I've only used flourocarbon a couple times when a friend handed me a tippet length to use. It seems OK. However, I've never bought any and haven't planned to. It's expensive, and I haven't yet found that it returns value for cost. I began using Maxima leader material in 1974 and have found it to be very strong and abrasion resistant. Steelhead don't seem to be leader shy, except perhaps under the lowest and clearest summer/fall flow conditions. I have used 6# Maxima under those conditions and had some fish break me off on the strike or hook set. So I usually use one of the premium mono nylon brands with the same diameter as Maxima, but with higher breaking strength when I'm fishing under those conditions. Otherwise, 8# Maxima is my year-round, high and low water, fairly clear to turbid water condition leader tippet of choice. My other exception is that I step up to 10# Maxima for the Thompson River. I had steelhead break 8# on the strike twice there, so heavier material seemed in order.

Sincerely,

Salmo g.