Yeah, it really sucks that I lose everything. I use slinky's too, which aren't sposed to hang up as much (seem's to be an untrue statement to me, anyway) and when they do hang up they're sposed to come free easier than other weights (again never seems to happen with me). So what's the answer, Pepper? Just go to 12 main and 8 leader? Probably not too light for where I'd be fishing this winter (smaller steelhead).