RA3,

I agree, pick the right tool for the job. However, carry that philosophy to its logical end (see my earlier post), and you’ll lay down your fly rod in the winter and pick up a spinning rod. Winter is down and dirty time, and the most effective fly fishing technique is the one that most resembles spin fishing with mono and lead. Clearly, the ideal “short belly” winter fishing line is a hank of monofilament with as many lead shot as necessary to put your fly in the strike zone and hold it there. Unfortunately, there isn’t much fly casting “grace” involved in that style. (Although I’ve debated with eastern fishermen who held that mono, lead shot, and the “Tuck” cast is indeed fly fishing.) It seems to me that anyone who fly fishes for winter steelhead must necessarily choose a compromise between effectiveness and whatever allegiance he has to style and grace that causes him to swing a fly rod during the winter season.

Sincerely,

Salmo g.