What lb test should I use for a leader for steelhead fishing?
Swany asked:
And I have a rod and reel for steelhead but nothing else. what do i need?
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And I have a rod and reel for steelhead but nothing else. what do i need?
steelhead fishing on the snake river, WA
March 4th, 2010 at 3:48 pm
A light flourocarbon leader, 10lb should do fine. Maybe a little heavier. Backwater Charlie
March 5th, 2010 at 8:54 pm
go 15lb test its in the middle. Chris
March 8th, 2010 at 4:01 am
20 lb line a # 6 hook and steel leaders William B
March 10th, 2010 at 10:49 am
The Snake is a faster, more powerful river than a lot of the NW rivers. It takes a little more line and a little heavier weighting than typically prepared for.
10lb leader is a good weight. I wouldn’t bother going any higher. 12lb mainline is enough from the bank, but beware - many of the bank access points have rapids below them, and fish will make runs downstream. It can take a bit of finesse and experience to get them to come back up river.
Go a little larger on the bait if you’re drifting roe, prawns, etc. The fish the are actively competing for food, and respond better to bigger clumps/presentations. The river typically sees a big return of steelies, so food can become a bit of a problem for fish - hence the bigger portions being better.
Longer, fast, sensitive rods a good on that river. The length helps with casting, bait presentation, and fish control.
As for the weights you’re going to want - I honestly don’t remember. I’m going to assume, with a 10-12lb setup, you’ll need a little heavier given the line/water friction. Weights ranging from 3/8oz all the way through 1 1/2oz should be good. Pencil lead or slinkys are preferred. If you want to float it, I’d invest in a sliding float, NOT some crappy Eagle Claw one though….the line will cut through the plastic “straw” through the middle. It’s just not as hard as other manufacturer’s products.
BAIT: crawlers, roe, prawns, etc. SPOONS, SPINNERS (most of the river is too fast fo spinners though) HOOKS: sized from 6 - 1 is good to start. The bigger bait chunks hide the larger hooks well enough. Also, invest in some “magic” thread (stretchy thread) for holding on that bait. You might want to learn how to tie an egg-loop knot too. They’re pretty helpful.
Well, that’s probably enough to get you started……
ANSWER RESPONSE: (IF you think you need a steel leader for steelhead, then maybe you need to take up a different hobby!!) caunltd
March 12th, 2010 at 2:39 pm
I’m probably your neighbor.
It depends on your rod’s action and what technique you are using. 10-12 is a great weight for drifting and under floats. If you’re trolling below a dam or plunking then 15 lb is more appropriate.
The Toucannon is out my back door. I drift fish it with a Loomis GLX STR 1141. The Ultra fast tip and slow action, coupled with it’s 12′ length allows me to easily tame 20 lb steelies with 4 lb leader. JOSH 2.0