Kelly Galloup’s signature streamer line
Finally got my hands on Scientific Angler’s new Kelly Galloup Streamer Express fly line and I’ve now had ample time to throw it on a couple sticks and on a couple different waters, including the Big Hole and Madison rivers on rainy, blowy afternoons.
I first threw it on the Sage XP 9’ five-weight, which is a stout stick that’s solid for throwing streamers and nymph rigs with lead. But, the rod seemed a little overmatched with the weight-forward 200-grain head, not completely turned to jelly, but a little slow on the lift.
So I went classic and threw an old, two-piece Sage RP 9’ six-weight, which was the first true fly rod I ever owned, part of payment to my father, Fred Thomas, who illustrated one of Sage’s first catalogues. Fred gave it to me as a high-school graduation present despite my urgings for a car. He made the right choice and I treasure that rod to this day. And it’s one of the best rods that Sage ever made.
So, is it worth it to throw streamers off a specific streamer line with a sinking head or can you continue to get away with a floating line, a couple chunks of lead, and a big streamer?
The answer, of course, is that you can get away with the floater and that lead, but that would be like cutting your lawn with an old, manual push-blade mower instead of dumping some gas in an auto-drive and doing it right.
I like throwing the 200-grain because it turns a streamer over with ease and the retrieve brings the fly back at a uniform depth. In addition, I can lift and snap a streamer right to the bank, give a couple quick strips, then lift and deliver the fly to another sweet pocket in rapid-fire fashion. That means I’ve covering every possible prime spot whereas the guy or gal throwing floaters is missing half the water.
But what do I know?
Montanan Kelly Galloup developed this line and he shared some of the advantages he finds while throwing the Streamer Express.
“The big misconception about these lines is that they are heavy,” Galloup said. “They’re made out of Tungsten and they are not heavy, but they are skinny and fast. For the most part I fish in less than 18 inches of water but these lines allow me, depending on the retrieve, to fish from four inches below the surface to four feet below the surface.
“The heads on these lines are long, 40 feet on the 200 grain Streamer Express, which is designed for a 6-weight rod. That allows me to pick up these flies quickly and, ironically, the beginners who try these lines cast better than they do with floaters. In addition, that long head keeps the fly at the same depth, right where you want it, for most of the retrieve.
“The 200-grain is the one I fish with 90 percent of the time (Note: the Streamer Express series is available in a variety of weights and in saltwater versions, too.). I fish it on a 6-weight and I would fish it on a 7-weight, too. I keep a 250-grain with me but only use it during super high-wind situations or if I fish a heavy, heavy fly. Nine times out of ten, though, it’s the 200-grain.”
You can order the Streamer Express in a variety of places, but why not order it direct from the Man at www.slideinn.com