I think it's safe to say that the majority of visitors to this board are pro-C&R. I'm amazed by how many posters say they regularly use 8# and even 6#-test line and/or leaders when targeting steelhead in streams where native fish are present. And the people that use such line from the bank rather than boats amaze me even more.

The fact that heavier line will cause fewer hook-ups under certain water conditions is no excuse in my book. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if during some of those water conditions is the WORST time to not "land" fish quickly.

It's been my experience that I lose fish most often right after hook-up and at the end of the fight. The end of the fight is obviously when the fish is most stressed. We don't have the chance to revive those fish like we would if we had landed them, so the length of the fight up to that point is even more important for the survival of the fish.

I believe that during landing is the time that the fish is most likely to be injured. Correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems to me that the person using the combination of long noodle rod and light line would have more difficulty during the landing of the fish than a person using a shorter, heavier rod and heavier line. If so, not only is there more chance the more-stressed fish will escape without resusitation, there is also more chance for the fish to be injured.

Some may say they bring in fish just as fast as others with heavier line. So what? Who are you comparing yourself to?

I won't even bother commenting on those that might say they bring in fish virtually as fast on light line as they do with heavier line.

The word that most often comes to mind when pondering this subject is "irresponsible". The practice of using light line appears to be so prevalent in Wa. that it makes me wonder if anyone has given thought to imposing regulations that require a minimum line and leader strength in certain instances.

I better end my post before I make even more enemies.



[This message has been edited by AkBill (edited 02-21-2000).]