Whats you preferred method of fishing lite or heavy?

I go lite on everything

2 to 4lb for trout, 7' to 9' rods

6 to 12 lb for steelies 9' to 12' rods

12 to 20lb for Saltwater salmon 10' to 12' rods


Never fished line more than 20lbs for any gamefish. All my rods match the line I use.

I'm pretty much with you on that. But I have been using 14-30lb braid here and there.

The only time I beef things up is if I'm serious about keeping something for the freezer and fishing in water with strong currents and \ or log jams or something where I really need to horse them in or lose them.

But most of the time I'm in it for the sport and like to enjoy a challenging fight.

But I make sure not to tire out the fish. When using light tackle you have to be good at fighting the fish so you don't have to tire the poor thing out so bad.

I guess I would say lite. 4# for Lake Michigan Perch and local lake bluegills fished with 5.5' rod spinning gear. 6# for walleye with a longer rod when fishing bait.

My only experience with steelhead has been 25 yrs. of fishing, drift fishing from shore, in Michigan. I have come to rely on 8# mainline with a 6# leader, fished on a 10.5' rod. Fishing from the bank, I've lost plenty of fish when they've ran so far downstream that I couldn't pursue, hooked a few that broke me off on the initial run (awesome), but all in all I would say 8/6 works fine for me. Speaking of Michigan, perhaps some of the older members here may recall some of the published articles in S.T.S. about Dick Swan and his "noodle"rods. 13' fiberglass buggywhips designed to fish 4# with in some cases (dead of winter) 2# line. These guys hooked plenty of fish but if they were lucky enough to actually land the fish after a belabored and time consuming battle, the fish could not be released: it was exhausted. The fish was absolutely "terminal" if it was July and the fish was a Skamania summer run. Consequentially, IMO, I haven't seen a "noodle" rod on "the river" in a very long time. I guess that is a good thing.

Regarding salmon in the salt, I've only been fortunate to fish Neah Bay in Sept 01 and 02; the only times I've fished Washington. I did notice that line diameter mattered when jigging for silvers.

I go lite. 10# for stealhead 20# for kings.

It all depends on the spot I am fishing. I prefer to go light but sometimes if you even want a chance at landing a fish you have to beef up.

It depends on the fishery,but most of the time it's like this.
Winter steelhead (Brats) 10lb / 8'6"
Winter steelhead (Nates) 12lb / 8'6"
Summer steelhead (Brats) 8lb / 9'6"
King's bouy 10 & Ocean 30lb main / 40lb leaders.9'
Fall king's & Coho in the rivers 20 to 25lb main
8'6" to 9' rods.
Pretty much use different line size and rods' for every situation.It's almost endless.
Good luck,
STRIKE ZONE