| As a history buff I'm especially fond of fishing stories | | | | such treatment, let alone pay good money for it. I |
| from the 1940s and 50s. This was a time when salt | | | | asked the same thing and his answer was obvious. |
| water fly fishing was still in its infancy. Back then there | | | | Stu Apte was both an unforgiving taskmaster and the |
| were maybe two dozen guides in all of the Florida | | | | best tarpon guide anywhere. If you did what he said to |
| Keys who specialized in catching tarpon and bonefish. | | | | do, when he said to do it, you would catch a tarpon on |
| They were a unique group of captains who, along with | | | | a fly rod. At a time when that was a rare feat, you |
| their intrepid anglers, where actually inventing the sport | | | | truly something to brag about. Every morning on the |
| with each new fish they caught. | | | | water back then was a chance to make angling |
| This was the post-war era and the many of these | | | | history and an open spot on Apte's schedule wasn't |
| men were military veterans. From their time in the | | | | wasted because of some minor chest pains. |
| service they learned that the best way to stop | | | | Apte's impact on the sport went far beyond a his |
| someone from screwing up was to scream loudly. | | | | years as a charter captain. His work on TV in 1970s, |
| They ran their charters in the same manner. If they | | | | especially with ABC's American Sportsman series, |
| worked hard to pole you within fifty feet of a laid up | | | | really exposed the sport to the world. Seeing some of |
| tarpon, your fly was going to land exactly where they | | | | that old footage today, you can't help but be |
| wanted it RIGHT NOW, and you better not miss. Or | | | | impressed by how much they did with so little. |
| else. | | | | Fiberglass rods, heavy boats, and huge cameras that |
| The most well known member of this group was Capt | | | | used something called film made that aspect of Apte's |
| Stu Apte. A jet pilot by trade, Apte flew fighters over | | | | career even more fascinating. |
| Korea and later, 747s for Pan Am. For several years | | | | Times have really changed over the past forty years. |
| between those gigs he became the most sought after | | | | There are hundreds of fly fishing guides in the Keys |
| flats guide in the Keys. His world record tarpon | | | | today and very, very few of them are ex-fighter pilots. |
| catches are legendary and so was his intensity on the | | | | The competition for charters is fierce and anglers |
| water. Stu demanded perfection from his anglers and | | | | won't pay $500 to be screamed at all morning. During |
| their equipment. He was famous for meeting | | | | my time in Key West I knew a couple guides who |
| customers well before a charter to check their gear, | | | | used that tactic but none of them were even close to |
| and wouldn't hesitate to tear fly lines and leaders apart | | | | Apte's caliber on the water. These guys lost their |
| if they weren't rigged to his standards. Considering | | | | tempers when clients failed but would then credit their |
| some of the primitive tackle back then this isn't | | | | own guiding skills when they succeeded. Ego and |
| surprising. Apte's time on the water was extremely | | | | bragging rites at the dock were more important than |
| valuable and he wouldn't allow a possible world be lost | | | | teaching a novice or advancing the sport. Those are |
| by an angler's lack of preparation. | | | | things that men like Apte had already done for us. |
| Years ago I fished with an older gentleman who was | | | | I've met Stu Apte briefly on a couple different |
| a regular customer of Stu Apte in the 1960s. He talked | | | | occasions, both of them charity tournaments and he |
| about an unbelievable morning when the fish were | | | | was extremely personable, especially to the younger |
| rolling everywhere but he just couldn't get his act | | | | guides who often act like little-leaguers meeting Derek |
| together. Apte put him on tarpon after tarpon but he | | | | Jeter. I've never fished with him but friends have told |
| blew every cast. Apte's constant berating became so | | | | me that all his intensity is still there. It would have been |
| intense that the angler actually started having chest | | | | an incredible experience to be on the water with Apte |
| pains. He called it a day at that point but was back in | | | | in the early 60's. To see the undeveloped Keys and |
| the hot seat the next morning. | | | | waves of tarpon unaffected by a gauntlet other boats |
| Most anglers today wonder why anyone in their right | | | | has always been a dream of mine, even if it meant |
| mind, especially a wealthy CEO, would put up with | | | | some serious chest pains every time I blow a cast. |