#test

I was just looking at another site and it seems that the key is going down to 6 or 4 pound test tippet.
The other day when I was hooking up about 1 fish per hour I was fishing 10#.
Of course I was fishing choppy pockets for moving fish.
Didn't seem like a problem since while I hooked up 4 times the next most I saw was the guy below me who hit 2.
Don't know what test he was fishing but he seemed to be bottom bouncing eggs with a CP and those are usually spooled with 6 or 8 pound test with a lighter tippet.

What's everyone think?

WB, this is a guess on my part, but knowing what worked for me , light tippet=getting lower in the column quicker, better drift. I used 10 lb. Rio Fluoroflex and was getting 3-4 takes an hour. Like you, I did better than those around me, and had guys casting their rigs over to me to see if I could suggest a change. All I know is, I got bit if it was low and the drift was good. I made tons of mends and adjustments to accomplish a good dead drift.  I have trouble letting my fly line get way out of the guides, I tend to keep it as heavy as I think I can get away with.
 
Charlie

fish 10# floro all winter and get plenty of takes.

Speaking of other sites and reports of big catches-
Was fishing LFZ last week and saw  hookups in the fast water upstream. Funny how some of those fish came right into the kiddie pool all confused bout which way to swim = up or down??? so they just stayed sideways the whole time.

  BTW - use 8 lb in the zones with flies and 12 down low working round rocks and logs for holders with sacs.

ORIGINAL: retired guy

Speaking of other sites and reports of big catches-
Was fishing LFZ last week and saw  hookups in the fast water upstream. Funny how some of those fish came right into the kiddie pool all confused bout which way to swim = up or down??? so they just stayed sideways the whole time.

BTW - use 8 lb in the zones with flies and 12 down low working round rocks and logs for holders with sacs.

I don't carry anything smaller than #8 anylonger.
It has the diameter of old school 4 or 6.
I am always amazed by the number of foul hooked (and played out) fish in the zones.
I'm much happier as fichy said downriver were any tackle goes.
I see a few real creeps but mostly real fishers that happen to use different tackle than me.
At least the real creeps don't think they are special cause they are snagging with $1000 outfits like the zoners.

ORIGINAL: retired guy

Was fishing LFZ last week and saw  hookups in the fast water upstream. Funny how some of those fish came right into the kiddie pool all confused bout which way to swim = up or down??? so they just stayed sideways the whole time.

did you call the DEC to report possible outbreaks of whirling disease?
must be something in those spring seeps that are affecting them feeshes...

i use 8 in ny on my spinning gear for steelies all the time...cortland camo line

for the pin the main line should only have minimal contact with the water like drake said...i go with 12 there so if i get hung up i know the leader will break before the main line so i don't loose bobbers

and again drake is right that the shotting of the line is what gives you the presentation...all those log rods do is keep the line off the water, let you steer your drift and bend alot to fight the fish allowing you to go with very light line if you want....my skills at hand dragging are not very good so i go with the 8lb leader

pinning to me is just playing around...when i have my spinning gear i am seriously fishing

ORIGINAL: dimebrite

Lighter/thinner line will get your presentation down faster hands down... and as charlie mentioned; I agree completely with the whole mending aspect... wader boy: I agree with you regarding the downstream drift; im sure you could get away with 20 while doing that but personally I think 20 is an unfair match to steelhead...

All in all; it is just fishing though; and it is just fishing line; to each their own....

As you say its just fishing but I personaly think #4 is unfair to steelhead.

ORIGINAL: waDerboy

As you say its just fishing but I personaly think #4 is unfair to steelhead.

splain pleaze..

4 lb. on a long spinning rod that has lots of stretch and you can keep a ton of rod pressure isn't too bad- A  4 lb. short section of tippet is another thing. They're on  way too long for catch and release in my book. I don't know if that was what WB was referring to. If you snap them off after having them on awhile or plan on keeping one, I have zero problem. Steel shouldn't be wasted is my point. If you check strength to diameter on tippet , you'll find Drennan's 6 lb. fluoro is the same diameter  as Rio's 10 lb.  Maxima chameleon (mono) and stuff like P-line is even heavier.  I did extensive testing on tippets when I worked for a fly shop; I use the good stuff for steel, save the cheaper, bulk supply for fish that don't care like bass and pike.
 
Charlie

ORIGINAL: dimebrite

Lighter/thinner line will get your presentation down faster hands down... and as charlie mentioned; I agree completely with the whole mending aspect... wader boy: I agree with you regarding the downstream drift; im sure you could get away with 20 while doing that but personally I think 20 is an unfair match to steelhead...

waDerboy

Pretty sure is a partial quote of your earlier post.
It appears YOU brought fairness into the thread.

WB, NOT more, just like you said, you can keep the pressure towards the maximum  you can get away with because you have the flexibility of the rod and the elongation of the line (instead of just a leader and tippet) as a  shock buffer against breakage. Spinning reel drags are more forgiving, too.  Explanation not aimed at you, WB, you already knew that stuff, and far longer than me.   For myself, I wouldn't go there. I must admit, some guys that fish alot can get it done pretty well. I fished with PAangler and if he says he uses it, it's not to waste fish and overplay them. He's  a dam good fisherman. He mentioned using it on the Erie tribs. Years ago,  I went through a period of using tiny flies and 2 wts to catch large trout . It was fun, but I don't have much interest in it anymore. I still use lighter gear for sightfishing carp and schoolie stripers, but those fish are tough and have  less oxygen requirements. I know light lines and tippet work well in the winter, but, the fish can't take long fights and survive when the water temp is 34  -Some  use up too much reserves to recover. Not always, but I like to err on the side of caution. If they get wasted with the increase in crowds,  and there  are less to be caught, I'll not bother going. That's just what I choose to do, and my reason for doing it. Other people can fish the way they want.  I know a flyshop owner in my area that uses sz. 20 flies, plenty of weight and 5x tippet on a regular basis in the SR. He was crowing about 25+ hook-ups.  I asked him how many he lands and how many foul hooks. He didn't have an ,or want to, answer because he hasn't got one to the bank yet. F... that.  The challenge to me would be having the technique and flies to get one to take using HEAVY tippet. Dime, fish don't have pain receptors, they react out of survival instinct (unless you read PETA material). Still, swimming pincushions ain't cool. Musta had a bad knot, the 1 lb. test broke.    Just kidding , Dime- I know you can get it done like Jack. I'm more concerned with the other guys like Mr. 0 for 25.
 
Charlie

ORIGINAL: fichy

WB, NOT more, just like you said, you can keep the pressure towards the maximum  you can get away with because you have the flexibility of the rod and the elongation of the line (instead of just a leader and tippet) as a  shock buffer against breakage. Spinning reel drags are more forgiving, too.  Explanation not aimed at you, WB, you already knew that stuff, and far longer than me.   For myself, I wouldn't go there. I must admit, some guys that fish alot can get it done pretty well. I fished with PAangler and if he says he uses it, it's not to waste fish and overplay them. He's  a dam good fisherman. He mentioned using it on the Erie tribs. Years ago,  I went through a period of using tiny flies and 2 wts to catch large trout . It was fun, but I don't have much interest in it anymore. I still use lighter gear for sightfishing carp and schoolie stripers, but those fish are tough and have  less oxygen requirements. I know light lines and tippet work well in the winter, but, the fish can't take long fights and survive when the water temp is 34  -Some  use up too much reserves to recover. Not always, but I like to err on the side of caution. If they get wasted with the increase in crowds,  and there  are less to be caught, I'll not bother going. That's just what I choose to do, and my reason for doing it. Other people can fish the way they want.  I know a flyshop owner in my area that uses sz. 20 flies, plenty of weight and 5x tippet on a regular basis in the SR. He was crowing about 25+ hook-ups.  I asked him how many he lands and how many foul hooks. He didn't have an ,or want to, answer because he hasn't got one to the bank yet. F... that.  The challenge to me would be having the technique and flies to get one to take using HEAVY tippet. Dime, fish don't have pain receptors, they react out of survival instinct (unless you read PETA material). Still, swimming pincushions ain't cool. Musta had a bad knot, the 1 lb. test broke.    Just kidding , Dime- I know you can get it done like Jack. I'm more concerned with the other guys like Mr. 0 for 25.

Charlie

Joined: 8/26/2010
From: ct-vacation

Nice post.
I knew someone would take the time to say exactly that while I was at work.

Any steelhead I have to fish smaller than a size 10 and #6 test I don't want to line (oops my bad I meant hook), I looking for players.

ORIGINAL: dimebrite

Not really inclined to say much here... yes charlie you said it well ;)

So I guess anyone who uses size 12 hooks and 4 or 5 lb leader are flossing all of their fish... I should've known... ;)

You can guess whatever ever you want.

Seems like for a guy claiming you're not inclined to say much here you managed to do it anyway.
Insert dorkie semicolon smiley here.

Why not just throw live bait in the water and watchem eat it-at least they dont have to swim around dragging leader and waiting for the hook to rot out that way.