Question for bank drift fisherman

[87Ford]

Steelhead aren't line shy. I use 10# maxima in the winter even for Nates. They are also good biters. It's more about reading the water and presentation. Don't over think it.

I couldn't agree more.  I also use 10# Maxima mainline with 8# leaders at 24-30 inches.  Bump to 10# leaders if there are nates around and rock on...  Imo, varying the size of your bait in relation to water clarity is more important than leader length. 

[tmike]

I guess I should say for westside fish. I haven't caught steelies on the east side. I don't think any leader over 4 ft is necessary either.

[Button Nubbs]

Just to stir the pot a little, what about boondoggin/sidedrifting leaders where the norm is 5 1/2-6'?

[tmike]

Good question, I've always been a drift boat, bank guy and just purchased a sled about 6 months ago so I'm getting that dialed in. Drift fishing and Boondoggin are probably two different things, but I still used 4 ft max on my leaders, and we never used more than that in the sled during the Cowlitz hey day with my dad and his friends. In fact all they used were Sammy Specials with under 2 foot leaders. Free drifting may be a different story.

[huntnphool]

 I boondog a lot from my boat and find it a very effective way to catch steelhead. I use Trilene XT in the rivers and have for years, running 10# main and 8# leaders, generally in the 4' range.

[Bone_Collector]

I go through thousands of leader a year and what I have found with the leader length is a 4 to 5 foot leader is Ideal for the boat because it gives a natural drift but the most important part of the length has to do with landing the fish. A 4 to 5 foot leader is very manageable for 90% of people they can use the rod to keep the fish far enough from the side of the boat allowing the netter plenty of room to put the fish in the net!

B_C

[teal101]

Imo flourocarbon is pointless for salmon/ steelhead. If the water is drity they're not going to see your mono, why use flourocarbon? If the water is gin clear your heavy flouro, although "invisible" is not going to give you a natural presentation, your better off with 6lb or 8lb.

Why are you using heavier fluoro?  You can use 6 or 8lb fluoro too.

 

[TheHunt]

 

Dirty water the fish do not know the difference.  So use mono or braid as leader.  Heck, I have even used green braid directly to the jig and used that twitching method.  20 lb braid directly to the jig I didn't loose too many of my jigs. 

[Button Nubbs]

I thought the benefit of flouro was the invisibility? why would you wanna use a brittle 6-8lb line, when it won't make a difference.

[teal101]

I thought the benefit of flouro was the invisibility? why would you wanna use a brittle 6-8lb line, when it won't make a difference.

Because 6lb mono isnt invisible like 6lb fluoro is.  And Fluoro isnt "brittle", it has zero stretch.  It has the same breaking strain as comparable mono ignoring line differences by brand.  The mono stretches to absorb shock, while fluoro doesnt.  If it's being used as a leader with a mono mainline hook sets wont be a big deal.  If you use it with a braid mainline you have a zero stretch setup and need to use a lighter hook set to get the same hooking power as mono.

[TheHunt]

Interesting rationale.

[KopperBuck]

I thought the benefit of flouro was the invisibility? why would you wanna use a brittle 6-8lb line, when it won't make a difference.

Because 6lb mono isnt invisible like 6lb fluoro is.  And Fluoro isnt "brittle", it has zero stretch.  It has the same breaking strain as comparable mono ignoring line differences by brand.  The mono stretches to absorb shock, while fluoro doesnt.  If it's being used as a leader with a mono mainline hook sets wont be a big deal.  If you use it with a braid mainline you have a zero stretch setup and need to use a lighter hook set to get the same hooking power as mono.

Well explained. Also, don't forget it sinks much faster than any of the other lines.