StreameradvancedFlorida Keys & South Florida
Stu Apte Tarpon Fly
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Forgotten Coast Fly Co.
Matched on Florida Keys & South Florida, streamer flies, tarpon. Florida Panhandle and Gulf Coast shop lead for inshore saltwater patterns.
Salty Fly Tying
Matched on Florida Keys & South Florida, streamer flies, tarpon. Drew Chicone's saltwater tying catalog and learning hub, strongest for saltwater pattern validation.
Fulling Mill Flies
Matched on streamer flies, tarpon, broad catalog. Large pattern house with broad freshwater and saltwater fly categories.
Orvis Fly Catalog
Matched on streamer flies, tarpon, broad catalog. Broad retail catalog for standard trout, warmwater, salmon/steelhead, and saltwater patterns.
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Stu Apte caught more tarpon on a fly rod than most people have seen in their lives, and he did much of it with this pattern. The design is deceptively simple -- saddle hackle, schlappen collar, thread head -- but simplicity is what survives a hundred-pound fish shaking its head in the air. This is not a fly that tries to impress you. It is a fly that catches tarpon. The distinction matters.
Quick Facts
Where to Fish It
Islamorada Backcountry
FL · Backcountry
Bahia Honda Channel
FL · Channels
Key West Harbor
FL · Bridges
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Related Reading
region guide
Florida Keys: Chasing the Flats Grand Slam
The Florida Keys Grand Slam — bonefish, permit, and tarpon on the fly in a single day — is saltwater fly fishing's ultimate test. It demands mastery of three different species, three different presentations, and an almost unreasonable amount of luck. Here's how to stack the odds in your favor.
species science
The Silver King: Understanding Tarpon
Tarpon breathe air. They've survived five mass extinctions. They migrate thousands of miles, daisy-chain in mysterious circles, and when they eat your fly, they do things in the air that no other fish can do. Understanding what makes them tick is the first step toward actually landing one.
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