Selecting Tippet for Steelhead (and Salmon)

"All we really want is bigger trout, better rods and a happy sex life." - John Gierach

Lightlining. I admit it, I have been putting off this discussion for quite some time. My friends know how squarely I stand on the subject. They too know that I have been able to repeatedly, and under various conditions, substantiate my opinion. But I suppose friends choose each other and I do not feel pressed to convince them. With the amount of time I spend on the water, both fly-fishing for trout between April and September,and guiding for salmon and steelhead during the season, I have realized that industry has overshadowed common sense in many realms of fishing. Pointedly put, I am going to say what needs to be said.

I like what Steve Sywensky of State College, PA penned a few years back for a similar article on his shop's website; "Somewhere, somehow, and from someone, the notion that landing a large fish on a light tippet is a noble accomplishment got started. If I could exorcise that idea from the collective psyche of flyfishers, I would have accomplished something meaningful."

Nowhere is this trend more prevalent than on our beloved tributaries. Furthermore, it is not limited to the fly angler. Day-in and day-out I witness, hear of, or hear from anglers who perpetuate or succumb to the belief that the best way to catch fish is to use very light line. For many I can certainly understand the origins of their knowledge. Magazines, videos, and television shows are ripe with references to "lightlining" trophy fish. Guides preach the need to separate yourself from the fly. Manufacturers invest dollars to sell products to do just that. But where will it end? How light is too light?

Clearly, some who read this article are already getting hot under the collar. With certainty I am going to inflame some egos. I do really feel that there are catch-and-release anglers who think it's some sort of accomplishment to catch large fish on light line. Heck, I suppose to an extent I'd even fit that bill. After all, a fly rod is a good deal lighter in action than say a plug rod and even many noodle rods. But that is not the argument I am trying to make. I am discussing the weakest connection between the rod of choice and the bait of choice. Frankly, there are anglers who think it's some act of expert skill to catch a large fish on light line. I have some problems with that.

First, what about the fish? Judging by the latest survey data I've seen, roughly 80% of tributary anglers are catch-and-release oriented. Now, I have no real issues with a legally licensed angler harvesting a legal limit. But once you decide that you are going to release fish you should be assuming the responsibility of seeing that through to the end. I see little value in hooking a fish that you do not intend to land, therefore it stands that there is equally little value in extending the battle with a fish you intend to release. We all know that fighting stress creates havoc with a fish's physical condition that only TLC, oxygen, and rest can cure. By opting to use very light line you are deciding to extend the battle and increase the risk that the fish you hook may break off well into the extended battle, thus depriving it of the ability to be revived before being released.

Next, what about the challenge? Fishing does not come without risk. You risk getting skunked. The fish win most of the time. In fact, even the best anglers only ever catch the village idiots--the true trophies never get caught. Perhaps this is really where the ego-trips start for those mentioned earlier. Apparently for a good many folks it is not okay for the fish to win. We see various forms of this egomania during salmon season, but it is equally present during steelhead season, albeit in kinder and gentler manners. My feelings are that it is quite alright for the fish to win. They are not always going to be in a biting mood; they are not always going to bite what you offer; maybe they just aren't there! In any event, let them win. Many times it is you that is preventing the hook-up. Maybe it's your lack of knowledge of the fish. Or the river. Or the ecosystem in which you fish. Perhaps you really cannot cast that $600 rod you're waving. Maybe that darned slinky is too heavy (or light). Could it be possible that the line of anglers on both sides of the pool (or run, or hole, or ...whatever!) has the fish ever so slightly spooked? My point is, there are a multitude of factors at play when you fish--the odds are indeed against you. Deal with it. Tough fishing is good for you. It's when you learn. I don't care how far you drove, or how much money you've spent, you are not entitled to harass my fish (or his, or hers, or yours)! Yes, I said harass. By definition, harass means to exhaust by attacking repeatedly; or annoy continually or chronically. In my opinion, it is harassment when you reduce the tippet strength to the point where landing the fish becomes questionable and maximizing the length of the fight becomes obvious. As an aside, I feel the same about fly rodders who think it's cool to fish with the lightest line weight rod they can get their hands on. Fishing should be challenging or they'd have called it catching.

Finally, what does it prove? So you knotted on some 2, 3 or 4-pound test tippet and hooked some fish. Yippee! Really, what have you proven. It shows that you can hook fish on light line. It even shows that some of you can land fish--and yes, some can even do it rather rapidly (at least in that location under those conditions). It does NOT prove that you needed to do it though.

So, for those of you who are still with me and are begging to know how to get around the fussy fish and light leader dilemma, here are three tips:

1. When you set out to purchase your tippet consider spending some more money, for less, but better, material. No matter what rod you use, all anglers can benefit by purchasing fly leader on "tippet" spools. What fly anglers have discovered is that the leader material (hard nylon, soft nylon, fluorocarbon, etc...) and diameter is what really matters and the two are largely independent of pound-test. Consider a 110-yard spool of 6-pound test Seaguar Carbon Pro Fluorocarbon which has a line diameter of .008." By moving to a 30-yard spool of 4X RIO Fluoroflex tippet, which is .007," you'll get a thinner fluorocarbon line that also has a pound test rating of 7-pounds. You get more strength in a thinner line. In addition, the 6-pound Seaguar equivalent spool of 3X RIO tests-out at 8.5 pounds. Point being, if you feel that line visibility is an issue then you have the responsible option of spending a few more bucks to get a thinner line that is actually stronger. Bear in mind that each brand of line will vary with respect to diameter and pound-test.

2. Very often simply extending the length of your tippet works as well as dropping the size. Obviously if you run a drift rig and operate at the 4-foot limit this does not apply.

3. I feel that the tippet material is often more detrimental than the diameter. Hard nylons such as spool-filling monos and leader-building monos like Maxima are not supple enough to present a fly or bait naturally. By simply switching to a soft mono (again, designated at "tippet" material for fly-fishing), and angler can gain stealth without loosing strength.

So, what is too light? For me 4X tippet is as small as I will go for steelhead. I have never felt that dropping to 5X would result in any better success, and most often I operate with 3X tippet (heavier when tossing streamers). Consideration goes to the water type and condition, expected size of fish, and size and type of fly. Use your best judgment and consider the consequences.

A final point needs to be made considering salmon. Salmon are not leader shy! These fish, a day earlier, were eating twinkie rigs tied on 50-pound leaders in the gin-clear waters of Lake Ontario. How logical is it that they are now suddenly leader-shy? It isn't. They aren't. In my opinion, the only two qualifications for my salmon tippet is that a) it is weaker than my fly line and backing, and b) it does not restrict the depth at which I need to present my fly. Since I typically target salmon in water that is 2 to 3-feet in depth, moving, and I do not weight my leader, I use a 15-pound test tippet. Never had a problem and I expect I never will. Small flies and small tippets for big, mean, angry fish makes no sense whatsoever to this guide.