As a general rule of thumb when the water is low and clear I use a longer leader, generally 6 feet. When the water gets higher and murky I shorten down to 3-4 feet. What is a good rule of thumb to tell what length leader you should be using, or does it really matter?

I have found that a leader longer than 4 feet is a real pain in the butt to cast. I generally use about 3 feet, maybe a tad more, when the water is very clear, but will shorten up to 18-24 inches with off color water. My thought process is that the longer the leader, the longer it takes me to realize I have a strike, and therefore longer for Mr Steelhead to spit out my offering.

6+ ft. leaders are commonly used by guys attempting to 'floss' hook fish. It's also called lining - drifting extra long leaders thru schools of fish until the leader goes into one with an open mouth and the leader draws thru the mouth commonly hooking it on the outside of the jaw. This is illegal snagging if you keep such hooked fish; and the gammies are tuning into it more and citing guys for it. If you turn lose fish hooked on the outside of the jaw you won't be busted or ridiculed. I see no gin-clear water situation that calls for driftfishing leader any longer than 4 ft. max! Beyond that length the legit biting fish have much more time to feel the hook and spit it out before the long leader de-slacks for you to feel the bite and set the hook. As for murky water, you will be more successful driftfishing with leaders a couple ft. long or so (20" to 30") than 3 ft. to 4 ft. leaders; for the same reason - the leader slack beyond the weight de-slacks quicker with the shorter leader enabling a quicker bite detection and hookset. The soft muted ticking of lead is more of a curiosity attractor than a spooking deal, and using slinky leads don't make noise or distract fish when there is any water color; light amount or murkier.

Unless you're a flosser the only reason for more than 3 feet of leader is that fish in clear water conditions are shying away from your your shiny swivels and lead. The more leader the more control or touch you lose.
Use black swivels and aged lead. I like to soak my swivels, rubber and lead in freshwater over nite then let them airdry. takes the shine off. If you use rubber tubing then use black. For leader use the smallest diameter you feel comfortable with....in most situations you probably have plenty of hole to play the fish in. The only time you need heavy leaders(more than 12pd is when you have space and structure handicaps). Try flourocarbon if you want...some like it ...I'm not a fan yet. You'll also find fish shying away from those fancy shiny expensive hooks in heavily fished waters. Consider using black, bronze or gray finishes.

Cove RV Park & Tackle Prostaff(1)
Always FishOn!
Gooose

Thanks for the info on the leader length I am going out today and will shorten them down considerably. Goose stated to consider using black, bronze or gray finishes as far as hook color goes. I never buy the chrome colored hooks, I always buy the red colored hooks, any feelings about them vs. black, bronze or gray?