8 lb. leader too light ??

[spinner53]

Here's a loaded question........ Is 8 lb leader too light for drift fishing for these winter natives ?

Yes I do know how to set a drag.

Never had a fish break off.

using size 2 hooks.

[Twitchs_Tackle]

I mainly use 8#, but if you are specifically targeting nates, you may want to step it up a little so you can get them in quicker without tiring them out. I think I saw a post from Scott Amerman saying that he runs 12#.

#2's are good, I don't know if you are in a boat or not but try to avoid using a diver/bait set up. THese often get taken a little deep which would hurt the nates...

[David Johnson]

It might be too light for that trophy of a lifetime. If I'll be fishing in an area that may have a trophy I'll use 12#.

No need for 8# when they will bite 10# or 12#.

It would work especialy if you are in a boat and can chase them but like TT said, you may have to play them longer than you need to.

[Lund]

Like Dave said,

Teh guys who tell you that 8 is all they bite are full of it. Lots of guys try to tell ya 6 for summers or they wont bite.

It's all BS I never use anything lighter than 12 even in late summer on upper rivers. I still have to dig the hooks out of their throut if I want them back. Just try to pull a crawdad tail away from a summer steelhead and see if he cares if you are using 25lb test.

just my own opinion

[rob allen]

8lb MAXIMA isn't too light but you could always go heavier 8lb anything other than maxima is probably too light.. contrary to popular philosophy I don't believe in and have never seen or experienced a leader shy steelhead. regardless of water clarity or height you won't spook fish because of a heavier leader.

[IronNoggin]

Interesting to see the varying points of view on this one.
Up here on Vancouver Island, our rivers only blow out once or twice a season, so me and the ladz are well conditioned to fishing gin. The fish in our local river, the Stamp, go up to twenty pounds, with the majority being in the eight to ten or a tad better range. I realize that some of the flows down your way will better this, and perhaps that's why the concern with heavier leaders?

I run three rods, but the most used is an ultra-light 10.5 foot St. Croix, a 5501 loaded with 12 lb main, and 8 pound leaders all the time. When using worms or larger terminals in off colour, I employ # 1 Gammy's, but my usual set-up is but two Jensen's (bait restricted) and a sparse tuft of peach wool on a # 4 Gammy. While I have straightened the odd hook, and occasionally part leaders, I've found that is sufficient medicine for irons up to twenty or so. I have fished alongside ladz using the 12, and even 15 lb leaders, and it's been my experience that the lighter line will consistently outperform the heavy.

On the rare occasion fishing bait (only a small section of our lower is open for that these days) I'll run 12 lb leads, and honetsly think you could use 50! When they make up their mind on a prawn tail, it's often a smoking race to see which steel can get to it first.

Not saying that's the way to go on your flow, but sure works for us Canucks! 62 chromers to hand since January 1 seemed to agree.

Cheers,
Nog

[jaydee]

Prefer to run 15lb main and 12lb leaders for drift fishing on the olypic peninsula this time of year. Not that it's impossible to land a 40" steelie on lighter suff, but I agree with the reasoning to go heavier, as stated above.

J.D.

[ 02-29-2004, 12:01 PM: Message edited by: jaydee ]

[Fish Hawg]

They're guys who tell you that 8 is all they bite are full of it. Lots of guys try to tell ya 6 for summers or they wont bite.

Just try to pull a crawdad tail away from a summer steelhead and see if he cares if you are using 25lb test.

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">I agree 110% [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img] I use 10# P-Line floroclear for summers and I also use 10# Sufix DNA all year long for drifting steelhead (summers and winters)With a 10# P-line or 10# clear big game. I catch my share :grin: .....Ross

[Hogback]

Look at the diameter of the line instead of the lb.test. I watched a guy with a machine that tested the breaking strength of various lines. Most lines that are 12 thousands in diameter break at over 12 lbs. 8lb. Maxima if I remember correctly is 12 thousands and has a breaking strength well above 10 or 12 lbs. The only time I have broken 8lb. leader is when I wanted to. Try taking some 8 lb. Maxima and break it in your hands or hang your rig in a tree, I've pulled my buddies drift boat up stream with the stuff. I think it's easer to cast, you can use less weight, because it's thinner you get less belly and the wind doesn't effect it as much either. I usually don't fish bait and I think it makes a difference when fishing corkies or yarn. I use 6s,4s, and size 2 hooks and 6 or 8 lb. works better for me, course whatta I know?
Randy

[ 02-29-2004, 07:29 PM: Message edited by: Hogback ]

[Akuracy503]

I think its just a confidence factor if you believe 8# leader gets you more bites then no problem id say, plus i believe 8# is plenty strong and stretchy..

[spinner53]

I'll be tying some 10 and 12 # then.
Thanks

[ 02-29-2004, 12:21 PM: Message edited by: spinner53 ]

[KingFisher85]

I use 8# maxima for most all my Steelhead fishing. But I've also never had a problem getting a Steelhead on 15-20lb test line. Its just for the reels I use I can't cast the heaver line as good as I can the liter stuff.