RESPECT THE LADIES

I got a kick out of your editorial entitled “The Future Is Female” [April/May]. I go back a couple of generations and have some fond memories of the women of my era. I’m sure many of Marlin’s readers have heard of Kay Rybovich, an accomplished angler and John Rybovich’s wife. Kay and a couple of other ladies formed the International Women’s Fishing Association in 1953, fishing in both fresh and salt water. Before that, there were ladies like Helen Lerner, Eugenie Marron and many others who established records that may never be beaten. I captained boats for many of the top lady anglers in the world, and believe me, they were hard-chargers…all of them.

The one I saved for last is my wife, Gloria. She fished back in the early days in St. Thomas and Cozumel, and was the first woman to fish off

Isla Mujeres, Mexico. These are but a few of the women from my time. The new generation looks very strong as well.

Capt. Nelson Applegate Via email