I've heard and read alot of talk about how leader length is an important factor in catching steelhead when free-drifting. My cousin caught a ton of steelhead bank fishing last summer while using an 8 foot leader with just a small corky. I've caught a few fish using a 4 foot leader, but I'm thinking maybe I should switch lengths. What is it about the long leader that improves your catch?

Luke,

I'm certainly no expert in the matter, but it seems to me what with a longer leader your drop weight is further up-stream from your offering, thereby presenting the offering in a more natural manner as it drifts downstream from your weight.

Can't speak for summer run fish, as I have no experience with them, however last winter we did fairly well using leaders that were 18" to 36" when boondogging the Skagit.

MB

Sometimes (not wanting to start another flame war here) long leaders are used for a technique called flossing. There has been some controversy over the ethics of this method.

usually a 10' leader and a big treble hook will get you more fish.

I run a 4' max leader for SS. It is usally about 24-36"

Somebody's trolling before the sockeye opener

Eddie and wildfishlover are implying something here, but I'll leave it up to your own discretion. In Michigan, the home boys refer to an excessively long leader as "a long searching leader". I have no reason why, but those long leaders often result in a lot of foul hooked fish.

36" works for me. Draw your own conclusions.

Thanks for the info people. It sounds like many different varieties of leader will work. Anything from 10' , treble hook wrapped in lead with a little of the ole Toutle River Jerk applied, to a 2 or 3 foot job. I think when it all comes down to it, presentation may be a key factor. I think I'll split the difference and try a 6' leader and see how I do. If that doesn't work maybe I'll try some of this...

I use 4-6' leaders for me.

You don't need a 10' leader and a great big treble hook--Just get yourself a few sticks of dyno-mite.


-----------------------------------------------------------


"I'm sure glad you guys know all these pooping outside rules."---Eric Cartman

Funny, I was thinking about posting something similar the word dynamite included.

Dupont spinner.

Dupont Spinners work in all water conditions. That was my screen name on IFISH before I got banned for mentioning something about keeping a wild steelhead if it was foul hooked and bleeding. There's alot of do-gooders, stiffs, and purists on that site that go ballistic if you even hint about doing anything against a game law. They just want to sit around and pat each other on the back and talk about how righteous they are. F-that.

bank fishing: on smaller rivers i use 4'-6' on larger rivers like the cowlitz i use at least 8' & lees than 12' i have found the 10' leader to be the best & for those of you who have just got to use the term flossing, it doesn't work unless you jerk, if you just let it drift rarely will you foul hook a steelie (old black king boots in the tail out is a different story): stop by BC or barrier dam, i'm easy to find, (i'm guy carrying my limit out): none of which were foul hooked...

my hypothesis is that since you have to use big honking weights 1 - 2 oz from the bank on the cowlitz, i believe the farther you can get you bait away from the weight the better off you are...

from a boat: 2' - 4'

10 ft leaders hhmmmmmm..... okay I got it if you take a couple of those 10ft leaders and tie overhand knots every six inches apart you wouldnt have people calling you flossers they could call you a gillnetter

Last year when I fished the Nisqually for kings and silvers, most people I saw were using really long leaders, like 5' + lengths, there were a couple of foul hooked fish but most were caught legitly in the mouth, I guess its juss what you prefer or how the water is

Fishing with guides on the Quinault we used only 12"-18" leaders behind a corky..longer in clear water conditions. The fish will actually be biting with that length.

long leaders work fine. Steelhead will hit a 2ft' leader, or a 10' leader. Water clarity is the determining factor, and even then, short leaders will hook plenty of fish in clear water. BTW, flossing only works when there's a lot fish in the system. It's not like you'll go out to the sky and floss a steelhead right now.

4 to 6' leaders for summer runs.Good luck,
STRIKE ZONE