^I wonder if thats just because the bottom couple inches of water is moving slow compared to current speed and that couple inches off the bottom distributes the scent trail farther.
That's interesting to hear, because I've wondered what would dictate the minimum leader length for sturgeon as they're effectively blind when feeding. What's to say a 2" (hypothetical) leader would be too short.
Matt-
Everyone is different in the way they rig (to a certain extent) their bait.... with eulachon I like to take off all fins, front of head (up to the eyes) and gill plates to have them lay flat, especially in faster water... with the two half hitches and other rigging I do, the 22-24" leader now is roughly 14" from the swivel/weight and have fairl constant action with dinos..... if action is slow, I might go with a longer leader, leave a couple of fins on to help "lift" the fish a bit and move it around, sometimes stimulates the fish into taking the bait, even when they are full! For my style of fishing (boat and shallower water at times), I like short(er) leader and heavier leader, have lost several very large fish this year to broken/rubbed leaders (first fish on new leader) and hooks are another consideration!