I actually just edited my post. Was long. But cowlitzfisherman, I realize you work/have worked for the state. But I've fished the Chehalis system for about 25 years, my Dad well over 55 years, and my grandpa before he died almost 80 years. Not one of us had ever used long leaders, and we'd had only seen maybe a handful of guys over the years using these long leaders on the Sop, or other Chehalis tribs. Have had property on the Nooch almost as long as I've fished the system, so have had alot of time to fish/explore these rivers. Funny thing, the few guys I've seen fishing there with the long leaders I've seen fishing at BC. Rest of guys used standard 3' leaders (give or take a bit). I'd say that's a bad assumption on your part. I know I didn't spend everyday there (I lived just off the Puyallup River) but spent most of my weekends, holidays, and vacations fishing the OP/Chehalis system. Can truly say long leadered fisherman were well in the minority. Now, summer conditions with gin clear conditions with traditional flow levels, you'll see longer leaders, but maybe 5' max. Rarely over that. And that's usually a presentation thing. But only in gin clear. Once the water stained, the leaders shortened. If you want to simply say you saw people with long leaders there, well you can say alot about any river in that situation. Every system has it's share of people. From fly fisherman to gear guys, snaggers to people who follow the book of the law. The comparisons go on and on. It's part of a true society that you have a diversity on the river. But most have seen more "flossers/longliners" in the BC area of the Cow then on most river systems. I'd say the Sop was a very bad example. Most of the snaggers there use heavy hooks and sight the fish and snag. They don't long line. Spent enough time floating that river, and know that they don't floss, they snag. More fish dragged out sideways/backwards.

Don't mean to gripe. But these are rivers my family has fished religiously since my Grandpa first came here back in the early 1910's. I'm really surprised my family just didn't move and stay there in first place. But grandpa worked for Boeing, so wanted as little a drive as possible, so he chose a halfway point (Fife). But I lived in both places. Fished the Puyallup, Green, Nasty during schooldays, fished the Peninsula rest of the time.

For myself. We rarely ever fished the Cow. We fished the Toutle alot before it blew, but that was always a special trip. Mostly OP for us on weekends. But I know that we only fished the Cow a few times over my fishing career. But I have personally seen more then just 6-10 guys long lining. That's an understatement. Wouldn't you say it's odd (but could happen, there is a chance) that everytime I've fished BC guys had long leaders? Even when I fished Cowtilla last year, saw quite a bit. Now, can I name you every guy who was doing it? Um, no, not God here. But I can recall at least 20 guys with long leaders. That was a short stretch too, since my sled carb intakes seized on me and I could only do ONE run!!! If I just so happen to only have shown up the few times all these guys did, I wish I would've known so I would've bought a lottery ticket. But, as I said. The Cow SHOULD NOT be known for a couple holes. I know it's a big river. But as with most bad apples, it spoils the bunch. It's spoiled the rep for the whole river over one or two slots. I don't agree with it. I also know A TON of guys who fish it without having to overdue the leaders and catch alot of fish. But most fish away from the hordes.

No mean to offend you cowlitzfisherman, but you are talking about an area that I can say "I've fished more then..." as you do the Cow. My Dad could really log the miles on most here, my grandpa, well, that's a whole nother story. Wish I could talk my uncles out of his pictures of limits off the Chehalis and Nooch from back in the early 20th century. Some of those limits and sizes of fish back in the early 1900's were incredible.