While drifting  sacs around  to  below spawning Kings for Steel,  King males are often in the mix. Have commonly seen male Kings 'nip and spit' so fast ya don't feel it even though ya saw it happen. Kinda think that's why so many sacs come up squished while blind fishing runs or deeper pockets even though ya felt nothing.
Commonly use #12 estaz  later in the season and have been told by a fella across the river, with the sun just right who could see into the pool, that I was getting Steel hits I never felt.
On the 90/10 I know where I am but kinda try like heck to  keep a line position  where a tap  can be felt..am slow to set a hook however waiting for a firm bite instead of a bumped fin so that may be a part of the problem.
 That seminar Clint went to showing steel hitting and spitting seems to mirror  my limited experience.
Also like a blue and pink #6 and #8 for steel before winter sets in- they seem to like the size and often hit it firmly.

It was a year or 2 ago when a guy was fishing the north bank directly across from me in the lfz. I was standing on the preferred hot spot rock on south and he was putting on a clinic on the north while I was catching squat.
While it wasn't obvious , I Was wondering if he was just lining them due to their location . In advertenly I caught his line and pulled it to my side so I could get a look. He reluctantly let it over and once I grabbed the line knew what was up. His small rubber egg was lathered up with Anise
Obviously very effective but totally illegal in the zones as attractants are considered " bait "

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dimebrite2
Lucky, I'd say size 14 and 16 caddis more so than stones in the winter months under the rocks

I'm not saying they are not there, but the guy Clint was quoting was talking black stones.  On real low water, I've done great with olive and green caddis for years.  But are the little stones all that present all season long?
 
L13

There was a guy who used to stay at Sportsman's who was always on the left bank below 52, across from the unemployment line, and he caught his share of steel, almost always on a 6 or 8 Montana, a real quick fly to tie and very effective for those bigger dark stones in the river.  But I don't see enough little ones except late winter.
 
L13 

True that -13. Feb, march there are tiny stones but the caddis scuds rule the river for the most part as far as food source after fall.
Big stones in size # 6 or 8 seem to kick azz on the browns in November though...
I do know for fact that a size #12 ( secret fly , aka jack ) will hammer the chrome all through out.
I got some tying to do soon :)

L the guys name was Joe Goodspeed or something like that. The short leader was for exactly why you mentioned getting down quick in an area  or pocket not that conducive to drifting.  As far as the small stuff he said most of his big fish came on smaller stuff.  He showed us other stuff he used too and it was the garden variety 6 to 12 stuff, streamers included.  By all means he did not exclusively fish small stuff.  Hatchery/LOTC  put it on, it was free and pretty good from my take.
I love fishing my little greed caddis all year.

Now that the topic has come up i find it pretty funny to see the oh so many flies that are referred to as stone patterns throughout the fishery. Most are no where's near an actual stonefly replica. Seems to have become a loose term to say the least. But I will say black, green and brown nymphs or pupa style do very well in the upper end. I think my patterns that I tie up resemble more of a hares ear style nymph with a few different variations of either natural or synthetic targets/accents.

This is not SR specific but does include size of nympths for Steelhead.Because of circumstances I will be fishing Steel in the Erie tribs from this point in time on.In the past I have caught many Steel out there on size 16 & 18 nympths.One very simple pattern is 2 - 3 strands of peacock wrapped on a long nympth hook with a slight taper from bend to eye.What does it imitate? Beats me but it works!This is what I use on low clear conditions and many times when the fish is visable you set the hook when the mouth opens,if you wait to detect the take it is too late as they spit it as fast as they take it.
I find peacock and peacock dubbing is a very good choice to use in many flys,I guess it looks buggy!

Peacock is absolutely that jack. A great eye catcher for trout.