By: Matt Peisert
For this week’s edition of Big Fly Friday, we’re going to feature yet another streamer conceived by the godfather himself. Kelly Galloup’s “Barely Legal” is a fantastic fly that moves and undulates as well as anything out there. The “Barely Legal” is a fairly simple articulated pattern comprised of mostly marabou that is usually tied in a combination of 2 contrasting colors. That generally mimic some sort of baitfish in the body of water you’re fishing.
Main target species: Brown Trout
Prime water to fish it: The “Barely Legal” is best fished in slower-moving water as the marabou will tend to want to collapse on itself and lose any profile in fast water. I like to fish it in colder water with a tungsten cone-head in order to create a jigging motion, which we know works so well in colder water. If I’m fishing slow, slightly warmer water, I’ll change the pattern up and fish a “Laser Legal” which is a “Barely Legal” with a laser-dub head that swims in more of an “S” pattern, than a jigging pattern.
How to fish it: The options here are really endless, you want to fish this fly in a manner that matches the conditions. Fish it jiggy on floating line when the water’s cold, or fish it “swimmy” on sinking line when the water’s warm.
Action: With the sheer quantity of marabou in this fly, there is a ton of flowing action that can entice a take. Depending on which version of the fly you’re fishing, the fly will swim in an “S” or with up and down motion.
Colors: Usually something that matches the local fare. In a stream that is stocked heavily with rainbow trout fingerlings- I would fish an olive and white pattern. A place with heavy creek chub populations, I might fish tan over yellow. The options are endless, but usually your best bet is to fish 2 contrasting colors.
Where to Buy: Slide Inn
Connected Guide Service 