Northwest Fishing Reports

What # test line are most of you guys using for Steely? Someone told me to use 20# test line and I think that might be too heavy and that's why I'm not catching any Steely.

i use 10lbs for leaders and have gone as small as 6lb for low summer water. 10lbs to 8lbs for winter runs. i have no problem with 10lbs. no flourocarbon though breaks way to easy. mainline i use 12lbs maxima ultragreen or sufix siege or elite in clear

I was using 20# Fireline Crystal with a 12# leder. Fireline is definitely not heavy. And I didn't have a problem bringing one in yesterday.

Im using 20 lb spiderwire stealth main or power pro braid main depending on the rod Im using. And 12lb or 8 lb Maxima chameleon leader. Night Ive been using 12 lb or if the river is not really clear. If its clear or day time I been using the 8 lb.

I use 10lb stren on the main and 10lb fluoro p-line for the leader.

Eastern Wa., 10 lb Trilene Maxx.

I use 15 lb for the Ambassador 6000,and 12lb for the Ambassador 5000 or my Shimano. I use 12-15 lb test for leaders. The rocks and snags fray the line real nicely. I go for a bit heavier when plunking. All the line I use is Maxima Chamellion.

12lb main line for the Winter, 10lb or 8lb for the Summer. As for leaders, I drop 2lbs off the main line and stick with Maxima, Standard or Ultragreen. That would make the leaders 10lb for Winter and 8 to 6lb for the Summer. However, if you are fishing big water or fast dirty water I'd bump up the main line to 15lbs and boost the leader accordingly. Most steelhead will wear themselves out running around and jumping leaving you to pull them to shore once they run out of steam. Remember you need to use some common sense as well. If you're bank fishing and need to haul the fish right to a specific spot to net it due to high/fast water go heavier on the line. Conversely, if you're fishing a huge gravel bar where the fish can run a hundred yards in either direction, go light and enjoy the fight!

12 is a little heavy for my taste I would say 8 to 10 even as low as 6 but only if your a seasoned angler lnowing how to control the fish at th end of your line I will use 12 if its heavy flow or snaggy but most of the time its 8 pound test and for summers its 6 smaller fish those little guys are during the summer.... :dj:

12# maxima ultragreen for mainline, 8# p-line flouro for leaders

Fish dont know about the test of the line. Its all about the presentation.I just prefer heavier when drifting a rocky or snaggy bottom that frays lines.

I use 10 - 15# stren lo-vis green. I vary between depending on conditions.

12# Maxima Chameleon (sp) mainline, 10# ultragreen leader