Modern Streamers for Trophy Trout II: A Review
This Modern Streamers for Trophy Trout II review takes a closer look at Kelly Galloup’s follow-up to his groundbreaking original. Few anglers have influenced modern streamer fishing the way Galloup has, and this second installment builds on decades of experience chasing the biggest trout in the river.
Whether you’re already a fan of his work or just curious about what all the hype around “big fly, big fish” is about, this book dives deep into the mindset and methods that define today’s trophy trout game.
Check out our review of the first edition, Modern Streamers for Trophy Trout
About the Author: Kelly Galloup
If you’ve ever Googled anything about streamer fishing for trout, chances are you’ve come across Kelly Galloup’s name. He’s one of the most recognizable figures in modern fly fishing — a guide, fly tier, author, and educator who’s had a significant impact on the fly fishing world, especially with his takes on streamer fishing.
Galloup grew up in Michigan, where he began to craft his innovative approach to streamer fishing. Over the years, he became known not just for his skill with a fly rod, but for how he thinks about trout behavior — particularly how large fish feed differently from their smaller counterparts.
Currently, he now owns and operates The Slide Inn on the Madison River, a shop and lodge that’s is now a staple in the fly fishing community. I actually got to meet him once on a trip out to Montana. It was great to talk with him for a minute and see the desk where he films the YouTube videos that have helped so many anglers.
Beyond his guiding and teaching, Galloup’s written multiple influential works, including the original Streamer Fishing for Trophy Trout (co-written with Bob Linsenman). His YouTube channel, tying tutorials, and slide-in style presentations have helped bring the streamer game into the mainstream.
What is Modern Streamers for Trophy Trout II About?
Modern Streamers for Trophy Trout II is an expansion of the original — not a rewrite, but an updated extension of Galloup’s ideas.
Galloup revisits his original concepts about targeting big trout and adds years of new insight, much of it gathered from literally diving into rivers and watching how giant fish behave in their environment. Those firsthand observations changed how he thought about where big trout live and what actually triggers them to eat.
Where the first book focused on catching large trout in general, this one zeroes in on the giants — fish in the 24-inch-and-up class. The tactics, fly designs, and mindset all reflect that focus. Galloup’s not talking about good fish; he’s talking about the fish.
What makes the book so approachable, though, is his tone. Galloup writes like he talks — conversational, a little blunt at times, but always grounded in experience. He takes some fairly complex dynamics and boils them down to clear, practical lessons. Lines like “Hunt the fly, don’t hope the fly” sum up that philosophy perfectly. Every cast should have intent, and every retrieve should have purpose.
It’s the kind of book that gives experienced anglers something to chew on while still being accessible to anyone trying to improve their streamer game.
I will say, the tactics outlined in this book are focused on catching huge fish, which will limit the number of fish one would catch if applied. There’s certainly merit to that (especially for trophy hunters), though the novice angler may be more interested in keeping their lines tight vs going all in for a really big fish. That said, some of the lessons in this book will also probably help anyone catch more fish, regardless of their size.
Key Takeaways from Modern Streamers for Trophy Trout II
One of the things that makes Modern Streamers for Trophy Trout II so valuable is how much of it comes from direct, hands-on experience. Galloup doesn’t just theorize about how trout behave — he’s seen it firsthand, often by literally getting underwater. He continues to refine ideas from his earlier work but ties them back to one clear truth: big trout don’t feed the same way smaller ones do.
Galloup drives home the point that truly giant trout are aggressive, territorial predators, especially during the daytime. They’re not sipping midges – they’re reacting. As anglers, it’s on us to trigger that instinct with movement, speed, and the right kind of fly behavior. That mindset shift – from “hoping” a fish eats to making a fish eat is something that’s changed how I fish, even when targeting smallmouth. Those lessons translate perfectly across species.
Another big takeaway is how Galloup challenges common assumptions about where big trout live. He’s seen them holding in surprising places — not just undercut banks or deep holes, but in open water, right in the middle of the river, or on subtle inside bends where a color change hints at depth variation. His diving observations completely reframe what “good water” really means. It’s a reminder to approach every stretch of river with an open mind — because those monsters could be anywhere they want to be.
Then there’s color — and Galloup doesn’t shy away from it. He believes color matters, maybe more than anything else. He runs through a set routine of colors each day, constantly testing and adjusting, sometimes changing every 10–15 minutes if the bite’s quiet. It’s a level of intentionality most anglers don’t think to apply, but one that can completely shift a day’s outcome.
Actionable Advice from Modern Streamers for Trophy Trout II
Here are a few of the biggest practical lessons that stood out:
- Trigger Reactions: Big trout feed on instinct — use movement and aggression to wake that up.
- Target Unconventional Locations: Trophy fish don’t always hold in textbook spots; they can be in the middle of the river or subtle inside bends. Get your fly in the water and see how fish react.
- Color Matters: Treat fly color like a variable and continually experiment every day until you lock in on what they want. This can mean changing your fly many times throughout the day. Galloup also likes to make big changes- white to black, olive to yellow, and so on. While the big changes in color matter, the subtle nuances of light olive to dark olive may not be as much a factor.
- “Hunt the Fly, Don’t Hope the Fly”: This line sums up Galloup’s entire approach. Every cast should have intent: you’re hunting a fish, not just casting for one. Instead of aimlessly stripping and hoping for a grab, each retrieve should have purpose: make that fly do something that triggers a response.
Critiques and Limitations
Like any follow-up, Modern Streamers for Trophy Trout II has the tough job of expanding on an already influential book. Galloup does that well — refining and updating ideas from the original — but many of the big-picture takeaways remain the same. It’s less a reinvention than a deeper dive into concepts he’s been preaching for years. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but readers expecting a completely new philosophy might find it a little familiar.
One area where the book struggles is in translating certain retrieve techniques to the page. The jerk-strip and jigging retrieves are incredibly visual movements — the kind of thing that’s better learned through demonstration. For anglers trying to master those mechanics, Galloup’s YouTube videos will do far better than any paragraph could.
The photography and water examples are solid overall, but there’s room for more depth. Some images show the type of water to target, but I found myself wishing for a bit more explanation — not just where to fish, but why those spots produce. Galloup describes it well in the text, but adding the context to the photos would be a cool enhancement. In a way, I almost missed the pencil drawings from the first book, which, while simple, broke down the anatomy of holding water clearly. A blend of the two — real photos paired with visual overlays or detailed breakdowns — would have been the best of both worlds.
There are also a handful of small production errors sprinkled throughout — a few typos (“angles” vs “anglers”, for example), and even one photo that looks cut off in printing. They don’t ruin the experience, but it’s surprising to see in a book that otherwise has strong design, layout, and engaging visuals.
Final Thoughts
There’s no denying that Modern Streamers for Trophy Trout II is packed with great advice. Galloup’s decades of experience shine through, and his lessons can help anglers at just about any level, especially those chasing gigantic fish. Still, I found myself feeling that the original Modern Streamers for Trophy Trout had more punch. Maybe it was the newness of those ideas at the time, or maybe it just landed a little harder for where I was as an angler.
This latest version feels more like a continuation — a deep dive for those already familiar with Galloup’s methods and mindset. It’s a fantastic resource for anglers looking to fine-tune their streamer approach or target fish measured in pounds instead of inches. But for someone just getting started in the world of streamer fishing, I’d point them to the first book first. Galloup’s YouTube videos are also a fantastic resource that cover essentially everything outlined in this book.
One small gripe: for a book that comes with a higher price tag, I would’ve liked to see zero production errors. Typos and a cut-off photo here and there don’t ruin the experience, but they do stand out in a title that otherwise looks and feels premium.
That said, Modern Streamers for Trophy Trout II still reinforces a message that’s at the core of great fly fishing: intent matters. Heightened focus and attention to detail are paramount to catching fish consistently and without them, we’re just hoping to catch fish.
Pick up your copy of Modern Streamers for Trophy Trout II