Dan S. sorry,I probably shouldn't have made my remarks so personal. No I don't know much about boondogging,Only done it a couple times.I'm just a poor ole bank maggot.
I don't understand why you need a 6 foot leader to make a lazy natural drift out of a boat.But if your fishing the exact same water from the bank,a 3-4 foot leader will work.Why would'nt that same 6 foot leader also give you a better presentation.As long as your in a spot where you can still cast it.
Little zozo made some good points though.About cnr,light lines etc.Isn't repeatedly catching fish and releasing them about the same as molesting or harrassing fish.Maybe not legally but morally,I would think so.
I don't fish for steelhead a whole lot.But I know people that do.When they are out boondogging they go for the long leader for exactly the same reason zozo does.Sure you might get more biters because of a better presentation.But they also line their share of fish.I probably cought 2-3 fish boondogging.At least one of those was not a biter.So I know it happens.I have a hard time believing you have never lined one while doing this.Maybe you just never really paid that much attention to it.
When it comes to hatchery fish,(salmon)Wouldn't you rather see them harvested and put to good use.Rather than end up as dog food or something of the sort.Sure a few dead ones in the river and on the bank are good nutrients,but From what I saw last year there were plenty for that.I say hookem,landem, eatem.