I have posted a very honest question with no intention of stirring things up. I buy the flossing theory. But I constantly have inner-self debates over the optimum leader length. So, I was interested in any advantages of the long leader other than flossing. I also fished the inside of bend straight accross from blue creek the day before (you know where the jet boat parade begins) and saw a couple of guys catch some nice steelhead essentially bank fishing using the same long leader approach. The main reason I ask is that I see some very competent fishermen using the long leader.

As far as flossing goes this fall I went to fish a shallow salt water area for chum and all the fly fishing guys did really well (9 foot leaders stripped accross the school of fish). I essentially was using drift gear (small corkie, yarn, 18" leader, small lead). I was using all the right colors but didn't do very well. The next day I used a leader in the same length as the fly guys with just green and chartreuse yarn and I did as good as anyone. I only fished a hour or so but landed 4 fish. Two of the fish the hook was on the outside of the mouth and 2 of the fish the hook was inside the mouth. I still think I flossed all of them but it is my belief that sometimes a flossed fish will look legal. (all fish were caught and safely released)