Skip to main content

Tag: Reel Time

Reel Time: The miracle of Matlacha

Written by Rusty Chinnis on . Posted in Fishing, Outdoors, Reel Time.

Matlacha is a piece of Old Florida that has been spared, in large part, because it isn’t situated on the Gulf of Mexico. That may be important to a lot of snowbirds, but to anglers, it’s situated in one of the most productive estuaries in Florida. Still, weather can play a critical part in an angler’s success, and that was the case as a warm Indian summer had dissolved into a sudden cold front. Fortunately, Captain Joe Harley had encountered these conditions before and only had to access his memory bank from years past to come up with a plan.

After a long search, Harley spotted a large concentration of mullet on a flat near Deer Stop Key. He looks for the mullet because he knows that redfish usually accompany them. Rick Hess, who’s fly had for the most part gone unmolested during our morning search for fish, was the first to notice the swirl and nervous water that often indicate the presence of redfish. Making a cast to the area, he hooked a red that quickly took him into his backing. Hess was fishing a gold spoon fly, an attractor pattern Harley prefers for reds when he’s not sight fishing. After a short but intense fight, we were able to lead the red to the boat for a picture and quick release.

Harley’s favorite patterns when sight fishing include deer hair streamers, clousers and seaducers. Waters in the fall, winter and spring are generally clear enough to sight cast to reds, although that wasn’t the case that first day. At times, schools of mullet and redfish can cloud up the water in the areas where the redfish are prowling for crabs and small fish. Under these conditions, sight fishing can be tough. This is the time to blind cast into the murky water or cast to disturbances or nervous water.

When the first intense cold fronts hit southwest Florida the high winds and temperature drops will shut down the tarpon fishing on the open flats.  Most of the baby tarpon that leave the flats and retire to their winter haunts can be found in deep man-made canals. Fortunately, many of the wintering spots are protected bays and backcountry lakes with muddy bottoms that hold fish through the winter. The large resident tarpon retreat to either the rivers or just deeper waters. Fronts or fall and winter warm spells can provide sight fishing for large laid up tarpon.

Over the two days, we fished conditions that went from extremely challenging to passable and with the years of experience at his disposal, Harley put us on tarpon, redfish and a big snook. These were a couple of days I might have passed on had they not been planned months in advance. As it turned out, Harley transformed lemons into lemonade.

Harley’s skiff was built by a Pine Island native boat builder and lifelong friend. His boat is extremely wide, stable and has a very shallow draft. The design allows Harley to run and fish in waters from Matlacha Pass (including Pine Island, Useppa and Charlotte Harbor) to Boca Grande. Harley can be reached at 239-443-7412.

More Reel Time:

Reel Time: Sarasota Bay seagrasses take a big hit

Reel Time: Kids for Clean Water

reel time Seagrass

Reel Time: Sarasota Bay seagrasses take a big hit

Written by Rusty Chinnis on . Posted in Environment, Fishing, Outdoors, Reel Time.

I don’t have to remind anyone of the devastation the red tide wrought in our bays and Gulf. Images of dumpsters stuffed with fish, dead dolphins, manatees and sea turtles have filled the news and been displayed across social media for the last four months.

What we don’t see and what as yet may prove to be the most damaging aspect is the death and dieback of seagrasses. These underwater ecosystems have been referred to as the rainforests of the sea and function to support the marine environment in numerous ways. Most importantly, perhaps, is their importance to water quality.

“Seagrasses help trap fine sediments and particles that are suspended in the water column, which increases water clarity. When a seafloor area lacks seagrass communities, the sediments are more frequently stirred by wind and waves, decreasing water clarity, affecting marine animal behavior, and generally decreasing the recreational quality of coastal areas.

Seagrasses also work to filter nutrients that come from land-based industrial discharge and stormwater runoff before these nutrients are washed out to sea and to other sensitive habitats such as coral reefs,” Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Seagrasses unlike much of our sea life are mostly hidden from view. Unfortunately, the old adage, “Out of sight out of mind” might apply here. Just last week, I took my boat out to see first-hand the condition of local seagrasses. What I saw at once encouraged me and gave me pause. I am no scientist and this information is, of course, anecdotal, but from the Sister Keys south to Long Bar in mid-Sarasota Bay, I found large areas of bottom previously covered in grass that were essentially bare. Other areas did have full grass coverage but to my eye looked considerably less vibrant.

The good news is that this grass will recover, and the bare areas probably have living roots that will regenerate when the waters clear and they can properly photosynthesize. Unfortunately, the current condition when extrapolated bay wide portends a marine environment that will be much less productive.

The current condition of the bay and Gulf is undeniably impaired and should be a call to action to all who live near and appreciate this magical resource. Fortunately, the natural world is incredibly resilient and with our help can regenerate.   If you’re looking for a bright spot and an opportunity to help, you don’t have to go far. Sarasota Bay Watch, known for its scallop restoration is now reseeding clams, another dynamic water filterer into Sarasota Bay.

The non-profit will have released close to a quarter million southern hard-shell clams into Sarasota Bay by years end and has ambitious plans for planting a million in 2019. Its efforts were embraced by the public and volunteers community-wide, including corporate partners like Gettel Toyota and Gold Coast Eagle Distributing.

This is what SBW co-president Larry Stults calls “proof of concept” anchored by the fact that its clams survived the current red tide. When you consider that clams can filter close to 50 gallons of water a day and live for 30 years the positive impact of the project is clear. We can make help make that possible. For every dollar donated to Sarasota Bay Watch, it will plant 10 clams in Sarasota Bay. That’s 50 gallons of water a day for just the first year or 18,300 gallons of water. Not bad for a $1 investment. To become involved, visit the organization’s website.

More Reel Time:

Reel Time: Kids for Clean Water

Reel Time: Master your knots

Reel Time: Sarasota Bay Watch clams survive red tide

Reel Time: Kids for Clean Water

Written by Rusty Chinnis on . Posted in Environment, Fishing, Outdoors, Reel Time.

All of us who live on the Gulf coast have been impacted by the recent red tide and the unprecedented death of dolphins, sea turtles, manatees and fish. It’s easy to get overwhelmed and jaded at the politics and seeming hopelessness of the situation. Living here and having the opportunity to enjoy and explore the region’s bounty fosters a unique appreciation for its riches. A mixed blessing of sorts, it also points out how vulnerable the marine resources are and can cultivate a desire to protect them so future generations can have the same opportunities they’ve had. That was the inspiration for Kids for Clean Water, an organization the goal of which is to give kids a say in the health of the environment they will inherit.

Tracy Freeman, editor of Edible Sarasota Magazine was visibly distraught as she related over lunch last June that her daughter Addy, age 11, had been in tears as she wrote a letter expressing her sadness at the images of dead sea life that permeated the news and social media. They were both looking for a way to make a difference.

“This is important to me because I want kids in the future to have the same experiences that I have enjoyed. If we don’t clean up our water, our wildlife will continue to die. Our sea turtles are dying because of all the plastic in the ocean; we have to stop using plastic straws. I want safe water so I can swim and go fishing with my Dad.” Addy Freeman, age 11.

Dawn Barbour, of Sarasota, expressed the same sentiment when her daughter Sadie related her experiences in school where sea turtles were the subject of their study. The kids were working on a project to educate their parents on the importance of helping turtles and the deaths in the red tide were distressing them. Dawn knew she wanted to do more when she heard Sadie make a comment based on a political ad she had heard on television.

“Kids for Clean Water means helping to save all of our beautiful dolphins, manatees, sea turtles, and fish. We can all do our part to help make sure all do our part to help make sure our waters are clean and healthy for us and for the marine life.” Sadie Barbour, age 9.

John Paul (J.P.) Brooker is well aware of the challenges we face. As the Ocean Conservancy’s Policy Counsel for the Fish Conservation Program, working on marine conservation issues in the southeast is a day job for him. This made him all the more passionate about protecting the waters for his family and future generations. His two daughters are still young, but they too love the beaches and the marine life that they’re just getting to know.

“My daughters are seventh generation Floridians. And as a passionate environmentalist and lover of Floridian wilderness myself, I am committed to instilling in them the sense of duty to be stewards of our states most precious natural resources, especially the watersheds and coastal ecosystems that make Florida such a unique and special place.”

“Since I could walk I’ve been swimming and fishing in Florida water, and I want my girls to be the same – that’s why I am proud to foster the conservationist spirit of my budding Floridian environmentalists, and why I am so excited that we have started up Kids for Clean Water.” J.P. Brooker for his daughters, Anne, 3, and Elizabeth, 4.

When the three met, the chemistry was perfect and led to the formation of Kids for Clean Water. The organization is new and in the process of obtaining their 501 3C non-profit status. They have established an email account, floridakidsforcleanwater@gmail.com, an Instagram account, and a Facebook page.

I don’t have any children, but having been blessed with over three decades on Florida’s west coast, I too want to make sure that future generations have the same opportunities I’ve had. That’s why I’m joining Kids for Clean Water’s efforts to protect and enhance Florida’s marine ecosystem. For the dolphins, manatees, sea turtles, fish and future generations. Will you?

More Reel Time:

Reel Time: Master your knots

Reel Time: Sarasota Bay Watch clams survive red tide

Reel Time: Preparing for fall fishing

Lefty Kreh

Reel Time: Master your knots

Written by Rusty Chinnis on . Posted in Outdoors, Reel Time.

Fishing tackle and techniques become more technical with each passing year, but some components of the angling experience have never changed. You can own the latest tackle, employ the most refined techniques and chances are you’ll still come up short if you’ve lost sight of the basics.

Learning to tie knots properly may seem the most mundane of your fishing skills, but, rest assured, it’s one of the most important. It may be a small part of the overall fishing equation, but it is one that’s often overlooked. You won’t meet many anglers who haven’t lost a great fish to an improperly tied knot! You don’t need to master a lot of knots, but learning the basic ones and tying them correctly will improve the likelihood of landing that fish you’ve been working so hard to entice.

The best place to learn and practice knots isn’t on the water but at home on the bench. With good instructions, a pair of clippers and an inexpensive spool of line you’ll be able to quickly learn a number of important knots. YouTube is an excellent resource for learning knots that you’ll find valuable when rigging for fishing in the Gulf or the bay. Here are a few of my favorites.

The Bimini twist may take some time to master, but it can be used as a foundation for all saltwater leader systems. The Bimini allows you to double your standing line into a loop, creates 100 percent knot strength and acts as a shock between small line and heavier leader.

An easier knot to tie is the spider hitch, an effective way to double the standing line that doesn’t have the knot strength of the Bimini twist.  That warning aside, I’ve never had one fail.

The surgeon’s knot is one of the easiest knots to tie, is very effective and can be used to tie your leader (under 60 pounds) to the Bimini twist. This is the knot to use when tying two lines of dissimilar diameters together in the dark. The surgeon’s knot is really just an overhand knot tied with two (treat the double Bimini as one line) strands of line. It is one of the most important knots you can learn. You can use this knot on single strands as well.

One knot that I avoided for years but finally mastered is the blood knot. Preferred by most Keys guides for building leaders, this knot has a slim profile that easily slips through the guides of a rod.

The Albright special is an especially useful knot for the coastal angler. This is the knot to tie when you’re rigging for Spanish mackerel or tarpon. It allows you to tie mono to wire without a swivel and lets you join 20-pound line to a 100-pound leader.

The final step is to tie a hook or lure to the leader. The non-slip mono loop is my choice for several reasons: it’s easy to tie, tests near 100 percent and forms a loop that gives bait and lures more range of motion. The knot has a couple of other advantages – it won’t tighten when a fish is hooked, and the tag end comes out facing away from the standing line, which keeps it from picking up weeds or other debris.

There are a few rules that will help you tie reliable knots no matter which ones you choose to use. First, make sure you give yourself plenty of line to make the knot. You use less line in the long run and learning will be a lot less frustrating. You can master the most complicated knots, but if you don’t tie them properly, they all have a high probability of failing.

There are two critical components of any knot. First, they must be wet when they are tightened and second, they must be tightened carefully so there is no chance of them slipping. Knots break when they slip. I use an eye bolt attached to my bench (and a small eye hook on my boat console) to hold the hook, wet the knot and tighten it with a pair of pliers. Follow these rules, tie the knots that work for you and you’ll strengthen the weakest link in your fishing experience.

One of my favorite references is “Fishing Knots,” by Lefty Kreh. It’s spiral bound so it easily stays open to the page you’re studying, and no one I ever met has the wealth of experience of Kreh. You can order the book here. Learn a few of the basic knots, tie them correctly and you’ll add a whole new dimension to your angling experience.

Reel Time: The Zen of fishing

Written by Rusty Chinnis on . Posted in Fishing, Outdoors, Reel Time.

The ancient word and concept of Zen have been co-opted to refer to things as diverse as a nail salon and a burger bar. The term comes from (massively oversimplified) a form of Eastern Meditation that stresses mindfulness and meditation but for our purposes, we’ll use the commonly accepted definition “absorption.” How you might ask does an ancient Chinese concept apply to fishing? Let me explain.

Over the years we’ve all noticed that there are more anglers on the water and, in many cases, there appears to be fewer fish to go around. When fish are present, say redfish, they are spookier and harder to approach. Over the years I’ve written about staking out holes on the flats and letting the fish come to you. More and more I’m reminded that this is a good way to find and entice fish as well as making the fishing day more relaxing. It’s amazing what you can notice when you slow down and become absorbed in the experience rather than running from place to place.

Reel Time The Zen of Fishing
This redfish fell for a stealthy, Zen-like approach on a flat in Tampa Bay. – Rusty Chinnis | Sun

I was reminded of this principle during the past month on a trip to the mountains of North Georgia. Over the years I have trout fished a “trophy” trout stream at Smithgall Woods State Park near Helen. The stream, Dukes Creek, is managed by the State of Georgia and anglers in limited numbers are only allowed to fish there three days a week. The park is also an excellent place to bike and during my most recent trip there I did an afternoon of biking on a day when anglers weren’t on the water. Several times I parked the bike near the stream and just sat next to a tree and observed. It only took about five minutes for the section of stream I was sitting by, seemingly devoid of fish when I arrived, to suddenly come alive as smaller and then larger trout swirled into view, taking up stations at the edges of the eddies and along undercut banks. Any other day I would have probably waded into the stream slowly but not mindfully. Then and there I resolved to change my fishing procedure both in Georgia and in the home waters around Anna Maria Island.

Here’s a way of incorporating this principal when fishing local waters. When you find an area you intend to fish be methodical about covering the region. First anchor your boat at least a hundred yards from where you intend to fish. Then try a combination of slow wading and standing in place motionlessly where you have a good view of the flat. It’s critical to make as little noise as possible so don’t rattle the anchor chain or bang around in the boat. Take your time getting to the area you intend to fish. Move slowly to avoid pushing a wake and a pressure wave. When casting start by working the near side of a hole and pay special attention to the ends that generally feature deeper water over grass. Although they tend to be harder to fish, partly cloudy days are generally better than bluebird skies. If it clouds up stand still and wait for a patch of sunshine to light up the flats. Remember fish move around and just because you don’t find them on a particular tide doesn’t mean they won’t show up.

There are no sure things as far as I know but fish or not I’m guessing you will be more relaxed at the end of the day and more insightful. Turn the ancient art form of Zen into a well-reasoned outing. The worst-case scenario? You’ll burn less fuel!

More Reel Time

Reel Time: Yaz Crossing

Reel Time: Reflections

Reel Time: Sarasota Bay Watch active during red tide

Reel Time: Yaz Crossing

Written by Rusty Chinnis on . Posted in Outdoors, Reel Time.

The Gulf and flats that surround Anna Maria Island were just a day’s drive to the south, but they felt a world away as we made our way down the steps at Yaz Crossing to the banks of the Chattahoochee River near Sautee Nacoochee in the north Georgia mountains.

Descending the crooked wooden stairs, fly rods tucked under our arms, our guide Wes McElroy chuckled as he told us how the area got its name. It happened when a local angler nicknamed Yaz took an unplanned swim while fording the river on a cold winter’s day. Now for better or worse, the mishap was forever immortalized.

I was spending the day with my good friend Bob Seeger, a North Georgia transplant from Longboat Key. Whenever my wife, Chris, and I vacation in the area, we set up a fishing trip, a tradition now for over five years. There are many local trout streams in the Georgia foothills and mountains that have a mix of public and private waters.

reel time Unicoi Outfitters
Unicoi Outfitters guide Wes McElroy and Bob Seeger hold two rainbow trout from the waters of the Chattahoochee River. – Rusty Chinnis | Sun

Some, like the stretch of the river we were fishing today, hold trophy trout as well as good numbers of smaller rainbow and brown trout. This trip we were fishing out of Unicoi Outfitters, one of Georgia’s oldest and most respected full-service fly shops.

Once we were by the river, McElroy rigged our five-weight rods with nymph patterns. These flies mimic the aquatic life stage of insects like stoneflies and mayflies that begin their lives in the river. While I have always preferred fishing dry flies, the reality is that most of the time nymphs make up 90 percent of a trout’s diet. The time to switch to dry flies is when the nymphs emerge from the river and fly away as adult insects.

For anglers like me, there is a fallback.  Although experienced anglers can fish nymphs and detect a strike when their fly line pauses or stops, most anglers use a strike indicator.  This consists of a small cork or piece of floating yarn that is tied above the fly. This gives neophyte anglers a more visual reference when a trout picks up the subsurface offering. My fall back was to use a dry fly as an indicator with a nymph suspended below. Whether the fly is rigged below a traditional indicator or a dry fly, the depth the nymph is fished is calculated by approximating the depth of the water and adding 50 percent to the leader.

We started out fishing a run that tailed out in a pool. Wes positioned Bob along the river and then me about 50 feet further upstream. It didn’t take Bob but four casts to hook a beautiful 18-inch rainbow trout. Three casts later and my nymph was taken by a trout a bit smaller than Bob’s. When either of us hooked a fish, Wes was right there to net them. He was also readily available when we got hooked in a tree or tangled our line around the rod. Besides helping with equipment, he was constantly coaching us on how to maximize a drift or pointing out a particular area that would hold trout.

With my new appreciation of nymphing I put what I had learned into practice,  and by being quicker with my hook set, started catching fish on every third or fourth cast. During our afternoon of fishing, we moved no more than four times and probably caught and released 20 plus fish each. The afternoon had started out cloudy with light showers and progressively improved.  When we left the water at five p.m., the sky had cleared and the temperatures dropped to a delightfully cool 65 degrees.

If you are new to the sport or unfamiliar with a stream, I highly recommend a guide. It’s money well spent. Some amazing stream fishing for trout is only a day’s drive away from Anna Maria Island.

If you find yourself in the area, give Unicoi Outfitters a call. They have a  beautifully stocked full-service fly shop with private water on the Chattahoochee right out their door. They can also arrange trips for native shoal bass and striped bass on nearby streams and lakes. Check out their website at www.unicoioutfitters.com.

More Reel Time:

Reel Time: Reflections

Reel Time: Sarasota Bay Watch active during red tide

Reel Time on the road: Fishing the South Georgia coast

Fly fishing the Deschutes

Written by Rusty Chinnis on . Posted in Outdoors, Reel Time.

The sky was just beginning to lighten as my wife Christine and I crossed the high desert from Bend, Oregon on our way to the Warm Springs Indian Reservation and a rendezvous with our guide Elke Kirk (Littleleaf) and his wife Alysia. The stark buttes and mountains in the distance were silhouetted against a pink horizon, massive and featureless except for the relief of their jagged contours. To the west ,the snow-capped volcano Mount Jefferson framed the surreal landscape. 

I had been investigating the fishing opportunities in advance of our trip to Oregon when I first learned about Elke (pronounced Elk), a Native American guide on the Deschutes, a famous steelhead river that’s a major tributary of the Columbia River. Elke and other Native guides on the reservation have access to 39 miles of the river that’s off limits to other anglers. While the river is best known for its steelhead runs it’s also home to rainbow trout, including a native species known as redsides. These trout are famed for their fighting ability born of the swift currents they spend their lives in.

We met Elke and Alysia in Warm Springs and after transferring equipment to their drift boat we donned our waders and jumped in their truck for the drive to the launch area on the Deschutes. On the way we stopped at a spring that Elke claimed was tested as the second cleanest drinking source in the country. A quick taste confirmed the purity of the clear cold liquid. A few miles down a rough dirt road and we were at the launch spot, hardly more than a clearing in the stream side vegetation. While they were getting the boat launched and prepared I waded the edges of the river with a dry fly and and got several takes that I wasn’t able to connect with.

In conversations prior to the trip I had learned that anglers are not able to fish out of the boat on the Deschutes. When I queried Elke he related that they had almost lost the native population of trout due to anglers dragging them in the swift current while drifting.

Not fishing from the boat meant we passed by many promising shorelines and pockets, instead stopping and wading some of the river’s most productive stretches. The unanticipated advantage was that we were better able to enjoy the awesome scenery on what turned out to be a spectacular day. Instead of hitting one bank and then another, constantly eyeing the river, I was able to sit back and appreciate the buttes, canyons and incredible geological formations that line the river.

On the first stop, Elke set up my seven weight Hardy fly rod with a steelhead fly and positioned me on a gravel bar at the confluence of the Warm Springs and Deschutes River. On my fourth cast, I hooked up to a fish that he thought was a steelhead due to the strong runs it made into my backing. After working the fish from the current into a seam of slower water, Elke was able to bring it to the net. As it turned out it was a native Redsides rainbow that measured close to 20”. According to Elke the fish was a trophy, as the fish average from 13-16 inches.

The balance of the day I fished some of the most beautiful water and scenery I have ever encountered. The sky was blue, the sun warm and both Christine and I reveled in the beauty that surrounded us. As fly fishers know some of the best days, weather wise, can be some of the most challenging and this day was a case study.

While I was able to get some action on smaller trout on dry flies, the Redsides and steelhead proved elusive the rest of the day. That in no way dampened our enthusiasm or enjoyment of the day that ended with an incredible drive over native lands back to “civilization.” The day was an excellent introduction to the Deschutes and a delightful adventure with a native guide. Both Elke and Alysia shared stories of the river, the land and the legends that abound in this wild and remote part of Oregon. This float is recommended for fishers and non-fishers alike as the scenery is spectacular and the river features some exhilarating rapids. Reach Elke at his website or at 541-615-0402.

Reel Time on the road: Fishing the South Georgia coast

Written by Rusty Chinnis on . Posted in Outdoors, Reel Time.

While on a recent trip to St. Marys and Cumberland Island, Ga., I had the great pleasure of being introduced to the area’s fishing by Captain David Edens from nearby St. Simon’s Island. I found Edens while researching the area. Edens is a fellow FFI fly casting instructor and gave me some invaluable information on fishing the South Georgia coast.

When he asked me if I wanted to fish a day I jumped at the chance. St. Simons is about an hour north of St. Marys and I got an early pre-dawn start to meet him at his dock just before daybreak. After a few wrong turns in the marina, I found him ready to go on his Maverick 18-foot HPX flats boat. We left the dock as the first hint of light colored the eastern horizon and ran to a shallow flat on the west side of Jekyll Island. As the sun brightened the sky we looked for wakes and movement on the flat. After a few minutes, Edens decided to move to another location hoping to take advantage of a fast falling tide.

Dave Edens
Captain David Edens hold a nice South Georgia coast redfish. -Rusty Chinnis | Sun

Moving further to the west up the Turtle River, we took a right hand turn into a feeder creek to a spot that had all the right ingredients for the redfish we were after. The tide was nearing low, and there was a lot of action around the mud flats, oyster beds and spartina grass that lined the shore. I always like to give a guide time on the bow, so I mounted the poling platform, and Edens coached me on how to work the area.

It didn’t take long for us to encounter pushes where redfish were chasing shrimp and small mullet. Stripping about 50 feet of line from his 8-weight rod Edens mounted the bow and began making casts to the feeding reds. It didn’t take long for him to set the hook on a nice red that made a 20-foot run for the deep channel before spitting the fly. A few casts later and he was hooked up again, this time to a 6-pound red that stayed buttoned and put up a nice fight before it was landed, photographed and released. We were able to catch and release several more reds before the tide went slack and the action slowed.

Judging by the smile on Edens’ face, I was glad to have been able to pole the boat while he got a chance to fish.

Guides that put anglers on fish day in and day out don’t often get a chance to experience the pointy end of the boat. I for one like to give them the chance while admittedly enjoying the vantage point from the poling platform.

The action died on the change of tide, and Edens took me on a trip to the oceanside of Cumberland Island to try and locate tarpon that invade these waters each year in August. Large schools of menhaden, known locally as pogies, stage off the coast and attract tarpon, big Jacks, sharks and even redfish. We weren’t able to find the fish that morning but Edens showed me a lot of beautiful water including Christmas Creek on the northern end of Cumberland Island. While we didn’t find any tarpon that morning, just getting a tour of the area with a veteran guide was a treat. We finished the morning with lunch at a marina on the east side of Jekyll Island.

With the information I gleaned from my trip with Edens, I spent my last morning fishing the oceanside of Cumberland Island on the south end. It was a terrific morning, and I saw lots of fish, but as the old saying goes, “Seeing ain’t catching.” There were sharks cruising the surf line after baitfish, and I got a number of shots but no takes. Still, it was a thrill and the wild horses that provided a backdrop on the island’s beach was a plus!

Later in the morning, the action increased as tarpon and sharks blasted through the menhaden schools that lined the beach. Once again, I wasn’t able to hook up, but the sight of the fish erupting on the surface was unforgettable. It reminded me of chasing little tunny on the Gulf beaches. You see action everywhere in your field of view while finding it hard to be at the right place at the right time.

When I asked a local angler what his experience was, he related that he too had the same experience. Still, the sight of the tarpon blasting schools of bait and the sharks in the surf have St. Marys and Cumberland Island high on my list of places to revisit. Captain David Edens can be reached by calling 912-289-1061 or via his excellent website at www.flycastcharters.com.

Reel Time

Reel Time: On the road to St. Marys and Cumberland Island, Ga.

Written by Rusty Chinnis on . Posted in Outdoors, Reel Time.

This past week I had the pleasure of an adventure to coastal Georgia when I accompanied my wife to a tai chi workshop in St. Marys. St. Marys is the gateway to Cumberland Island National Seashore, the state’s largest barrier island. I trailered my boat so I could explore the island and surrounding marshes as well as the ocean where I had heard of plentiful schools of redfish, tarpon, sharks and Jack crevalle.

Cumberland Island is a true national treasure. The island is home to over 9,800 acres of Congressionally-designated wilderness, including pristine maritime forests, wide marshes and close to 18 miles of undeveloped beaches. Over the years it has been home to Native Americans, missionaries, enslaved African Americans and wealthy industrialists.

One of the Island’s landmarks is Dungeness (now a ruin) which dates back to 1729. The last owners were the Carnegies, who built a 59-room mansion that was destroyed by fire in 1959. After her husband’s death, Carnegie’s wife, Lucy, built the island’s other landmark structures called Greyfield, Plum Orchard and the Stafford Plantation for her children. At one time the Carnegies owned 90 percent of the Island. Today visitors can access the island by ferry for a day visit from the Parks headquarters in St. Marys. Visitors can also arrange to camp there in one of five designated camping areas.

We stayed at the Spencer House Inn Bed and Breakfast in St. Marys, a historic hotel that dates back to 1872. Mary and Mike Neff were the perfect hosts, catering to our every need. Their hotel was the perfect mix of history and convenience and made a convert of me. I had spent very little time in B&Bs over the years, but both Chris and I were charmed during our visit. The hotel is within walking distance of St. Marys historic waterfront and the docks of the Cumberland Island Ferry.

I kept my boat attached to my truck and was only blocks from the boat ramp. We arrived two days before my wife’s workshop. This gave us some time to explore the marshes that surround Cumberland as well as take some evening strolls around St. Marys charming waterfront and its pleasant park. The town is also home to some excellent restaurants and is famous for its local seafood, especially shrimp.

In addition to water adventures, we took a trip to the nearby 500-acre Crooked River State Park. The park has wonderful facilities, trails, camping and cabins and a boat ramp on Crooked River. During our visit we enjoyed a hike on the apply named Semprevirens (Latin, ever-living) Trail which winds its way along the marsh, through old growth hardwood forests and over ancient Indian shell middens.

While Christine went to her workshop, I was left to explore the area. In those three days, I was introduced to some of the area’s excellent fishing for redfish in nearby St. Simons with Captain David Edens, a fellow FFI certified fly-casting instructor. I would also spend a day in the marshes on the east side of Cumberland Island and another along the beach chasing sharks and tarpon.

Sarasota Bay Watch provides a vehicle for change

Written by Rusty Chinnis on . Posted in Outdoors, Reel Time.

If you’re like me, you can’t help but be dismayed with the death and destruction of marine life that is occurring on the west and east coasts of Florida.

Pictures of dead fish, manatees, dolphin and even an immature whale shark can be so disheartening that one feels at a loss to be an agent of change. I’ve heard so many people express a feeling of helplessness and a desire to do something to address this tragedy.

Sarasota Bay Watch wants concerned citizens to know that they can provide a way for you to make a difference. Their stated mission is to create an awareness of our local waters that reflects the desire to have a hand in determining the future of this invaluable resource. Through Sarasota Bay Watch’s (SBW) many events, including island cleanups, scallop and clam restorations, education, caring for critical bird rookeries and underwater marine debris removal, community members can make a difference. None of this is possible without you.  While aesthetics is a big part of their mission, they also understand that a healthy bay provides jobs, attracts tourists, affects property values, commerce and is a critical basis of our economy. Helping keep the bay healthy, participating in and protecting it is an investment in our future and that of generations to come.

Reel Time
Donate and shop for some great gifts at Scallopalooza 2018 at the Sarasota Yacht Club.

Want to help? Here are ways you can make a difference and hy it is so important.

Support Sarasota Bay Watch’s scallop and clam restoration initiative by making a donation today. Shellfish naturally clean the water and are a food source for many other organisms.  To date SBW has planted over one hundred million scallop larvae and juveniles into bay waters. This summer they’re planting a quarter of a million clams in the bay waters with the help of volunteers of all ages. They’re also providing research opportunities and working with scientists at Mote Marine Laboratory and the Sarasota Estuary Program.

On Saturday, Sept. 22, Sarasota Bay Watch will be holding their major fundraising event Scallopalooza, It’s Clamtastic at the Sarasota Yacht Club. By buying a ticket, a table, donating to their silent/live auctions or writing a check you will be helping them to continue their invaluable work. Their motto sums it up, “A Healthy Bay is Everybody’s Business.”  Consider partnering with SBW by becoming a sponsor at any level. You can make a difference and be part of the solution. Contribute however you can, take part in the solution and educate yourself on the issues!

reel time Casting For Recovery

Casting for recovery

Written by Rusty Chinnis on . Posted in Fishing, Outdoors, Reel Time.

The cool air along the Chattahoochee River mingled with the mid-morning sun created a magical backdrop for the female fly fishers as they worked their way along the stream with their guides.

I had arrived in the North Georgia mountains the previous afternoon and was honored to be included with a number of journalists covering a Casting For Recovery Retreat.

The event had started a day prior to my arrival on a Friday afternoon at Smithgall Woods State Park near Helen, Ga. That Saturday, the participants were taught the basics of fly casting, fly fishing and had the opportunity to enjoy a relaxed day in the Blue Ridge foothills.

Casting for Recovery was founded in 1996 in Manchester, Vermont, by a breast reconstruction surgeon and a professional fly-fisher. Awarded 501(c)(3) non-profit status in 1998, Casting for Recovery’s innovative program focuses on improving the quality of life for women with breast cancer, and has garnered endorsements from medical experts nationwide.

I learned about the event from Jimmy Harris, owner of Unicoi Outfitters, a major sponsor of the two-and-a-half-day event. The women were fishing a private stretch of the Chattahoochee managed by Unicoi Outfitters, a favorite fly fishing haunt of mine. Harris, his wife Kathy, his staff of local fly fishing guides and area volunteers were working up and down the river with the participants, exploring the many runs, riffles and pools that hold some trophy-sized brown and rainbow trout.

As I photographed the anglers and their guides, I was struck by the good humor, the spirit and resilience of a group of women who were recovering from one of life’s most devastating challenges. Whether they were strong enough to wade the swift currents or needed to sit in a chair at the water’s edge, these indomitable women were embracing their lives and the camaraderie of their fellow fly fishers on this halcyon day.

At the end of the day’s fishing, everyone had experienced the thrill of hooking, fighting and landing one of the river’s beautiful trout. That afternoon they returned to Smithgall Woods for lunch, an awards ceremony and a slide show highlighting the weekend’s activities.

Casting For Recovery depends on the support and goodwill of business owners like Jimmy Harris, medical professionals and the volunteers that are so critical to the program’s success. They offer 60 retreats across the country, host 800 women each year and have served over 8,000 women to date. The program is free of charge to participants. To learn how you can help, donate or shop in their online store.

Reel Time

Spring training: Part 2

Written by Rusty Chinnis on . Posted in Outdoors, Reel Time.

Last week we discussed some of the exciting opportunities that spring offers. This week I wanted to share some of the special prospects this particular season presents anglers. I was fortunate to get some great information from local fishing legend and guru Capt. Scott Moore.

Moore reports that the cooler water temperatures we are experiencing have been great for fishing. One of the main things that should help you catch more fish is that cooler water temperatures translates into finding fish in shallow water. Moore says that trout and snook in particular are foraging in water as shallow as 12 inches. Live bait is relatively easy to come by and very effective, but anglers who can’t find bait or don’t want to should be able to score using top water plugs and flies, according to Moore.

A word of caution on plugs, in particular the treble hooks that adorn them. Be sure to bend down the barbs. You’ll be glad you did because it will make fish and you or a fellow angler easier to release. Besides barbs aren’t needed if you keep your line tight when fighting a fish. Jigs also will be effective with scented tails being a good option. These artificials will catch snook and trout and are also effective for most every fish that swims local waters including redfish. If you’re angling for redfish don’t forget an old standby, you’re angling for redfish, don’t forget an old standby, the gold spoon. Spoons are particularly good for fishing shallow water because they’re weedless and won’t get hung up in the grass beds.

Moore also suggests live bait, including shrimp, under a popping cork. For those anglers not familiar with popping corks, the sound and action of the cork attracts reds as well as other species. When they investigate, the bait is presented to them on the proverbial silver plate. I’ve even had reds strike the popping corks.

Moore has also been catching some nice flounder, including a 25-inch flatty”late last week. He suggests anglers concentrate their efforts on the sand adjacent to a healthy grass flat. Live bait and jigs are good options.

Tarpon have been on lots of people’s minds lately with quite a few fish (for this early in the season) showing up along the beaches. In my experience it will be later in the season (mid-May) before there is any reliable tarpon fishing in local waters, but those willing to put in the time have a good chance at seeing a few tarpon.

My advice would be for anglers to station (anchor) their boat on an edge along the beach or a sand bar and be patient. If you notice a fish or a school taking a track either deeper or more shallow, reposition the boat. Otherwise stay put. The key will be to be prepared. Have rod and bait or fly ready for a quick presentation.

Besides the bay, the Gulf would be an excellent place to prospect. Spanish mackerel, kingfish, big Jack crevalle and cobia are all on the move and will show up on area beaches in the spring. Target them around schools of bait or any structure. One great place to explore would be the dredge hole off Anna Maria Island. This trough, dug during a dredging project, will concentrate bait and gamefish. The shallows along the beaches are a good place to find schools of foraging Jacks. A well-placed cast with most any bait or artificial will be effective, but I prefer top water plugs and flies. Whatever you fish for and wherever you go don’t miss out on some of the best spring weather we’ve had in a long time. Good fishing!

Reel Time: Get the most out of spring fishing

Written by Rusty Chinnis on . Posted in Outdoors, Reel Time.

Spring is definitely in the air. It’s one of my favorite times of the year and one of the most productive for all anglers, whether they fish with fly, artificial lures or live bait. This week and next I will share some tips on getting the most out of spring, something I like to think of as spring training. First and foremost, anglers should realize that the major factors influencing fishing in April and early May will be weather and water temperature. Having said that, here are some suggestions from my friend Capt. Rick Grassett and me that we hope will lead to you maximizing the potential of spring.

Reel Time
Rusty Chinnis caught this trout on a top water plug near Longboat Pass. – Submitted

Grassett has specialized in night snook fishing for 30 years and suggests exploring lighted docks and bridges in the ICW at night. According to Grassett, night snook fishing should be productive with small white flies, like his Grassett Snook Minnow fly. He also recommends the flats, around sand and oyster bars, on points of islands and around docks and bridges close to passes in the ICW.

I would suggest looking for the underwater lights that have been sprouting up from Longboat Key to Anna Maria. The lighted bridge fenders at the passes would also be a good option. I suggest you also look for snook in potholes near the mouth of the Manatee River and on the flats in Terra Ceia, Miguel and Tampa Bays.

Before rains cloud the water, explore the edges of the Manatee River from Tampa Bay to Bradenton. Grassett suggests trying lures like CAL jigs and a variety of plastic tails including the new 4-inch CAL Shad, DOA Baitbusters and Airheads or surface walking top water plugs. I like top water plugs and flies, including crease flies and gurglers, as well as old standbys like the Lefty’s Deceiver and the seaducer.

Tarpon are a passion of both of us, and Grassett says that, depending on the weather and water temperatures, tarpon will become more plentiful this month as resident fish make their way out of rivers and creeks and early arriving migratory fish begin to show along beaches. Water temperature in the Gulf is a key factor with 80 degrees being an optimum temperature.

But that doesn’t mean you won’t encounter a tarpon before that, so our advice is to be ready at all times. Grassett expects resident fish can be found rolling on deep grass flats, laid up on edges of shallow grass flats or along sand bars. Almost 10 years ago, Capt. Randy Fowler showed me laid up tarpon on a deep grass edge in Anna Maria Sound, and I’ve found them there on numerous occasions in April.

Reds and trout will also be more active as the water warms and baitfish become more plentiful. It might not be for everyone, but I occasionally like to target bonnethead sharks and houndfish on the fly. Both bonnethead sharks and houndfish are seasonal visitors to local waters and are best targeted on the sand bars and shoals from Egmont Key to Bean Point. Sight fish them using a small white baitfish pattern for the houndfish and a red and/or orange Clouser or seaducer for bonnet heads. Bend down your barbs (recommended for all fish) so you can remove your hook without coming into contact with either species’ sharp teeth.

Another species that provides anglers with some great action are Jack crevalle. Jacks aren’t good to eat and most anglers consider them a nuisance. Large Jacks can be a formidable adversary, and I’ve found top water plugs and flies to be the most effective. Most any species of bait from shiners to small pinfish will be attacked by foraging Jacks. I like top water whether I’m fishing spin tackle or fly. The noise and commotion attracts and is effective on most every fish that swims local waters and the visual reward of an explosion on the surface is “priceless.”

Grassett suggests looking for Spanish mackerel, blues and pompano in the local passes or on the deep grass flats of Sarasota Bay. The same applies to the approaches to Tampa Bay. False albacore (little tunny), cobia and tripletail will all be present in the coastal Gulf this month from Egmont Key to Big Pass and beyond. The bottom line is that you should get out on the water whenever possible and enjoy the opportunities the season offers. Just think of it as spring training!

Hunter Brasington

Generation next

Written by Rusty Chinnis on . Posted in Outdoors, Reel Time.

A cool wind ruffled the waters of the Manatee River and clouds scudded overhead as we left the relative calm of Warner’s Bayou and the 59th Street boat ramp. These were less than ideal conditions for a fly caster but that didn’t dampen the spirits of 18-year-old Hunter Brasington.

Steve Traves, owner of AMI Outfitters on Anna Maria, introduced me to Brasington. Hunter had been frequenting the shop, and Traves had been impressed with his enthusiasm.

Besides being passionate about fly fishing he is also an avid fly tier and has experienced the excitement of catching a fish on one of his own creations. A senior in high school in Gainesville, he vacations on the Island with his family several months a year. When he’s at home in Gainesville, he fishes for redfish around Cedar Key in his Hell’s Bay Guide flats boat that he’s had since he was a freshman in high school.

Today we were fishing from Traves Beavertail flats boat. Besides the opportunity to get Brasington on the water, the trip was a chance for me to meet him and learn about an internship he was pursuing with Traves. Brasington’s senior project for his business major requires him to work in a trade for 40 hours. The idea is to experience a career interest. AMI Outfitters is a perfect location for him because he wants to work in and maybe eventually own a fly shop. Besides the 40 hours, he also is required to create a blog around his interest and give a presentation.

I was immediately struck with the enthusiasm he showed for whatever the day might bring and pleasantly surprised when I queried him and he related to me his passion for fly fishing. Like so many anglers, he had started out fishing with bait and artificial lures and had carefully explored the haunts of the snook, redfish, tarpon and trout that ply local waters. He also had made the switch to fly fishing relishing the challenge after becoming bored chasing tarpon with live crabs on conventional tackle.

What really impressed me was the fact that he had made the switch far earlier in his fishing career than most anglers. As it turns out, that’s becoming more common as younger anglers become interested in fly fishing, a big change from just a few years ago. His dad isn’t a fly fisherman but is an avid angler. It was a trip to the Everglades with a guide that really caused him to make the switch to fly fishing.

“I was pretty bad when I started out,” he said “but by the end of the day I was doing a lot better. After that trip I didn’t touch a spinning rod for two years. When I’ve been out a couple of times and haven’t caught anything I go to the Internet and watch a fishing video. That keeps me interested.”

The weather eventually improved, and we were able to do some sight fishing in Terra Ceia Bay. During the day, we took turns on the bow, and although we didn’t have much luck in the catching department, everyone enjoyed the opportunity to get some shots at snook and redfish. That’s the beauty of fly fishing, that you can have a great day on the water even though you don’t actually bring a fish to the boat. It was a pleasure getting to know Hunter and encouraging to see that someone so young is committed to fly fishing and protecting the resource. I’m sure if he stays on the same track, he’ll have a bright fly fishing future. He couldn’t have better mentor than Traves.

Jamie Allen

Fishing with Captain Jamie Allen

Written by Rusty Chinnis on . Posted in Outdoors, Reel Time.

When I asked Capt. Jamie Allen to describe his profession, he didn’t hesitate.

“I truly believe I have the best job in the world. Not only does my office view change daily but it makes my anglers smile. My goal is to make sure they have fun while catching fish,” he said with a smile.

Allen fishes Charlotte Harbor and the surrounding waters, one of the most productive estuaries in Florida. His experience is based on a lifetime of fly fishing that began in Vermont when he was six years old. He moved to Florida in 2000 from Durango, Colo. and has been unlocking the secrets of the area ever since. While fly fishing is his specialty, he caters to all anglers and has an array of high-end spinning gear when the occasion calls. His fly anglers also benefit from the fact that he’s a Fly Fishers International (FFI) Certified Casting Instructor. This allows him to help his clients with any casting challenges they may have, including dealing with ubiquitous afternoon sea breezes.

Allen enjoys sight fishing whenever possible. On clear days it’s a big part of his day on the water.

“One of the best ways to learn about catching fish is watching them,” he says. “Seeing how they react to our presentations helps me find a fly or lure that will be effective.”

The best part of sight fishing according to Allen is being able to see their quarry eat the fly.

“It’s an unforgettable experience,” he says.

Tarpon are his favorite target and he’s gained a plethora of knowledge on their behavior over the years. While he targets tarpon when he can, each day on the water provides the possibility of a mix of species including – to name a few – snook, redfish, seatrout, cobia, pompano, grouper and snapper. Factors including weather conditions and time of the year all factor into the fish he concentrates on.

I met Allen at the Waterfront Motel on Boca Grande on a challenging weather day. Although we wanted to sight fish, the conditions were mostly cloudy with 12- to 15-knot winds. We fished shorelines and the edge of grass flats in Turtle Bay on his customized Grand Slam 17. Allen knew that without light, we would have to work edges and holding areas where fish stage to ambush bait. In four hours of fishing, we managed to spook about a dozen redfish and a few snook, finally catching a nice red at the end of a mangrove island.

During the afternoon, we also caught and released a number of small trout and ladyfish. The red we caught fell for a fly Allen tied by stacking brown EP fiber to create a head that pushed water, alternately kicking from side to side in a swimming motion. Its head was shaped like a cigar, and the pattern was tied to imitate the small finger mullet and scaled sardines the predators target.

Eighty percent of Allen’s charters are fly fishermen whose favorite target is tarpon, which he has a reliable shot at 12 months of year, depending on weather conditions and water temperature. In the winter his most dependable action on tarpon centers around the juveniles he finds in tidal creeks.

His second love is chasing tailing redfish. While he still finds dependable action when targeting redfish, the number of fish and the size of schools he encounters are not what they were in past years. He is puzzled as to what is responsible for the decline, but thinks it might represent the loss of a few year classes to red tide. At one time it was common to catch numerous redfish on any given outing. Now he averages a handful each day.

Fortunately, fishing in general has remained strong and snook, trout, tarpon and seasonal visitors like cobia and little tunny fill the gap. Capt. Allen has an excellent website with videos he shoots on his charters. It will give you an appreciation of his skill at putting his clients on exciting action and get you fired up to experience the fun. To book a charter, visit the website or call him at 941-628-9031.

As he says on the website, “Let the fun begin.”