Line shy coho

[natetreat]

nate I think you could work 6 pound lead 8 pound main espeically in smaller water if room and no crowds. You could do 6 all the way, but those first couple runs when the fish are bright can be real FAAAAST. Even if you can hoof it up or down and have a nice straight away for them to run (no corners or snags) sometimes the only way you can prevent breakage on a fast initial charge is to have the reel drag set light (even for 6 pound- not too light obviously, don't want backlash and SNAP happening). If I am fishing light line, I keep the drag a little loose for the pound test and tighten it as I fight the fish and it tires.

Also keeping them in the deeper water area of small water keeps them a bit less gung-ho at running way away. Those things can burn when they get hooked in holding water but then make a run into shallow water without finding deeper water to slow down. they'll probably keep going until they find deeper water or get worn out. Of course if they do the head rub in the rocks you are probably toast cuz the line is so light it'd be hard to force their head up easily and any fray they get on a rock would spell trouble.

OK never mind, go with 10 pound LOL.

Just my half penny's worth:)

I've experienced those runs first hand, and have been keeping my drag a little loose anyway lately on account of that first run they end up jumping if they feel too much resistance. And when they jump the end up shaking the hook. I think I'm going to put ten pound something on it, something a bit more abrasion resistant.

[fear_no_fish]

look for maxima crystal ivory, it wont let you down. Its the only mono i spool onto my reels. Its just all around great line

[natetreat]

The fish in the Snohomish system are notorious for going lockjaw too. Sometimes fish just WON'T bite, they just simply will not. Best thing to do at that point is leave those ones alone and find new holding water. No real point to harass the hell out of a school of fish if it is pretty clear they are not going to willingly hit anything.

I rarely sight fish salmon for this very reason.

Yea, you either gotta sneak up on 'em or just don't fish next to otherr folks. When the water is that low and clear they can pretty much see everyone, so it makes it difficult.