For on-river looping of Maxima leader to my sink tips I use a Double Surgeons. 95% of the time that is 10lb/5% 12lb. It's quick and more than strong enough. Have never seen the need for a Triple Surgeons. Years ago, when I was trolling in the ocean for silvers and kings with 15 or 20 lb line (and occasionally 12 lb, what ever the reel had on it) I used a Single Surgeons on connections to divers and flashers, exclusively. It was never an issue.
I am not sure I have ever had a double surgeons break on a steelhead. Well, not one that I can quickly remember. But with a Clinch Knot (or now the Double Davy that I use) fixing leader to hook, when I snag up on a rock or a far limb and apply a snot load of direct pull to snap the leader it breaks at the double surgeons the majority of the time. On a fish, when one breaks off, it usually happens just up from the hook, up to a foot or so.. I figure the fish has nicked it somehow or a nick occurred in the routine of casting and fishing.
The newer green T-11 is less cut resistant (to a leader pulled real tight) than the older brown stuff. I prefer the old stuff. When using the green, sometimes I pre-tie a very short (2 or 3 inches) section of 20lb Maxima with Perfection Loops at either end. Then I loop one end of that to the end of my T-11 and the 10lb leader to the other end. 20lb won't cut into the coating of the T-11 like 10lb will.
When whipping up my home made summer leaders, in the 10-13 ft range, the butt loop (usually 20 lb Maxima) is always done with a Perfection Loop.
