If steelhead are so leader/line shy,

[BuKuBass]

why do gillnets work? Is it because they can't discern the nets on account of the depth and lack of light? Are the nets not recognized as a threat?
I'm puzzled. He'pme pleeeze (you gotta use Bob Dylan/Tom Petty's accent).

[fishing is life]

i think the nets are so large they dont have a chance to move especially in the columbia. Also the fish are not biting the net they are running into it. If they were to gillnet in the clack the fish might have an easier time seeing the nets but again if it is real wide they may not have a chance.

[Thumper]

I don't think that salmon are at all leader-shy. And I believe that the aggressiveness of steelhead makes them bite even when they might see the line and shouldn't. Except in ultra-low flows steelhead are the easiest critter to fool. I spent three years in my youth learning how to catch my first steelhead, now they are the easiest fish to catch. I think.........

[rob allen]

I agree with Thumper I do all my summer steelheading (fly fishing) with 8lb maxima Clameleon for leader and I really do not believe the fish care if there is a big long brown string coming off what they are planning on eating even in the lowest clearest summer flows.

[Wright Angle]

When I plunk for summer Steelhead in the Columbia I use 40LBS maxima Chameleon leaders because the spin-n-glo's spin so nice on the heavy leader. It's not hard to keep the stiff leaders tangle free. In the last 22 years I've caught several hundred Steelhead that didn't seem to leader shy.

Before I moved north, I fished the South Santiam river all the time I was growing up. Even some years before foster dam was built We did use very light leaders back then for Summer Steelhead. My favorite place to fish was on Canyon creek ( A South Santiam tributary) we used down to 2 Lb leaders in that Gin clear water for Steelhead, and it did make a difference.

[ 11-07-2002, 08:48 PM: Message edited by: Wright Angle ]

[Flatfish]

I had 15 strikes this weekend(10 landed -all steelies)on 50 pound tuf tied directly to a plug.This is in a river with unlimited visibility conditions.So clear I could identify the bottom (sand,clat,gravel etc)easily in 12 feet of water.I think some presentations will benefit from light line(leaders at least,mainline seperation of 5-10 feet is all that is ever necessary)or flourocarbon.Jigs under a float in slow water come to mind.Some flyfishing applications too.My mentor swears light line will get you more strikes.I have fished next to Buzz Ramsey.He claims steelhead have no idea of what line is and his riggings show that.20# brite blue line,15#leaders in clear water.Both anglers are in the same class as far as skill goes.So I guess do what you have faith in.After all,it's your trip so fish how you think is best.
Mark and the dog.