Steelheading and the strike loop

[J Paulson]

Fished the Snoqualmie a little today to try out my new 8 wgt sage speyrod. Good rod -- a little stiffer than even my 9 wgt but plenty of power and I was easily putting out over 90 feet on a single spey side. The river is up and clearing and I didn't touch a fish. Of course that could be my preference (like Leland's) to use a floating line and traditional style flies swung.   I've started using a strike loop after being introduced to it last year on the Deschutes. You simply keep a bit of line loose (~1.5 feet) between your hand the the reel. When a fish strikes, this line plays out first, giving the steelie time to take the fly and turn before you tighten up. Amazing how fast that bit of line disappears on a strike! Worked well on the Deschutes and Methow last year and I've heard it also works as well when skating a dry.   Anybody else use this? Have another technique you use?   Jay