Doc,

What leader material do you use for trolling herring? I'll pay for the Seaguar leader material if you ever want to spend a day or two comparing your leaders against fluro. In an application where the line diameter is pretty thick, I'm curious how much of a difference straight fluro will have versus mono.

I bet I'm not the only one who is wondering about that.

VHawk

40# Max UG exclusively.

With the gaudy-ass flashers, baits, and hooks I like to use, the fish I catch are just too damned distracted to notice the leader, Vinnie.

I'd say that 90% of the steelhead fishing, year 'round, that I never use less than 10# Maxima...hell, in the spring I'll step up to 15# for leaders, sometimes, with 18# mainline.

Even when the water is low and clear...

It's one thing to wonder if steelhead or salmon can see your leader...it's quite another to wonder if they give a damn when they do.

Fish on...

Todd

Todd! Shut up! Now they'll be catchin' fish instead of breaking them off....damn, man! And what are you doing up so early, anyway? J/K

I've used Seagar...liked the looks, performance so-so (fractures), price...ridiculous.

Berkley Vanish also sucks. I have a spool of it that is just waiting to get tossed in the trash. Seaguar is way over-priced (haven't used it since my last trip to San Diego). The lines I'm promoting aren't 100% fluoro. Almost two seperate arguments going on here.

Anybody have any bad reviews for either the P Line floroclear or Yozuri hybrid lines? Nope, because they are great lines. I've been using yozuri way before I figured out how to catch steelies. I run 25 pound line on a customized jigmaster 505HS to throw surface iron for california yellowtail. The 9-10 foot jig stick we use isn't exactly a noodle rod. If the line was subject to frequent knot failure, I'd be aware of it by now.

I would argue my point harder, but considering my lackluster spring, I'll need to put up some points before I pursue this argument further. Maybe tommorrow if Superfly doesn't shy off from the off color water.

Been using the P-line flouroclear for almost 2 years now and it is the shiat! Haven't noticed anymore break offs than anything else, and it is suck of a fine diameter that I think your baits get a more natural drift when side drifting. The bottom line is it all boils down to what you have confidence in.
Tim

I ran 10 and 12 lb. fluoro (both $20+ spool Seaguar) vs. 8 lb Maxima ... still popped tons of 'em off on the fluoro.

No diff in bites at those weights ... ran 6 lb. UG vs. 10 lb. fluoro on brats last year when they were stacked under critically low water ... saw no diff in number of bites ... didn't pop as many off there, but with 5-10 lb. fish instead of 10-25 lb. fish I would expect that ...

Sorry, but in my line of work, I can't afford that type of field testing ...

I often run different stuff on my rod when I toss out on ocassion to try things ...

It may be fine for little guys ... but the rigors of steelie fishing in extremely rocky water does not appear to be one of it's stonger points!

To be sure, I've never felt the need to use fluoro much for west coast steelhead (summer or spring). I've had occasions in these parts, however, when it's clear or fishing slow froggy holes in cold weather, when fluoro has made all the difference.

6 weeks ago I was float fishing a 10 foot deep sluggish hole which always holds players, and the water was clear. I combed it hard with 8 lb UG for 45 minutes and came up empty. Refusing to believe it was empty, I started back up at the top and changed only the leader (to 4x Seaguar GMax, rated at 7 lb) and hit 6 fish in the next 30 minutes, using the exact same terminal.

It usually doesn't matter, but under certain occasions, it really does,

fb

Did you change your offering too or just the leader?

Keith

No, like it says up there "using the exact same terminal". Same jigalonymph and everything. I've occasionally suspected it made a difference, but this occasion made me a believer.

fb

Bob, I'm sure your clients would love it if you charged them to field test unproven stuff for you. In fact after talking with the ErecTech drug representative, I think we have a whole new side business for you.

The drug rep said he'll pay you $50 for each two person guided trip. He'll have you give one client a placebo, and the other the experimental drug. After that all you have to do is make note of which guy had nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea, and which guy had an erection.

Gotta agree with the only using it for leader. I too have had it break for no reason. I used it this fall for salmon in gin clear water. It did seem like it produced more bites than the 8lb Maxima I used to use. Evey time I hooked up, I immediatley became worried I was gonna break off the fish.

Anyone use light (4 lb) Seagar Invisix? I've got it on my ultralight rod, and I don't like it too much, but I've only used it once so far.

I used nothing but fluro for 2 years. I experimented with various brands and drift fishing applications. The results I found is that I foul hooked more fish than ever before. I attribute this to the line sinking and fishing small creeks compared to the west coast size rivers.

I guess I don't understand this statement? If conditions are low and clear then that usually means COLD. In these condition's I'll use at least a spin-n-glow to "wake" them up but usually a silver spoon, spinner or plug. If you need to really get something gaudy in their face to get a bite I don't see where line will spook them?

Even in summer lows where the water temp is warm I still catch 98% of my fish on a spinner so again I don't see where the line is going to spook a fish.

I just don't believe steelhead to be leader shy. If your describing a fresh water salmon situation never mind as I'm off hunting and wouldn't know any different.

p.s. I love the stuff as it leaves more fish in the river for me

I love that you hunt during salmon season....


:):):)

I tried a couple, I like seaguar for leaders fishing the salt with plugs, heering, and spoons. I didnt have as much luck or results in the freshwater. So I went back to Maxima UG.

You got to remember to get your knot wet and tie it slowly with fluorocarbon line. It has more friction and creates more heat than mono. I heard about 3 to 4 times more heat .

Never tried a spool of Flouro...I might try it out....

Earlier in this thread a couple of people asked about standards in pound-test ratings, and there aren't any. You can put large-diameter line that breaks at over 20 pounds on a spool, call it 10-pound line and sell it that way. In fact, that's pretty much what some of the line manufacturers do. The industry doesn't regulate it; it's whatever the fishing public will accept. Somewhere on the spool you should be able to find the diameter, usually stated in thousanths of an inch, and if you examine several different lines in the same test, you'll likely notice a wide variation in diameters. That "10-pound" mono that really breaks at 20+ will be the thicker stuff!

I'm glad that you approve HohBomb

I'm actually just trying to do my part in keeping the "Rivers are too crowded w/anglers/snaggers/nets and garbage with no enforcement" threads to a minimum