Question for bank drift fisherman

[JODakota]

How long of a leader do you guys use from your split shot or bounce weights and what seems to be most successful to you? My leader is usually about 18 inches to 2 feet and that seems to work pretty well, But Ive been reading and heard of guys using 4 foot leaders. That seems a little long. What do you guys think?

[Holg3107]

Im generally in the 36"-48" range depending on the depth of river and current. A 2' leader will keep your fly/corkies right on the bottom. I have seen guys fishing with 10'+ leaders on the puyallup! it was a pain in the butt fishing next to this guy. He almost had to cast like he was spey casting, hooked the guy up river from him on a cast and left. He did pretty good up to that point though but Im sure he was just flossing fish.

[JODakota]

Sorry for picking your brain about this lol but I do well with 2 feet but I definitely think I could do better I think I am miss a lot more fish than I should while still ending on 5, 6 fish days seeming to be the average. Do you fish that much length in shallow water as well? is it harder to feel a hit with that much slack below the surface?

[JODakota]

And heck while I'm asking questions Ill ask one more, I fish roe just by tying a a bait loop. Anybody tie spawn sacs? Is it worth the time?

[teal101]

I use 18" leader of 15lb fluoro.  I think I'm going to try longer this year.  I got a few hookups, but nothing amazing.

[Bone_Collector]

JODakota depending on the river your fishing and the depth of the holes a 2ft leader may be good but I usually like to fish with a 3ft leader on the smaller streams like the Tucannon. As far as your egg's go there is no need to tie spawn sacks unless your eggs are loose.

Teal101 try using a 12lb mono in a ultra green or clear color and depending on the size of the river and the color of the water you may want to lengthen up your leaders to 3ft or more! I like using 4 1/2ft leaders when fishing the clearwater or snake but when the river is super clear I will lengthen them up to around 5 1/2ft.

B_C

[Huntbear]

Clear water = longer smaller diameter leaders  8-12 lb. for drift rods   6 lb. for bobber rods

Murky/dark water = shorter normal diameter leaders 10-15 lbs. test for drift rods

[RadSav]

I prefer the longer 3-3.5' leaders as well.  Seems to give a little more natural movement.  Egg sacks have their place, but yes they are a pain in the rear and seldom produce more fish.  Used to use them a lot when we would get a full hen and fished with her eggs the same day for stealies when the upper Siletz was open to bait.  They seemed to like the fresh roe.

Bigger slow water for Kings and Tyees we will lengthen leaders even more and go lighter #test.  Doesn't make that much of a difference in presentation, but definately helps in flossing those bigger fish that aren't on the strike. 

Casting Clattertads in this water can sometimes wake them up too.  Late summer fish can't resist 'em.

[BigGoonTuna]

to all the guys who are so concerned with a "natural" drift, what part of a glob of cured eggs, or jig, or spinner is natural?

i never use more than 2 feet of leader, and usually less.  if you want a freer drift, use less lead.  longer leaders hang up more, and with bait it's harder to make good casts with.

[RadSav]

to all the guys who are so concerned with a "natural" drift, what part of a glob of cured eggs, or jig, or spinner is natural?

i never use more than 2 feet of leader, and usually less.  if you want a freer drift, use less lead.  longer leaders hang up more, and with bait it's harder to make good casts with.

Using less lead is a good idea.  Most definately use too much.

Fish the Vedder River some day when the water is clear.  I say the Vedder because you might see 500 big slabs a day in there.  Watch how each fish reacts to a presentation.  Bait or jigs that do not naturally tumble toward them get a definate negative reaction.  I had a BIG Tyee in a hole that I was trying to entice with my favorite peach ball.  That bugger would swim eight to ten feet left or right to avoid it.  My partner shows up using the same peach ball, but with a longer, lighter leader and less weight.  That dang fish stuck to his spot and just sucked it up as it went by.  What's natural about a ball of yarn?  Alot when it's presented correctly.

[huntnnw]

clear water I always use longer leader....true roe rarely produces more fish...but when I am fishing holes I may hit a few fish on beads..then switch over to roe and pick up some more..all about presentation and fishing the different parts of the water column...just using beads on a 4ft leader than switching to a med size corky on 2 ft can yield diffrernt fish that u were missing on beads that were up in the water

[KopperBuck]

Bait loops all the way. But for some reason I've never fished well with eggs. Tend to do better with yarn balls or corkie/yarn, or corkie/yarn/shrimp.

I've never really gone over 3ft leaders, but plan on mixing it up fairly soon. Always wondered how a longer leader would work on skinnier water, typically just downsize the leader. Usually only throw 8lb while drifting. And slinkies all the way. Like the drift much more, just not as easy to get as precise a weight as it would be with pencil lead. Have to mix and match all the different gauges and have a lot on hand.

[bwhntr350]

 WOw, times change, I guess. I have not fished for years and, not only have I never used 2' of leader (more like 14" to 18"), I have never even seen anyone fish with 3 or 4 feet, not even close, not even for gin clear summer run fishing on the Sol Duc, lol. I better stay retired.

[JODakota]

Yea I haven't either and that's why I asked. I was reading about all these guys using such long leader lengths but I was use any where from a foot and half to two feet. I have to say eggs all the way for me. I haven't tried out yarn balls but I should. I hear it help set the hook because the yarn gets stuck in their teeth. Has that been the truth for you?

[Bigshooter]

Clear and or shallow water I like a long leader 3-4 feet.
Dark and or deep water I like a shorter leader 1.5-2 feet.

How big of bait you are fishing and how fast the current is should determine how much lead you use.


This is how I fish steelhead.