6X ?

I just finished reading the fishing reports 7 hookups on 6x . 6X for steelhead? How many still have the fly in their mouths?

i agree with ya go why stick a fly in a fishes face when ya know darn well it will snap the tippet.just my 2 cents.ff46

People need to leave the 6x for fishing midges to stream trout.  There is no situation ever presented in steelhead fishing where 6x is warranted.  70* water and people fighting fish on 6x and 7x is not a good combination for releasing fish.
 
I use 3x or 4x for nearly all of my steelhead fishing.  I have never found a reason to drop below that. 

Thats like this guy using a 6'6 3wt. for steel.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ge5LfrYOGI
It can be done no doubt but why? I feel that you should use the heaviest set up you can get away with. And a 6'6 come on! It's not healthy for the fish and un ethical in my eyes.

ORIGINAL: fishenfool46

i agree with dt some flouro at 4x is smaller than 6 x mono

 
Not true.  4x is ALWAYS .007" and 6x is ALWAYS .005.  The "x-rating" is how tippet size is standardized among manufacturers.  It is not a testament of breaking strength of the line, it is simply a gauge of the line diameter.  Strength varies with manufacturer, but 4x is going to be .007" diameter for all manufacturers.
 
There have been several rare instances where I have fished 5x on the tribs, in similar conditions that existed up there prior to the recent rains.  5x is barely adequate IMO, I doubt I will ever use it again on the tribs.  I often fish #16-20 nymphs, I do so on 4x up there, never been a problem for me.  Those fish are not line shy, they are bad drift shy.  I still don't see the benefits of 6x for steelhead, period.   

lets face it fellas , catching big fish on light lines is an ego thing , it does stress fish if u have to wait for them to roll upside down near exhaustion , cause u are afraid to break a light tippet , then again this only matters if u are a catch and release guy.

I traditionally tend to pick a lb test when swinging and bottom bouncing.  8-10lb. for eggs/nymphs, 12-15lb for swinging.  I usually use Rio Max (now Rio Max Plus) because of it's abrasion resistance, but like Kev will drop to Fluoroflex Plus, usually no lighter than 3X or 4X.  I like to horse my fish in and get them back out quickly.

As for that Youtube video, yuck.  The 6'6" rod is no big deal, whatever you're comfortable with (it's just a lever) but the fact that he used a 3wt (despite it being mid-April) was irresponsible.

I say "What If?" What if you hook into a 15+ lb. fish? good luck with a 6X tippet. In the future, the highly anticipated browns will scoff at it! Light tackle is irresponsible, especially this time of the season with so many fisher people. How many of us have seen someone with too light of equipment get spooled on Walnut, with their line and fish downstream past 50 - 60 anglers? I have had the hole that I am fishing walked right into by the aforementioned too light of equipment guy, and his net man! Usually the net is large enough for a tarpon! Crazy, I say!

to each his own but.....
(especially when the water isn't low) why use 6x?  i see no advantages and many disadvantages to using it over 3 or 4x

ORIGINAL: doubletaper

i caught steelies on 6x during the winter month. flouro has a stronger strength at 6x compared to mono in most brands

 
i noted that i have used 6x during winter months, this is when the water is gin clear and low, the fish are sluggish and i use this drifting sucker spawn or such to visable fish. i don't swing buggers with a 6x. nor use it early for fresh steelies. maybe i'm doing something wrong in gin clear water with 4x and 5x, i'm still learning i'll admit that, but drifting the same way with 6x caught fish. i never start with the lightest tippet when steehead fishing but when i come to the conclusion that i'm not getting strikes i'll go down to 6x if i have to. do fish break off sometimes? sure, don't they break off for everyone?
i'm always willing to learn through visual teaching.
 
 to each there own and i've never remembered bringing in a steelie in on it's side on 6x flouro tippet.
 
i never said the diameter isn't the same  but strength is different between flouro and mono in the x factor.
  
 

I usually start out with Rio Fluoroflex in 4x then go to 3x for swinging flies in higher water for steelhead. I start with 5x Powerflex mono for general trout fishing and go to 6x for smaller dries.
 
It seems that some people miss the point on Fluorocarbon. Its alot less visable than mono so you can afford to use a stronger tippet. Even with good knots, 6x just seems like a reach for steely fishing.
 
I tend not to fish areas or conditions that call for 6x, with that said alot of us live in the area so if fishing conditions suck we can just go home and try again when conditions improve. If I was driving up like some do, I would probably pull everything in the tool box to try to catch at least one steely. So I understand some guys going with 6x.

I use the 6X Flouro when conditions call for it -- low, clear, and spooky fish (typically in the Spring as I orignally posted).  I don't do it for ego, I do it when it is needed.  And I do it with an 8-weight.  I prefer not to use it, but if that is what it takes to catch fish when others are not, that is what I use.  If I can get away with heavier tippet, I use heavier. 
 
In my experience, it takes no longer to land a fish on 6X than 3X.  One must just be mindful of how abraised the tippet is from rock contact and change it more often.
 
As for 12 pound and up tippet, unless it helps with the presentation of swinging streamers (and it does), why go that heavy?  These are 6 - 10 pound fish.  I fish 16 lb for 100 pound Tarpon for goodness sake. 
 
And if you run into a 15 pounder, what's the worse thing that could happen?  You lose it.  Or, if you are careful, and use proper side pressure, you land it in less than a minute longer than you would with well rope.

3X. Is my limit. They are not, as mostly read, leader shy. They are bad presention shy. So many go to lighter tippets as a crutch. I want to hook them and land them. With the least interuption to my fellow fisherman. To go light with your tippet is an in justice to the fish, and your fellow fisherman.

steelhead aren't leader shy , and the key here is "in the right conditions " to further explain myself , when they are 70' deep in the lake, musky fisherman with steel leaders have caught them , take them to a 2' deep drainage ditch and the leader shyness comes into play real quick , some guys use light tippets cause they fish in these conditions , i know guys who won't trout fish if the water is on the clear side ! some guys won't fish if its on the muddy side , me I FISH ALL THE TIME , ITS CALLED ADAPTION MY FRIENDS !!!!

thinner lines cut water better , giving a better drag free drift , when dry fly fishing u can tie on a #24 BWO and fish 6x in a dead pool and trout will come up and look and not take , then tie on a #24 BWO and 7x tippet or fluoro tippet , they will normally take it , thinner lines (meaning lighter tippet) cast less of a shadow. but presentation is more of a factor , if u think steelhead in the tribs aren't terminal tackle shy , take ur line and put on a very small indicator on and no line below the indicator to spook the fish , the steelhead later on after they been in the tribs a while will be very courteous to a indicator , they will sperate off the stream floor or wherever they are at in the water column almost parting for the passing of the indicator , they can see it when the water is clear and heavy tippet creates the same kinda shadow it spooks them , once again just my opinion , probably not right , but everyone does either what actually works or whatever they think might work , its up to you to know which one you are !!!