I'm looking into getting a 9'6" rod to be a combo drift/float rod for steelhead and light chinook fishing. I know that ideally a 10'6" rod is better for float fishing but I think I can deal with a shorter rod for this purpose.

My question is will a 9'6" rod be sensitive enough for drift fishing? I like to drift fish most of the time and I really don't want to sacrifice sensitivity for added rod length. I'm thinking about a Lamiglas Cert. Pro rated 8-15 Lb. test or a custom built rated 8-17.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!!

Mike