Keep South Carolina Wild

POWR+ Inshore Fishing with Captain Tanya Dowdy: A Reel Success

On a beautiful day at the Nemours Wildlife Foundation in Yemassee, SC, a group of passionate women anglers gathered for the POWR+ Inshore Fishing with Artificials class, led by the knowledgeable and engaging Captain Tanya Dowdy of Reel Chica Charters. This all-women event celebrated skill-building, confidence, and empowerment on the water.

 

The day kicked off with Captain Tanya Dowdy diving into everything anglers need to know. From soft plastics and hard baits to rods, reels, and all the little tricks that make fishing successful, her in-depth knowledge is impressive!

 

She walked everyone through rigging, casting, and presenting artificial lures so they’d actually catch fish. By the end of the morning, everyone was brimming with confidence and ready to put their new skills to work on the water!

 

After a quick lunch generously provided by the American Sportfishing Association, everyone headed to the water to put their new skills to the test. The afternoon was filled with casting, reeling, and, most importantly, catching fish.

 

 

This class practiced catch and release techniques. The serene surroundings of Nemours Wildlife Foundation provided the perfect backdrop for learning and building confidence in a supportive, all-women environment.

 

The event also featured generous giveaways from sponsors like AFTCO, Angling Women, Haddrell’s Point Tackle, St. Croix, ZMan, Seviin, Reel Chica Charters, Palmetto State Armory and Yeti, ensuring participants left with new knowledge, confidence, and gear to continue their fishing journeys.

A huge thank you to Captain Tanya Dowdy for her expert instruction, to our sponsors for their generous support, and to the Nemours Wildlife Foundation for providing such a pristine location. This day not only strengthened fishing skills but also celebrated the power of women supporting women in the outdoors.  It was a memorable day of learning, fishing, and community that had everyone saying—fish on!

 

This POWR+ class is part of SCWF’s Palmetto Outdoors Women Retreat or POWR series. Check out our events page for upcoming POWR+ events and more opportunities to hone your outdoor skills!

SCWF Welcomes Allison Bugarin as SCWF’s Education & Outreach Manager

Allison Bugarin’s passion for the natural world began at an early age when she was found picking up snakes on her grandparents’ farm. Her early curiosity grew into a lifelong interest in learning about all aspects of wildlife, leading to her earning a bachelor’s degree in Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences from Oregon State University in 2025. She is excited to continue sharing her love of the outdoors and inspire others to discover the joy and wonder of the natural world around them in her new role as SCWF’s Education & Outreach Manager.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After serving over 10 years as a data analyst in the U.S. Air Force, Allison joined the South Carolina Wildlife Federation through the DoD SkillBridge program, where she was drawn to SCWF’s commitment to conservation through education, outreach, and community programs. Allison’s passion for birds began while she was in the U.S. Air Force when she had the opportunity to work alongside a biologist on a military base where she helped monitor red-cockaded woodpeckers. The experience sparked her love of birds and gave her hands-on knowledge that she has continued to strengthen ever since.

 

 

 

Watching SCWF’s efforts take root, whether in schools, native gardens, or community events, has deepened her passion for connecting people to the outdoors and ensuring that conservation work continues to grow.

In her free time, Allison enjoys birding, hiking, kayaking, spending time with her husband and dogs, gardening, and exploring nature.

 

2025 Plishing Challenge Winners Announced

We are very excited to announce the winners of the 2025 Plishing Challenge! For the second year in a row, Cyrus Rouggly was the winner for the overall number of fish caught. Taylor Campbell came on strong to win the litter portion of the challenge. Adam Mosher was this year’s random winner. Each of these grand prize winners will receive a $500 gift card to Palmetto State Armory!

 

We are truly grateful to everyone who participated in this year’s challenge. A combined total of 1,525 fish we caught, and 307 bags of litter were removed from waterways, creating a cleaner habitat for fish – and us humans! All those who logged fish or litter in the 2025 challenge, will receive a small token of appreciation in the mail from SCWF.

 

We are very grateful to all of our sponsors for supporting our conservation initiative for the fourth year in a row! Thank you to Palmetto State Armory, Palmetto Pride, Angling Women, Local Boy Outfitters, FishRazr, AFTCO, and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. Your commitment to conservation allows SCWF to offer this wonderful event to promote clean waterways, conservation of our natural resources, and fishing fun.