For summer fishing I tie my jigs directly to my six pound mainline. For winter fish I use a swivel and short leader. I use foam(dink) floats for winter fishing and need to add extra lead on my mainline below my float to stand the float upright. Also makes casting with my baitcaster easier. I fish with both float/jigs and spoons for winter Steelhead and prefer to use heavier line for spoon fishing, helps drive the 2/0 siwash hooks home. This setup allows me to carry only one rod and effectivley fish both techniques.