Bill Kiene semi-retired
11-08-2008, 07:57 AM
This is still the most popular tippet material for traditional Steelheading on the west coast of the USA. We have used it for the past 30 years or more.
Most use 6# test for the lightest for swing smaller flies (#6-12) on smaller rods (#5-7 line) for smaller Steelhead (under 5 pounds?).
When that is too light many go to 8# test.
On a larger rod (#7-8 line) with larger flies (#2-6) for larger Steelhead (over 5#) 8# test maxima is the norm for swinging flies.
As you head up north for larger Steelhead in Oregon, Washington and British Columbia some go to 10-12-15# test for the really big fish with big rods and big flies.
There are many variables as how large of tippet you use for Steelhead with visibility being a big one.
Sun light and water clarity are things that dictate what size tippet and what size fly we use for Steelhead.
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For modern tippet material that comes in the 'X' measurements for diameter I would use 3x for smaller fish with smaller flies and smaller rods like Halfpounders here on the Lower American River.
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Al Perryman said he recommends using 2x for landing any larger hot Steelhead because most of them can break 3x.
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Veteran Lower Klamath River jet boat guide Mike Krysinski use to use 2x as his smallest tippet for clients some years ago with a 6 weight rod with a floating line. Lately he has moved to 1x tippet because the fish have been running bigger.
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Once on the Lower Feather River Mike Mercer told me that the difference between 2x and 3x was huge for landing Steelhead.
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Joe Shirshac and I were on the Trinity River in early November 1982 just as the water came down after a big storm. As we started fishing the river around Junction City the fish were very thick and were very hot so they were breaking them off with 6# Maxima so we went to 8# for the rest of the week with no more break offs.
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Another time (1970s) Joe Shirshac, Frank Pullen, Mel Jeffs and I were on the Klamath River.
We were above Orleans just above the Green Riffle in October with a fresh run of good size hot adult Steelhead (4-7#) for that river.
We could not hold those fish on 6# Maxima so we went to 8# with no more break offs.
__________________________________________________ ________________________
In the late 1970s I learned to fish the tide water some on the lower Eel River with one of my mentors Al Perryman. Al told me he and others at the time use Maxima UltraGreen in 6 and 8 pound for Steelhead and in 8 and 10 pound for King Salmon.
This was probably on the lighter side because they used very good knot systems and could get away with it.
Al used a 'Bimini Twist' at one end of his tippet that he looped to his butt section that had a perfection or surgeon's loop then tied the fly on with a Palomar Knot.
__________________________________________________ __________________________
As you may know this information is just kind of general stuff that will help other who have not had a lot of experience with swinging for Steelhead so they have some general guidelines.
I believe that with the popularity of two handed fishing for Steelhead that traditional methods (swinging flies) is on a come back in the Northwest USA now.
Most use 6# test for the lightest for swing smaller flies (#6-12) on smaller rods (#5-7 line) for smaller Steelhead (under 5 pounds?).
When that is too light many go to 8# test.
On a larger rod (#7-8 line) with larger flies (#2-6) for larger Steelhead (over 5#) 8# test maxima is the norm for swinging flies.
As you head up north for larger Steelhead in Oregon, Washington and British Columbia some go to 10-12-15# test for the really big fish with big rods and big flies.
There are many variables as how large of tippet you use for Steelhead with visibility being a big one.
Sun light and water clarity are things that dictate what size tippet and what size fly we use for Steelhead.
__________________________________________________ ______________________
For modern tippet material that comes in the 'X' measurements for diameter I would use 3x for smaller fish with smaller flies and smaller rods like Halfpounders here on the Lower American River.
__________________________________________________ ________________________________________
Al Perryman said he recommends using 2x for landing any larger hot Steelhead because most of them can break 3x.
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ _________________
Veteran Lower Klamath River jet boat guide Mike Krysinski use to use 2x as his smallest tippet for clients some years ago with a 6 weight rod with a floating line. Lately he has moved to 1x tippet because the fish have been running bigger.
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ _______________
Once on the Lower Feather River Mike Mercer told me that the difference between 2x and 3x was huge for landing Steelhead.
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________
Joe Shirshac and I were on the Trinity River in early November 1982 just as the water came down after a big storm. As we started fishing the river around Junction City the fish were very thick and were very hot so they were breaking them off with 6# Maxima so we went to 8# for the rest of the week with no more break offs.
__________________________________________________ ________________________
Another time (1970s) Joe Shirshac, Frank Pullen, Mel Jeffs and I were on the Klamath River.
We were above Orleans just above the Green Riffle in October with a fresh run of good size hot adult Steelhead (4-7#) for that river.
We could not hold those fish on 6# Maxima so we went to 8# with no more break offs.
__________________________________________________ ________________________
In the late 1970s I learned to fish the tide water some on the lower Eel River with one of my mentors Al Perryman. Al told me he and others at the time use Maxima UltraGreen in 6 and 8 pound for Steelhead and in 8 and 10 pound for King Salmon.
This was probably on the lighter side because they used very good knot systems and could get away with it.
Al used a 'Bimini Twist' at one end of his tippet that he looped to his butt section that had a perfection or surgeon's loop then tied the fly on with a Palomar Knot.
__________________________________________________ __________________________
As you may know this information is just kind of general stuff that will help other who have not had a lot of experience with swinging for Steelhead so they have some general guidelines.
I believe that with the popularity of two handed fishing for Steelhead that traditional methods (swinging flies) is on a come back in the Northwest USA now.