Steelhead Leader Help!

[Michael J.]

I lost a steelie on a 13 lb. tapered leader last weekend - so I decided to go out and purchase the fixins to make my own leaders from a recipe I found in a steelhead book.
I'm curious to hear folks feelings and successes about tapered leaders vs. home made leaders.

THanks, MJ

[4Salt]

Michael,

In my limited fly-fishing for steelhead experience, I've always gotten the best performance using lengths of quality mono with no tapering blood knots. Winterrun fishing with my type 4 or 6 sinktip, I use 3 to 5' of 12lb. maxima ultragreen for a tippet. Summerruns in clear water, using a floater or intermediate head, 6 to 9' of 6 or 8 lb. test. These are looped to a 1' length of 15 to 12 lb. test that is attached to my flyline, using an albright knot. A good quality flourocarbon, is an excellent choice for summer fishing as well. I subscribe to the theory that the less knots there are, the less trouble I can get into. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[ 08-13-2001: Message edited by: 4Salt ]

I make my own out of Maxima Chameleon. I don't trust those store bought tapered leaders for steelhead.
Stew

[Crabby 2]

Michael, I'm glad you asked! This is the fourth decade that I've had good success with a leader formula I gleened from Bill Mc Millan. So, I credit him for much of my flyfishing success...Especially the use of Jock Scott's "Greased Line Techinque."

I tie my own leaders using Maxima Chamleon material because of it's stiffness. It turns a large fly over best.I bloodknot each piece together and the heavy butt section is nail knotted to a double tapered floating fly line with plenty of backing. The pieces are as follows: 42"of40#; 27"of30#; 6"of20#; 6"of15#; and then 24"of12# tippet. This will give you a 105" leader for a 9-91/2' flyrod. Don't worry about a 12# tippet for Deschutes steelhead. They aren't that leader shy and you can play the fish and release it quicker, too! You might straighten a hook now and then, but, hey that's fishin'.

Dale