Kelly Galloup’s Giant Rainbow

Kelly Galloup lives in Montana’s Madison Valley and owns Slide Inn fly shop on the banks of the Madison River. Having lived about 50 miles apart for the past eight years, we managed a few days on the water together, not enough, that’s for sure, but enough to know that he is the king of having big trout on the brain. If it’s not five pounds or bigger, I don’t think he’s really interested.

Or maybe I’m not being fair; I actually think Galloup values all fish and the reason I say that is because I watched he and my daughters land a few 16 inchers a couple years ago that put a sincere smile on his face. But the fish that get him cranked up are trout ranging between 24 and 30-plus inches in length. And I’ve seen enough of images of him hoisting those giants to know that he gets them as often as anyone else.

That doesn’t happen randomly. Instead, he ties flies, such as the Galloup’s Sex Dungeon, Galloup’s Swimmin’ Jimmy, Galloup’s Zoo Cougar, and Galloup’s Butt Monkey, and fishes them in particular situations and conditions, to give him the best chance for success. And he fishes where big fish live—on the Missouri, on the South Fork Snake, on the Henry’s Fork, on the Yellowstone, on the Big Hole, on the upper Madison, etc.

Of the dedicated trout heads I know, Galloup is as successful as any and he shared this recent picture of a hog rainbow, taken on the Missouri River, somewhere, Galloup says, bewteen Craig, Montana and the Dakotas. For you stats guys, that ‘bow measures 32 inches long and has a girth of 23 inches. Galloup took it on a black Sex Dungeon. Want to buy that fly? Click here.

Here’s the shot of the fish, plus a couple other must-sees that will make you laugh:

Kelly Galloup hoisting a monster Missouri River rainbow on a balmy day. Skinny jeans dudes need not apply.

The man in action.

Galloup in the glory years.

 

You don't freak me out weather.

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