David Johnson
03-07-2001, 04:39 PM
I know many of you may dissagree with me but I like heavy leaders.
95% of the time it just wont matter if the fish are seeing your leader, the 5% it does is under very, very heavy fishing presure. Fish don't go to school they just react to their suroundings.
Also, if you are fishing from a boat the fish almost always come up from behind and never even see your line.
Don't get me wrong, there is a big advantage in light line but it's not because the fish are or are not seeing it.
What makes light line shine in some applications (like drift fishing or bobber and jigs) is the natural drift you get. The lighter the line the less diameter it has and the better it goes through the water.
When I am using bait or plugs I use as heavy as I can possibly get away with. I will use 20 and 25 pound test on my bait rigs and 40 or 50 pound test on my plugs for springers. For steelhead and silvers I use 20 pound for my plugs and diver/bait rigs. (diver bait rigs in appropriate seasons) For fall chinook I will not go under 30 pound. I almonst always use 40 and then 50 with my Kwikfish. I have done very well even with 80. Salmon just don't seem to care, even in clear, late spring rivers I always use 20 pound when bobber fishing or drift fishing.
What is my favorite leader? Trilen Big Game for any thing over 20 pounds hands down. For less than that I use Maxima Green.
What about floricarbon? For me the verdict is still out but I am experimenting. I have it on one of my jig rods and have been fishing it side by side with my normal stuff (Trilene XL) and there doesn't seem to be any difference to the fish. It might mend better and I know it has less streach so there may be some good qualities to that. I'll let you know what I think later.
David Johnson www.davidjohnsonfishing.citysearch.com (http://www.davidjohnsonfishing.citysearch.com)
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95% of the time it just wont matter if the fish are seeing your leader, the 5% it does is under very, very heavy fishing presure. Fish don't go to school they just react to their suroundings.
Also, if you are fishing from a boat the fish almost always come up from behind and never even see your line.
Don't get me wrong, there is a big advantage in light line but it's not because the fish are or are not seeing it.
What makes light line shine in some applications (like drift fishing or bobber and jigs) is the natural drift you get. The lighter the line the less diameter it has and the better it goes through the water.
When I am using bait or plugs I use as heavy as I can possibly get away with. I will use 20 and 25 pound test on my bait rigs and 40 or 50 pound test on my plugs for springers. For steelhead and silvers I use 20 pound for my plugs and diver/bait rigs. (diver bait rigs in appropriate seasons) For fall chinook I will not go under 30 pound. I almonst always use 40 and then 50 with my Kwikfish. I have done very well even with 80. Salmon just don't seem to care, even in clear, late spring rivers I always use 20 pound when bobber fishing or drift fishing.
What is my favorite leader? Trilen Big Game for any thing over 20 pounds hands down. For less than that I use Maxima Green.
What about floricarbon? For me the verdict is still out but I am experimenting. I have it on one of my jig rods and have been fishing it side by side with my normal stuff (Trilene XL) and there doesn't seem to be any difference to the fish. It might mend better and I know it has less streach so there may be some good qualities to that. I'll let you know what I think later.
David Johnson www.davidjohnsonfishing.citysearch.com (http://www.davidjohnsonfishing.citysearch.com)
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