Rocklizard,

It's hard to add to the excellent advice offered here. Here are my opinions, based on 30 years of fly fishing for steelhead. In order of importance are: 1)waders, 2)flyline, 3)reel, 4)rod, 5)fly pattern choice. Without decent waders, you may not get in position to properly present your fly. If you're fishing winter runs, the right flyline is the difference between catching fish and not. Much is made of reels. I've caught scads of steelhead on cheap reels, altho I recommend getting a decent one. I've heard good things about the Okuma, but have no personal experience. Anything by Ross is excellent, including the Colorado at a bit over $100. A disc drag is unnecessary. Only one of my reels has a disc drag, but I bought it for its large size for my Spey rods. I mostly fish with Hardys that have only a spring and pawl and no rim control, and these are the reels I've caught tons of steelhead on, along with a few salmon. A Lamiglass rod is an excellent and inexpensive fly rod. I've built several from their blanks. If I could have but one steelhead rod, it would be an 8 weight in either a 9 or 9 1/2 foot length. It's too light for kings, but mine have handled steelhead to 23# with no problem. It's a wee bit heavy for summer run fishing. I prefer a 7 wt. for summer runs, but when you become addicted, you'll add a few more rods to your collection. As for flies, it sure helps if you tie your own, especially as you lose a lot to the river bottom while river fishing.

Good luck, and enjoy!

Sincerely,

Salmo g.