So I'm not new to fly fishing, and I've been trolling the forums for over a year. But I've never fly fished for steelies and have a trip to Erie in march. My question is, can some one link me a steelhead leader and tippet? I have a 5wt and 8wt fly pole (both wf line) which to use and what leader/tippet? Fly fishing for steelhead is foreign to me. I've tied all my egg patterns from sucker spawn to nuke eggs and crystal meth. Just need a leader/tippet setup. Thanks in advance!!
Erie steelhead
- Thread starter Punn177
- Start date
albatross
Well-known member
Welcome to the board Punn.
Here's what I use:
Start with a 7.5 foot tapered 3X leader.
Tie in a small barrel swivel at about 5 to 5.5 feet. (you may want to leave a tag on your knot here where you could attach weight)
Add your tippet to the swivel.
Tippet length depends on the run you are trying to fish, but 3 to 4 feet is pretty typical for me.
I mostly fish 3X fluorocarbon tippet in Erie, occasionally 2X or 4X.
Here's what I use:
Start with a 7.5 foot tapered 3X leader.
Tie in a small barrel swivel at about 5 to 5.5 feet. (you may want to leave a tag on your knot here where you could attach weight)
Add your tippet to the swivel.
Tippet length depends on the run you are trying to fish, but 3 to 4 feet is pretty typical for me.
I mostly fish 3X fluorocarbon tippet in Erie, occasionally 2X or 4X.
ryguyfi
Active member
- Joined
- Oct 18, 2006
- Messages
- 4,796
You CAN fish for steelhead with a 5wt, but I fish with an 8 and like being able to muscle the fish in.
Barrel swivel like Albatross said is the way to go. You'll get a fair amount of snags and break offs and it will break off at the swivel every time which saves time and leaders. I use anywhere from 4x to 2x tippet up there depending on conditions.
Barrel swivel like Albatross said is the way to go. You'll get a fair amount of snags and break offs and it will break off at the swivel every time which saves time and leaders. I use anywhere from 4x to 2x tippet up there depending on conditions.
I fish Erie steelhead quite a bit and while those steelies aren't monsters I think a #5 line/rod is way too light. You are likely going to be throwing a couple or BB's, an indicator, and often two flies and IMO you should be using a #6 or #7. Sometimes I use a #7 if the water is up and I know I'll be fishing #10 stone flies and big Glo bugs, and maybe a couple 3/0 split shot but mostly I use an 11' #6 switch rod and can tame any steelhead up there.
Regarding leaders ten guys will probably have ten opinions but my preference is a 9' - 10' total length. I typically put on a 7 1/2' 2X leader, then add one of those micro barrrel swivels (they are hard to find and only about 1/4" long) then I add a piece of Rio fluorocarbon 3X or 4X about 2 1/2' long. I've used 5X in very low and clear conditions but while I can play them well on 5X I often have them break me off when the fight is almost over and I'm trying to beach them on gravel. They flip their tail and the leader pops.
Regarding leaders ten guys will probably have ten opinions but my preference is a 9' - 10' total length. I typically put on a 7 1/2' 2X leader, then add one of those micro barrrel swivels (they are hard to find and only about 1/4" long) then I add a piece of Rio fluorocarbon 3X or 4X about 2 1/2' long. I've used 5X in very low and clear conditions but while I can play them well on 5X I often have them break me off when the fight is almost over and I'm trying to beach them on gravel. They flip their tail and the leader pops.
Cornholio
Member
- Joined
- Feb 3, 2012
- Messages
- 259
I used a 6wt rod once and i'll never do that again. I like an 8wt, it is a perfect choice, it allows you to 'horse them around a bit.' As for leaders and tippets, if you are nymphing, using eggs or whatever with split shots a taper is pointless, i use 5' of 15 pound mono to tippet normally 4x fluoro ( use a tandem rig as well, i normally go egg first and tail it with a copper john ).
