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Reel Time: Fly fishing strategy – pothole savvy

Written by Rusty Chinnis on . Posted in Archives.

Fly fishing is a sport that rewards the angler who carefully considers his prey and pays attention to the conditions and terrain that they inhabit. For anglers who regularly fish the flats, potholes are a prime area where every species of inshore fish can be targeted. Potholes provide an advantage to both the angler and the fish that can be exploited to the angler’s advantage. Potholes are generally defined as clear sandy depressions in grass flats that are devoid of vegetation. Their contours attract both fish and the prey they feed on. In reality, of course, most potholes are a combination of sand and grass. If you carefully examine them, you’ll find sand in the deepest section and grass on the borders.

Fish that take up station in these depressions are often found on the grass perimeter where they are less visible to prey. Quite often fish will wander between holes, staying just inside the edges or seams. At other times they can be seen right over the sand in the middle of the hole.

Not all potholes are created equal. Some will be almost perfectly round and shallow, while others are oblong and deep. Many of these depressions are man-made, but others are created by tidal action or even scouring by boats. Extreme low tides are excellent for scouting areas to fish. When the bottom is exposed the topography can be closely examined. Look for birds feeding on a flat with potholes. The same food they’re feeding on will attract game fish when the flat is covered with water.

Potholes can be fished either from the boat or wading. If the water is clear, fish on a shallow flat can be very spooky. Gin clear water in the winter and spring often necessitates getting into the water for a stealthier approach. When fishing from a boat, a long accurate cast is a real asset. There will be times when the wind is up and the water is off color and a cast of 40 feet or less will be all that’s required.

More often than not, an accurate 60-plus-foot cast will be needed for any measure of success.

When poling a flat, both the angler and the guide must be as quiet as possible. It’s important to make sure the pole doesn’t hit the side of the boat and enters and exits the water without making a splash. Pole extremely slowly in very shallow water as fish are sensitive to the pressure wave a boat pushes.

Many anglers are not aware, but simply moving your feet on the deck or platform can spook fish. Another mistake rooky anglers make is rocking the boat with their casts. When fish are spotted, take time to plan your attack and don’t let a high waving rod alert your prey to your presence. Keep the rod low and behind you so you can launch a quick side arm cast.

As you scan the flats and potholes, pay attention to any movement on the periphery of your vision. Fish that are stationed over grass on a pothole may give their presence away with only a shadow or subtle movement of their mouth or fins.

Reel Time: Fly fishing strategy - pothole savvy
Try using Google Earth to find and explore potholes when you’re not on the water. – Google Earth

Wading gives you an advantage but a stealthy approach is equally as important. Small flats with potholes can be completely blown if you motor too close, slam hatch lids, or toss an anchor. Advance quietly, poling at least the last 100 yards to the area you intend to fish. Stakeout or anchor well away from the action. Slip into the water and approach potholes slowly. Move too fast and your body will create a pressure wave that the fish will sense.

If the visibility isn’t great, or you’re fishing early or late, and can’t see fish, target the edges where grass and sand meet. The edge seams are perfect ambush spots for the predators you’re targeting. Start with presentations about 2 feet outside the sandy area.

Make sure you target the deep grassy ends of the potholes. These areas can be very productive and always warrant a couple of casts. After working the edges of the holes and the seams, begin casting into the sandy areas. Fan the hole with casts to cover them completely and vary your retrieve.  If a quick strip doesn’t produce, try slowing down and working the fly close to the bottom.

Next week we’ll look at some additional strategies and see how conditions in the winter can improve your odds as we move into spring.

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Reel Time: New dimensions in trolling motors

Reel Time: Clams restored to Manatee County waters

Reel Time: Push poles – a must in skinny water

Pulitzer Prize-winning author to speak

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

There has never been a more important time for residents of our Gulf coast region to understand the importance of the resource that brought us to the area and that fuels both our passion and our economy. This March, we’ll have the opportunity to learn about the history of our coast, the forces that shaped it and the threats that have transformed it from Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jack Davis.

Jack Davis’s new novel, “The Gulf, The Making of An American Sea” is the grand, sweeping history of the whole Gulf of Mexico that can give insight into the need to protect the natural bounty we are surrounded by. Davis, a history professor at the University of Florida, won the Pulitzer Prize for history in 2018 and will be on hand at The Seafood Shack on Thursday, March 14 at 6 p.m. for a Fishing for Our Future fundraising event for the Florida Maritime Museum in Cortez.

Pulitzer Prize-winning author to speak
Participants at the Seafood Shack fundraising event will get a chance to meet the Pulitzer Prize-winning author while supporting the Florida Maritime Museum in Cortez. – Submitted

The dinner and author talk are a tremendous opportunity to learn from and ask questions of one of the most engaging authors I’ve read in many years. As I mentioned in a book review in a prior column, I have been captivated with the beauty and the fish that surround us and reading “Gulf” has expanded my vision of the coastal resources we are blessed with and given me the insight to see it with new eyes. For me reading “The Gulf” shined a brighter light on what we have, what we’ve lost and the importance of protecting it.

From the geological beginnings to the present day, we learn the history of the nearly 8 million acres and the native Americans that first inhabited it, followed by the Spanish explorers, the French, British and Cubans. The descriptions of the vast schools of fish and flocks of birds that would blacken the sky hint at the incredible diversity and density of marine life and wildlife that once inhabited the Gulf and its estuaries.

Davis recounts how the tarpon, not warm weather and white sand beaches, brought the first tourists to Florida. The great silver fish was the impetus that introduced wealthy adventurers, artists and, indirectly, a wave of tourists to the Gulf coast. The influx of humans into the Gulf region in the 1800s began a period of intense exploitation that continues to this day.

Davis recounts records of armed passenger tourists on the Ocklawaha River that shot birds and wildlife indiscriminately for sport. At the same time, the plume trade was responsible for the killing of huge numbers of birds Gulf-wide. During this same period, the harvesting of eggs from seabird nests exacerbated the decline of the once-vast flocks of birds. Davis paints a picture with words that makes it hard to overstate the effects of this dark period. Fortunately, the resulting outcry from conservationists and birders resulted in the creation of 51 bird sanctuaries and the founding of the National Audubon Society. Passage Key at the mouth of Tampa Bay is one of those sanctuaries.

As the history of the Gulf unfolded, the exploitation moved from birds to oil and then chemicals that devastated the coastal estuaries of Louisiana and Mississippi. Davis recounts the effects of pulp mills, oil spills and hurricanes before the rush of development that resulted in massive dredge and fill operations. “The Gulf” serves as a cautionary tale of the importance of protecting, preserving and enhancing the place we call home. The opportunity to meet Davis in person is one not to be missed.

For sponsorship and ticket information, visit The Florida Maritime Museum online. Ticket prices start at $45 and all proceeds up to $34,000 will be matched and benefit The Florida Maritime Museum.

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Reel Time: Clams restored to Manatee County waters

Reel Time: Push poles – a must in skinny water

Reel Time: A new direction for Florida’s marine environment

Reel Time: Clams restored to Manatee County waters

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

Sarasota Bay Watch capped a two-year clam restoration effort in January. Despite windy conditions and a choppy bay, board members and volunteers placed 7,000 pounds, or about 52,000 clams, at two sites in Manatee County. This brings the total to just over 250,000 clams placed as a part of the restoration project.

At one of the sites, the water was crystal clear and Al Jeffrey and diver Ian Kayea, an underwater videographer and Scuba Quest employee, got excellent footage of the clams in their new home.

Sarasota Bay Watch has a second round of about 750,000 clams growing as we speak under the watchful eye of Curt at the Bay Shellfish hatchery.

While much of the restoration has been focused on sites in Sarasota County, SBW President Steve Martin made it clear that the nonprofit is dedicated to restoring clams to all the waters of Sarasota Bay.

“Sarasota Bay extends to all of Manatee County’s bay waters from mid-Longboat Key to Tampa Bay. In 2019, we’ll be introducing more clams to Manatee County waters and holding events there like the Sister Keys clean up and island invasive plant control in conjunction with Longboat Key Public Works,” Martin said.

“Sarasota Bay Watch is a grassroots, nonprofit, citizen-based organization dedicated to preserving and restoring Sarasota Bay’s ecosystem through education and citizen participation. SBW would like to thank Reef Innovations, Gold Coast Eagle Distributing, Sarasota Sailing Squadron, and their many wonderful volunteers for making the restoration effort possible,” he added.

Sarasota Bay Watch works with a set of core values to guide their activities. Their goal is to initiate innovative and effective action grounded in selfless and comprehensive planning to assure the sustainability of Sarasota Bay, its stakeholders and all its inhabitants.

Action

It is our objective to establish collaborative relationships with other environmental organizations, scientists and NGOs. We strive to forge partnerships that allow Sarasota Bay Watch to accomplish its goals while enhancing the effectiveness of every person and group that benefits from the natural assets of the Bay system.

Commitment

We are committed to accomplishing our mission because of a shared love of the estuarine environment, knowing full well that it supports our economy, our health and an ineffable legacy for future generations. It is our belief that sustainable ecosystems are essential for the well-being of human communities, and that our goals can be accomplished through citizen action that is guided by sound science.

Integrity

Sarasota Bay Watch is committed to openness and honesty, fostering a culture of sincerity and trust. We strive to attain tangible and measurable results through relationships and methods that hold to the highest ethical and financial standards.

Respect

We vow to respect the opinions of our members, volunteers, donors and co-workers.  We will also respect the views of those with whom we may disagree, and strive to reach consensus through dialogue, transparency and collaboration.

Sustainability

We believe a sustainable ecosystem to be one that most closely resembles its natural state absent of human influences and, to the greatest extent possible, one that maintains its balance of species and habitat quality in harmony with human communities. This requires both the education and active stewardship of our human communities.

You can become an active participant by joining as a member and volunteering in Sarasota Bay Watch’s on-going effort to protect and restore this valuable natural resource. Donate your time or help fund our efforts at our website.

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Reel Time: Push poles – a must in skinny water

Reel Time: A new direction for Florida’s marine environment

Reel Time: The miracle of Matlacha

Reel Time: A new direction for Florida’s marine environment

Written by Rusty Chinnis on . Posted in Archives.

At a press conference Jan. 10 at Mote Marine Laboratory, Florida’s new Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, announced some sweeping changes to the way his administration will handle Florida’s mounting water crisis.

The actions announced in the first two days of his term have been heralded by anglers, environmentalists and many Democrats. In an executive order signed that same day, DeSantis indicated he would be expanding efforts by increasing environmental funding, relying on sound science and pushing for quick action on Everglades area restoration.

In another action, he requested the resignation of the entire South Florida Water Management District board.

The specifics of the order call for $2.5 billion over the next four years for Everglades restoration and water resource protection, a $1 billion increase over what was spent the prior four years. Other key features include the creation of the Office of Environmental Accountability and Transparency and the Office of Resilience and Coastal Protection, both within the Department of Environmental Protection.

I think it’s important to applaud the governor for these long overdue actions while keeping a close eye on what follows with the Republican-controlled Legislature that has been closely aligned with agricultural interests that have been blamed for much of the runoff that may be fueling both the red tide and blue-green algae.

reel time DeSantis
Gov. Ron DeSantis announces his resolve to follow through with his campaign promise to address Florida’s water crisis. He is flanked by, from left, Mote’s Dr. Michael Crosby and Hell’s Bay Boat Company owner Chris Peterson. – Rusty Chinnis | Sun

My main concern is the apparent change of course for a politician who, as a senator, consistently voted against sound environmental policy. True, DeSantis made the environment of Florida and the much-publicized red tide and blue-green algae threat the centerpiece of his campaign and is apparently following through with that promise. Looking for a valid explanation one doesn’t have to go too far. While all red tides are bad for businesses on Florida’s west coast (and occasionally the east coast), this episode finally got the attention it deserves as influential businesses, including developers, real estate agents and the $82 billion-dollar tourist industry felt the impact. While these actions are long overdue and the right thing to do, it’s also a wise political move.

I’ve fished local waters since the early 80s and have seen firsthand the slow but steady decline of many of our fisheries. True, there have been some bright spots as local governments have worked to control storm and sewage releases, and groups like the Coastal Conservation Association have lobbied for change.

But a look at Florida’s history really brings home the extent of what we’re losing and what has been lost. This past year, books I’ve read have helped me see the place where I’ve lived for four decades with new eyes. Jack Davis’ “Gulf, The Making of An American Sea,” Michael Grundwald’s “The Swamp, The Everglades, Florida, and The Politics of Paradise” and “A Land Remembered” by Patrick D. Smith, showed me a once-resplendent Florida that few can imagine.

It’s an age-old problem as people have come to Florida over the decades and are enchanted by its natural beauty. Compared to other more compromised areas of the country some see no problem in sacrificing a few mangroves and natural habitat in the name of progress. When we have lived here for a while, we begin to see the effects of this gradual compromise as new residents arrive not having that same experience.

It’s unfortunate that the environment had to get to the condition it’s in to effect change, but maybe this time will be different. All Floridians should applaud the governor and support him in efforts to protect our water, air and natural assets. We should also be vigilant and hold our politicians to the task of protecting our most valuable assets. Stay tuned!

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Reel Time: The miracle of Matlacha

Reel Time: Sarasota Bay seagrasses take a big hit

Reel Time: Kids for Clean Water

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.

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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.

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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?

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Reel Time: Master your knots

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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!

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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.