: Fishing The Soque

May 20, 2025 – Rusty Chinnis
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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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February 4, 2025
By Rusty Chinnis

Fishing for fun

When we introduce children to fishing, we should make the experience uncomplicated and as much fun as possible. Creating unrealistic expectations can discourage young anglers and be the difference be…
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Upcoming Events

April 9, 2025
11:45 am

The Off-Stage Ladies of the Island Players, April luncheon meeting