What line for drift fishing salmon and steal head

[[email protected]]

well a lot of the fish in there east creek are around 10 lbs and the water is clear enough to see the fish but it's still not the best seeing conditions.

please please don't mention creek names in the open forum, especially small ones.

fish size doesn't matter, your rod will absorb most of the impact of a fighting fish, 5lbs leaders will land 30lb chinooks with the right rod

 

[bass_master]

Oh sorry about the creek name didn't know it mattered :???:

But I've been using a 10ft rod and 6lb mainline and 6lb leader drift fishing roe and pink worms, they always snap my line.

I did a bit of research and figured out that the leader has to be weaker line than the main line. What line would you suggest for my rod? My reel is the daiwa sweepfire 2500 if that matters. Thanks for all the help :razz:

 

[bass_master]

I could switch to another reel I have on hand, it's the rapala x-rap because It can probably hold stronger line

 

[rocheleauc]

Oh sorry about the creek name didn't know it mattered :???:

But I've been using a 10ft rod and 6lb mainline and 6lb leader drift fishing roe and pink worms, they always snap my line.

I did a bit of research and figured out that the leader has to be weaker line than the main line. What line would you suggest for my rod? My reel is the daiwa sweepfire 2500 if that matters. Thanks for all the help :razz:

You'll want to use a mainline that is thicker than your leader. Compare the diameter. You should be good with 10lb main.

 

[[email protected]]

Oh sorry about the creek name didn't know it mattered :???:

But I've been using a 10ft rod and 6lb mainline and 6lb leader drift fishing roe and pink worms, they always snap my line.

I did a bit of research and figured out that the leader has to be weaker line than the main line. What line would you suggest for my rod? My reel is the daiwa sweepfire 2500 if that matters. Thanks for all the help :razz:

yea, we get a lot of 'guests' when fish start running looking for any information whatsoever, so by saying there are fish in this creek, well you can imagine how that will spread.

what line strength is your rod rated for? what is the stiffness of it (light, medium light, medium)

breakoffs are going to happen, its part of the game, first thing i would is check for your drag, you want it just strong enough to bring the fish in, but not so strong that the fish can't run. on my fly reels i'll adjust the drag for every fish

 

[fisgfreek]

I would check your knot as well, is your line breaking or knot slipping ? :???:

 

[bass_master]

yea, we get a lot of 'guests' when fish start running looking for any information whatsoever, so by saying there are fish in this creek, well you can imagine how that will spread.

what line strength is your rod rated for? what is the stiffness of it (light, medium light, medium)

breakoffs are going to happen, its part of the game, first thing i would is check for your drag, you want it just strong enough to bring the fish in, but not so strong that the fish can't run. on my fly reels i'll adjust the drag for every fish

my rod is 10ft ultralight and it's rated up to 8lbs

 

[rich_ace_G]

well a lot of the fish in there soper creek are around 10 lbs and the water is clear enough to see the fish but it's still not the best seeing conditions.

6lb or 4lb would suffice. you want your leader to break. it doesn't matter if the fish is 10lb. you can land 'em on a 4lb. just don't horse 'em...fish 'em.

 

[bass_master]

6lb or 4lb would suffice. you want your leader to break. it doesn't matter if the fish is 10lb. you can land 'em on a 4lb. just don't horse 'em...fish 'em.

I have been using 6lb mainline and the same 6lb line for the leader, and it always snaps! I know that the mainline should be stronger than the leader now but I am at loss to what line I should be using. Some people say 10lb some people say 4lb so I dont know if maybe I'm fighting them wrong?

 

[chasingfish]

I run 8lb main and 6 leader. Nothing fancy. I actually just switched from Flouro to regular trilene for my leader.

 

[bass_master]

I think I might try 12 pound mainline and 10 pound leader just to be safe is there anything wrong with your line being that heavy?

 

[Shawarma]

For steelhead? 10 lbs might be too heavy but it's a leader so try them out.

The "just to be safe" part sometimes leaves you so safe that even the fish won't bother you!

8lb fluro on a float rod will surprise you at how safe it is.

Focus on your techniques more than your equipment and you'll drop the safe 10lb line in no time.

 

[bass_master]

So what about 10lb mainline and 8lb flourocarban leader? I'm completely new to this sorry about all the questions.

 

[chasingfish]

So what about 10lb mainline and 8lb flourocarban leader? I'm completely new to this sorry about all the questions.

A little heavy but u should be ok. 4-6 lb line is pretty tough when combined with a nice rod. Grab some 6 lb, wrap it around your hands and try to break it. That may give u the confidence to use it. Your rod will take a lot of the "hard pulls" and your drag will allow the give needed when the fish runs.

 

[Shawarma]

So what about 10lb mainline and 8lb flourocarban leader? I'm completely new to this sorry about all the questions.

That'll work. But get yourself a 6lb spool as well. Sometimes 8 works, other times you have to lower it. Depends on the fish I always have both spools of fluro on me. Tough conditions call for drastic measures and sometimes all it takes is a lighter line.

No need to apologize. I had the same questions when I started.

What chasing fish said is what I didn't know initially. Yes the line is 6lbs, but putting it on a 13' rod is the trick. The rod then picks up a ton of the pressure so keep that in mind. But also keep in mind what your rod is rated at. If it's a 4-10lb rod and you're putting 15lb main and 10lb leader, you're maxing it out and trouble is bound to happen. I'd rather lose a leader and a fish than to have my rod snap.

 

[bass_master]

yes I already have some 6lb line so I will get some 10lb and some 8lb thanks for all the help here guys

 

[bass_master]

One last question then I think I'll be all set, should I use flourocarban leaders?

 

[Shawarma]

That's a yes on that one for me.

 

[NADO]

I think steelheaders worry too much about using light leaders. Most of the time I will never go less than 8lb and I actually use 10lb most of the time but that is because I usually fish big water. I do always keep 4 & 8lb flurocarbon on me and use it when fishing low and clear water on small rivers but IMO it isn't necessary in most scenarios.

 

[rich_ace_G]

One last question then I think I'll be all set, should I use flourocarban leaders?

Depends on when. during the heat of the salmon runs....I was using 4lb. mono clear suffix and caught a bunch of steels. Maybe it's because of the tremendous amount of roe that steels don't really care. Heck I can even see my leader 4ft below the surface and still get strikes. but after the spawning period. fluoro leaders could be better.