troutdude
I could be wrong but i read that as a minimum 18 inch leader! Also if i remember right drop shotting is illegal for salmon, trout, steel based on that law. I think you can however target warmwater species by drop shot. Hopefully someone will verify or shoot down my answer soon!
It was explained to me on this thread that leader lenghth is 18" minimum. Then this morning I'm reading a different thread with a newbie asking for help and people are telling him to use a 12-20" leader for steelies. What gives? I just don't want to fish illegally. The regs here are crazy!
I try not to ask dumb questions.
I was the one saying 15-18 inches, and i called odfw and inquired to how long that rule has been in effect. That is part of the new anti snagging law.. I personaly would never use a leader over 20" 18" would be short enough. In alaska where there is no rule of that nature i commonly use 15" since im not sight fishing i dont know how i could be snagging? I have also never had a stater measure my leaders.. They only do that when they have been watching you from from a distance and if they contact you... You are certainly going to get a ticket, but not because of your leader lenght.
if you're bass fishing, and happen to have your salmon steelhead tag, and get one while targeting bass and otherwise fishing in a legal manner, you technically can't keep your salmon or steelhead because the rig you used was illegal to use for them.
I was under the impression that you could retain the fish (if you have a tag), but if you continue to fish, you have to conform to the applicable salmon/steelhead tackle rules.
But I could be wrong (at any given moment).