The first graphite fly rod I had was a 7-wt. Lamiglas 1000 series and I've long ago lost count of how many steelhead and salmon I've landed with it. I think you'll find that most steelhead fly fishermen favor a 9 1/2 foot 8-wt. You needn't fork over the big bucks either, the Lamiglas 1000 will do the job just as well as a Sage (and maybe better since it has a relatively soft action that is, in my opinion, more suitable for throwing heavy sinking heads). Besides, we're fortunate that there are lots of inexpensive rods out there that are fine casting tools; it's getting more and more difficult to find a really bad rod. Don't forget that much of what you're paying for in a Sage, etc., is a huge advertising budget and the "you-bust-it-we-replace-it" warranty. If you can go $130 for the rod you've got a huge selection out there. In the reel you'll need room for an 8-wt. line and 150 yards of 20-lb. backing (if a steelhead gets a football-field-and-a-half away from you, you might as well kiss him goodbye). Big surprise! You don't even need a disc drag! I've landed an awful lot of steelhead and salmon on an old Hardy St.Aidan click-and-pawl reel that doesn't even have rim control. If you feel you do need a drag of some sort, take a look at the Okuma or, for $100, the Loomis Adventure 7. Lines, unfortunately are not so easy to come by, unless you can build your own interchangeable head system (a good idea because you can tailor it to your own needs) you're stuck with SA, Cortland, Rio or Airflo's offerings, none of them cheap. I did hear that Cabela's was offering one under their own name at a better price. If you have any questions I'll be glad to go into more detail if you e-mail me.